Bodh Gaya: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bodh Gaya hosted its Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2026 on February 6 and 7, drawing more than 1,000 participants from over 250 institutions in one of the largest student-led entrepreneurship events in the region.
The two-day summit was inaugurated by Prof Deepika R. Gupta, chairperson of the Envision Cell at IIM Bodh Gaya. The opening session featured a lineup of industry professionals and startup leaders, including Karan Bhardwaj, founder of Rara Now; Anuja Bashir, co-founder and chief executive of FlexiCloud; Saksham Prashar, associate director at Zepto; Saurav Sen, senior manager at Paytm; and Dr Amanpal Singh Chawla, executive director of Skillsped Solutions.
Discussions during the summit focused on practical challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs, ranging from understanding investors’ expectations and choosing the right time to raise funds, to identifying meaningful metrics for growth. Speakers emphasised that no single indicator is sufficient for scaling a business, and urged founders to balance short-term gains with long-term strategic thinking.
One of the central attractions of the event was Pitch Perfect 7.0, a startup pitching competition that offered prize money worth more than Rs 2.5 lakh. The platform allowed young founders to present their business ideas before an expert jury and receive direct feedback. Participants also took part in competitive events such as Best Manager 3.0, Business Wars 5.0, Stockopoly, Fish Tank and Fun Fiesta, which tested strategic thinking, creativity and decision-making skills.
The summit was supported by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Startup Bihar, the Government of Bihar and the state’s Department of Industries, while Campa joined as beverage partner.
Organisers said the event reflected IIM Bodh Gaya’s growing role in nurturing entrepreneurial talent and providing a bridge between students, startups and the wider business ecosystem, as interest in innovation and enterprise continues to expand beyond metropolitan centres.
