Kozhikode, May 13 : The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has announced admissions to the seventh batch of its Professional Certificate Programme in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, an eight-month online programme designed to help learners build entrepreneurial capability in a rapidly evolving start-up and innovation economy.
The programme has been structured for professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to understand the fundamentals of venture creation, identify market opportunities, develop viable business models and build the confidence to launch or grow their own enterprises. It covers both traditional and emerging entrepreneurship models, while also introducing learners to the expanding relevance of social entrepreneurship, including microfinance, crowdfunding, community-led ventures and technology-enabled solutions designed for specific user groups.
A distinctive feature of the programme is its linkage with IIM Kozhikode LIVE Laboratory for Innovation Venturing and Entrepreneurship, the institute’s business incubator and National Centre of Excellence. Through this ecosystem, learners gain exposure to innovation-led thinking, entrepreneurial mentoring and venture-building perspectives. Participants will also benefit from BOUNCER, an initiative under IIM Kozhikode LIVE that enables start-ups and aspiring founders to present their ideas to experienced industry practitioners for validation, feedback and refinement. This engagement will help learners evaluate their business concepts, strengthen their venture plans and understand the practical realities of building sustainable enterprises.
India’s start-up ecosystem has emerged as one of the most dynamic in the world, supported by rising investor interest, digital adoption, policy encouragement and a growing appetite for innovation-led enterprise. The country’s high-value start-up landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade, with privately held companies valued above USD 1 billion growing from a small base in 2014 to over 120 such firms today, with a combined valuation exceeding USD 350 billion. According to KPMG’s Exploring India’s Dynamic Start-up Ecosystem report, start-ups contributed nearly USD 140 billion to the Indian economy in FY23, with this contribution projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030.
Speaking on the announcement of the programme, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director IIM Kozhikode said,
“Entrepreneurship today demands more than ambition. It requires disciplined thinking, market awareness, and the ability to turn ideas into resilient ventures. This programme reflects IIM Kozhikode’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets. It offers rigorous academic exposure, practical frameworks, and meaningful engagement with India’s growing innovation ecosystem.”
Sridhar Nagarajachar, Business Head – Executive Education, TimesPro said, “India’s entrepreneurial landscape is creating new opportunities for professionals who can combine business acumen with innovation and execution. Through this programme, learners will gain structured exposure to venture creation, finance, marketing, simulations and pitch development, enabling them to approach entrepreneurship with clarity, confidence and strategic depth.”
Participants will learn to generate and assess new business ideas, develop comprehensive business plans, understand the social impact of entrepreneurship and recognise the role of adaptability and sustainability in building successful ventures. The programme will also help them gain a holistic understanding of business functions and develop the ability to navigate challenges across the entrepreneurial journey.
The curriculum has been designed to enhance business acumen through ten learning modules. These include Accounting and Finance, Debt and Equity Financing, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Buying an Existing Business, Growth and Franchising, Corporate Entrepreneurship, and Social Entrepreneurship. As part of the ninth and tenth modules, participants will work in simulation teams to run a company, make critical entrepreneurial decisions and present business plans, thereby applying their learning in a practical and competitive environment.
The Professional Certificate Programme in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation will be delivered through an interactive learning platform in Direct-to-Device mode. The pedagogy will include live online sessions, lectures, case discussions, shared learning experiences, business plan development, pitch presentations and web-based simulations in which teams operate and compete as companies. Learners will also receive practical guidance on accessing finance from banks, including templates, financial analysis, annual fund requirement estimation and self-credit rating. In addition, due diligence sessions will introduce them to key considerations across law, human resources, operations, economics, information technology and emerging technologies.
Graduates or diploma holders from a recognised university or institution approved by UGC, AICTE, DEC, AIU or a State Government, with a minimum of one year of work experience, are eligible to apply. The programme is suited for individuals interested in starting their own ventures, engineering graduates, software engineers, IT professionals and working professionals who aspire to transition from corporate careers to entrepreneurship. Participants who successfully meet the evaluation requirements and fulfil the requisite attendance criteria will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from IIM Kozhikode.
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