The Marketing Committee, IIC, ED Cell, and Research Committee successfully organized an insightful and interactive session titled “Smart Ideas to Smart Markets: AI-Driven Marketing, Business Plans and New Product Development” for MMS Semester II students on 9th February 2026.
The session aimed to encourage entrepreneurial thinking, strategic planning, and practical business exposure among students. The event was graced by distinguished judges and keynote speakers:
- Mr. Hrutveek Gaonkar, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Leafura Sustainable Pvt. Ltd.
- Ms. Meenal Zende, Entrepreneur, Brand Strategist, and Certified Independent Director, Yadnya Brandscapes Pvt. Ltd.
- Dr. Vidya Hattangadi, Professor MM BGIMS
Student Business Plan Presentations
The session commenced with business plan presentations by five student groups, each presenting innovative and market-relevant ideas.
Group 1: Gambling App – “7 Up 7 Down”
The group presented a digital, mobile-first gaming application designed for fast gameplay with simple rules and responsible gaming practices. The concept focused on user-friendly design, data security, regulatory compliance, and safe gaming features. Through the development of this app, the team emphasized the importance of building trust, ensuring security, and creating engaging yet responsible digital platforms.
Group 2: Ethnic Wear Brand – “Dhruva”
Dhruva is a traditional Indian ethnic wear brand that blends heritage with modern elegance under the tagline “Where Tradition Meets Grace.” The brand symbolizes stability, strength, and timelessness. The presentation highlighted premium sarees crafted with quality fabrics and traditional designs infused with contemporary aesthetics. Targeting women who value culture and elegance, especially for festivals and weddings, Dhruva aims to create an emotional connection by celebrating Indian heritage with pride and grace.
Group 3: MBA Curriculum Design – HRM
This group proposed a comprehensive two-year, 104-credit MBA in Human Resource Management (HRM) program. The curriculum is structured to develop industry-ready HR professionals through a progression from core management subjects to advanced strategic HRM and a capstone project. The program integrates HR analytics, technology, leadership skills, and industry exposure, catering to fresh graduates, working professionals, and career switchers.
Group 4: Gluten-Free Mix Atta – “Poshan Plus”
Poshan Plus is a nutritious gluten-free atta made from Rajgira (amaranth) and Singhara (water chestnut), developed under the concept “Doh Anaaj, Ek Shakti.” Designed for health-conscious consumers, diabetics, and gluten-intolerant individuals, it bridges traditional fasting foods with modern nutritional needs. With affordable pricing and strong multi-channel distribution potential, the brand envisions becoming a trusted name in the health-food segment.
Group 5: Luxury Pet Boarding – “Pawlace Royale”
Pawlace Royale Luxury Pet Hotel addresses the growing demand for premium pet care services. The concept includes luxury boarding, grooming, and supervised play services. With rising pet ownership and increasing expenditure on pet well-being, the business model demonstrates financial feasibility and strong long-term growth potential.
The judges appreciated the creativity, research depth, and confidence demonstrated by all participating groups.
Key Insights from the Speakers
Ms. Meenal Zende
Ms. Zende emphasized that every successful business begins with identifying a genuine and meaningful problem. She encouraged students to critically evaluate their ideas by asking:
- What is the real problem?
- Is the problem real or merely assumed?
- Are alternative solutions already available?
She stressed the importance of market validation, identifying gaps, strategic planning, teamwork, financial preparedness, and adaptability. She also advised students to pursue internships and practical exposure to understand the real dynamics of entrepreneurship.
Mr. Hrutveek Gaonkar
Mr. Gaonkar explained the key differences between traditional businesses and startups, highlighting innovation, scalability, and problem-solving as core startup attributes. He elaborated on government initiatives supporting budding entrepreneurs, including pre-seeding funding opportunities and the Maharashtra Startup Policy 2025 implemented by the Government of Maharashtra.
He encouraged students to actively seek industry exposure and understand the operational realities of running a business to build sustainable ventures.
Dr. Vidya Hattangadi
Dr. Vidya Hattangadi appreciated all the students for their sincere efforts and innovative ideas, while also offering constructive suggestions for improvement. She encouraged them to evaluate their concepts from the perspective of all business functions—marketing, finance, operations, and human resources—and guided them on how to systematically transform ideas into practical, implementable ventures. Her insights motivated students to think strategically and approach their business plans with a holistic and realistic mindset.
Overall Learning
The session provided students with practical insights into transforming innovative ideas into viable market opportunities. Key learnings included:
- The importance of identifying and validating real market problems
- Understanding the difference between a business concept and a scalable startup
- The role of AI-driven marketing and strategic planning in product development
- Financial planning, compliance, and regulatory awareness
- The value of teamwork, adaptability, and continuous learning
- Awareness of government policies and funding support for startups
- The importance of internships and hands-on industry exposure
The presentations enhanced students’ confidence, analytical thinking, and entrepreneurial mindset, while also giving them constructive feedback from experienced industry professionals.
Feedback
The session was highly engaging, informative, and practically oriented. Students appreciated the constructive feedback from the judges, which helped them refine their ideas and understand market realities. The speakers’ real-world examples and guidance on government support schemes added significant value.
The interactive format encouraged participation and critical thinking. Such sessions provide a strong platform for students to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry expectations.
Overall, the event was a great success and contributed meaningfully to nurturing innovation, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial awareness among MMS students. A total of 50 participated in this session.
