Entrepreneurship and Startup Culture: Over the past decade, Indian business schools have transformed from being mere launching pads for corporate careers into hubs for nurturing entrepreneurial aspirations. This shift reflects the broader changes in the Indian economy, where startups are no longer a marginal phenomenon but have become key drivers of growth, innovation, and job creation.
Entrepreneurship and Startup Culture: From Placements to Ventures:
Traditionally, India’s B-schools measured their success by placement packages and corporate tie-ups. Students were groomed to become managers in multinational companies or consulting firms. Today, a new trend has emerged: graduates are increasingly drawn to starting their own ventures rather than taking jobs at established companies.
Top institutions like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and FMS Delhi now have incubation centers, entrepreneurship cells, and startup clubs as integral parts of their DNA. Students no longer ask, “Which company will you work for?” but rather, “What problem can I solve?”
Push from Institutions:
Business schools are deliberately fostering this mindset. They have introduced elective courses on venture creation, design thinking, and venture capital. Many institutions have partnered with startup accelerators and angel networks to provide seed funding and mentorship.
For example, at NSRCEL (NSRCEL is a leading incubation center in India for startups, emerging businesses, and women entrepreneurs), the innovation hub at IIM Bangalore, student ventures receive not only financial support but also structured guidance from industry veterans.
Hackathons, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship conferences have become annual events, providing students with a platform to test their ideas and attract investors. These initiatives demonstrate that entrepreneurship is no longer just an extracurricular activity but a viable career path.
Entrepreneurship and Startup: B-School and Entrepreneurship Rates
i) Only 1-2% of students from top B-schools in India pursue entrepreneurship immediately after graduation.
ii) At IIM Ahmedabad, out of a batch of 300-400 students, approximately 7-8 students (around 2-3%) start or join a startup immediately after the program.
In contrast, some private B-schools saw higher rates of students opting for entrepreneurship in 2020: for example, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management saw around 16% of students opting for entrepreneurship in 2020; this number later declined. At NMIMS, it was around 3.6% in 2020 and around 1.6% in 2022.
Why are Students Choosing Startups?
There are three reasons for the growing startup culture in B-schools:
i) Changing mindset: Today’s students don’t just want high salaries; they crave freedom, impact, and the thrill of creating something new.
ii) Ecosystem support: India’s growing startup ecosystem, with government initiatives like Startup India and venture capital funding, is lowering the barriers to entry.
iii) Role models: Success stories of alumni – like Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal (IIT + IIM graduates) of Flipkart – inspire current students to follow suit.
Key Figures and Trends: Startup Registration and Ecosystem Growth
i) By mid-2025, approximately 1,80,683 startups were registered under Startup India in India, with 21,683 new companies added that year alone.
ii) In the last 10 years, over 120,000 startups have been registered in India, making it one of the top 3 startup ecosystems in the world.
iii) Under the Atal Incubation Center (AIC) scheme, 72 AICs are operational across India. These AIICs have incubated over 3,500 startups, created more than 32,000 jobs, and supported over 1,000 startups founded or led by women. The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has also established numerous incubation and innovation labs.
However, IIT Roorkee Director Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant stated that students are not interested in working in the ‘process industry’ and prefer jobs in sectors like IT, finance, and consulting, as these offer attractive salary packages and job benefits. Speaking at the institute’s convocation ceremony this week, Prof. Pant said, “Students don’t want to do tough jobs anymore, which is a cause for concern.”
Entrepreneurship and Startup: Challenges Ahead:
The allure of entrepreneurship often clashes with reality. High failure rates, funding gaps, and mental health issues remain significant hurdles. B-schools need to prepare students not just to chase funding rounds, but to navigate failures and build sustainable businesses. By offering courses on resilience, sustainable finance, and ethical leadership, they can strike a balance between ambition and pragmatism.
A Broader Impact:
By integrating entrepreneurship into their culture, Indian B-schools are not only nurturing future entrepreneurs but also redefining management education. The focus has shifted from preparing employees to creating employers, from securing jobs to generating opportunities. In doing so, they also align with India’s ambitious vision of becoming a hub for innovation-driven growth.
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