How the YES BANK Transformation Series is building the professional entrepreneurs of tomorrow

Hyperverge, founded by Kishore Natrajan and four of his collegemates from IIT Madras in mid-2014, is a deep-learning startup that is powering next-generation vision solutions such as Image Recognition Engine, a software that auto-tags people, scenes, and brands in images and videos. The studentpreneurs got initial traction by participating in startup and tech challenges, and by working on consulting assignments. Today, their startup has a large clientele, and has even raised a substantial amount of funding from Silicon Valley-based venture capital funds – Naya Ventures, Milliways Ventures, and NEA.

Theirs is not an isolated success story, but one among many of entrepreneurs who started their entrepreneurial journey as students, and have now made it big in the startup ecosystem.

Globally too, there are many such inspiring stories. Apart from being billionaires, and impacting the world with their business ideas, the one thing that global business leaders like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin have in common is that they started their businesses while still students.

Many successful leaders believe college is the best time to work on your business idea. Even if the venture fails to make its mark, you carry with you some valuable experience. Today, however, the risk of failure has been considerably reduced because of the numerous startup contests that enable you to put your ideas to work and see where they stand. Many student entrepreneurs affirm that these contests are an amazing opportunity to grow professionally.

So, if you are a student who believes ‘entrepreneurship’ is your calling, it’s time to give that thought a chance. Pit yourself against some of the best minds, work on a challenging concept, get guidance from business leaders, and even make your introductions to the big names in the industry – all this even before you print your own business card!

YES BANK Transformation Series is one such launch pad for such aspiring studentpreneurs. Amandeep Singh from the Indian school of Business (ISB) can attest to this.Part of the winning team of the Transformation series last year, he says that ‘the initiative is a great platform that not only provides exposure to real-world challenges, but also offers an opportunity to interact with and learn from business leaders.’

Since its beginning in 2010, the YES BANK Transformation Series has offered students, across the world, an opportunity to work on real-life challenges related to the financial sector, and push the envelope of innovation. Over the years, the focus has been on various disruptive concepts such as digital financial inclusion and complete digitalisation.

Rana Kapoor, Managing Director & CEO, YES BANK, said,“The Indian economy is witnessing a phase characterised by design, innovation and creativity led entrepreneurship, against the backdrop of supportive government policies and favourable demographics. At YES BANK, it is our constant endeavour to interact with the youth and channelise their entrepreneurial spirit in to the right direction with an emphasis on design thinking and innovation. The YES BANK Transformation Series presents a unique opportunity for students to provide innovative solutions to real life challenges facing India Inc today by allowing them to take up the role of business leaders and test their mettle against the world, thereby showcasing their innovative thinking. As we enter the fifth edition of this case study challenge, I am confident that we will once again discover India’s next big innovators.”

The applications for the 5^th edition of the YES BANK Transformation Series are now open. Last date to apply is August 21, 2016.

Here are 3 big reasons why every studentpreneur must apply for the YES BANK Transformation Series

India’s largest case study challenge for studentpreneurs

The contest has been a great platform for students to showcase their talent to derive path-breaking,industry-relevant ideas. Over the years, this high-adrenaline contest, one of the best in the industry, has seen 25,000 + students compete to win the title. From its beginning in 2010, where it saw participation from 1,500 students to its 4^th edition last year with participation from more than 16,000 students, the popularity of the contest continues to soar among the student community.

This global case-study challenge has seen participation from students from some of the world’s finest institutions like Yale, University of North Carolina, Singapore Management University, and from the country’s top business schools like the IIMs, ISB, NITIE Mumbai, IIFT Delhi, and XLRI.

This year, the participating students will get to work on one of the four case studies designed by YES BANK’s partners from the startup ecosystem: Taisys, Zaggle, Ezetap, and T-Hub. With the theme of ‘creating impact through disruptive innovation,’ the contest, offers an intriguing proposition. Taisys is calling for ideas to make smart banking inclusive; Zaggle for a strategy for an innovative prepaid instrument to simplify reimbursements; Ezetap to make payments smarter and go truly cashless; and T-Hub to help startups scale.

A hugely rewarding opportunity

As part of the YES BANK Transformation Series, not only do the top three teams win Rs 3,00,000, Rs 2,00,000, and Rs 1,00,000, respectively, the campus round winners will be awarded Rs 25,000. The top 15 teams will be flown to the grand finale in Mumbai where they will get to present their ideas to a jury comprising industry experts and mentors.

Winning the contest could also help you walk away with your first job! The top three winning teams will get the opportunity of a pre-placement interview at YES BANK!

Get introduced to industry experts and mentors

The finalists get to present their solutions to a jury comprising policymakers, thought leaders, academicians, leading journalists, and entrepreneurs from across the world. This distinguished jury will include: Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & National Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, India, and Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, among others. The two ad-gurus are renowned for building mega brands and have popularised the use of an Indian idiom in the creative world.

The challenge is a great opportunity to gain real-time experience, and practical knowledge by working on industry challenges, and learning from industry leaders and your peers from across the globe!

Brainstorm, ideate, and work on solutions and apply for the YES BANK Transformation Series. Last date for application is 21 August 2016.

The campus rounds will be held between 1– 30 September 2016, and the grand finale is scheduled for 4 November. Remember to read the rules before applying!

It’s time to THINK. INNOVATE. TRANSFORM.