Understanding Incubation & Entrepreneurship Course | IIT Bombay Prof. B.K. Chakravarthy
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 8552 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Design Engineering |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 18 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Understanding Incubation and Entrepreneurship: A 12-Week Guide from IIT Bombay
Have you ever had a groundbreaking idea but felt unsure how to transform it into a viable business? The journey from concept to company is a challenging yet exhilarating path, one that requires a specific mindset, skillset, and framework. The course 'Understanding Incubation and Entrepreneurship', offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, is designed to demystify this very journey.
Led by Prof. B.K. Chakravarthy of the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), this 12-week undergraduate program is a masterclass in building an entrepreneurial foundation. Prof. Chakravarthy brings a wealth of practical experience, having established the Shenoy Innovation Studio and played a key role in translating academic research into real-world products.
What This Course Offers: Beyond Theory
This course moves beyond abstract business theory. It employs a blended learning approach, integrating insights from leading pre-incubators and incubators like GDC, BETIC, SINE, IITH, and DSSE. This provides students with a realistic view of the startup ecosystem.
The curriculum is a dynamic mix of expert lectures, real-world case studies, entrepreneurial stories, and practical exercises. It mirrors the actual classroom experience of IIT Hyderabad students, guiding learners through the critical early stages of venture creation.
Your 12-Week Roadmap to Startup Fundamentals
The course is meticulously structured to build your knowledge step-by-step. Here’s a breakdown of the weekly journey:
| Week | Focus Area | Key Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | Introduction & Hand-holding | Understand core entrepreneurship concepts and learn from early-stage startup stories. |
| Week 3-4 | Team Building & Paradigm Shifts | Explore entrepreneurship types, team dynamics, and the shift from design thinking to business creation (Solar Oven case-study). |
| Week 5-6 | Sector-Specific Innovation | Dive into Bio-Med and New-age entrepreneurship, understanding unique challenges and opportunities. |
| Week 7-8 | Business & Technology Models | Master the Business Model Canvas and explore technology-led venture creation. |
| Week 9-10 | Academic Integration & Ideation | See entrepreneurship as an academic program (IITH case) and learn to generate ideas and build proof of concept. |
| Week 11-12 | Practical Application | Culminate in learning from real startup pitches and applying the Lean Canvas Model to refine your own venture idea. |
Essential Reading for the Aspiring Entrepreneur
To complement the lectures, Prof. Chakravarthy recommends a powerful reading list that provides diverse perspectives on entrepreneurship:
- Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup by Bill Aulet
- The Essence of Medical Device Innovation by B Ravi
- The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid by C.K. Prahalad
- Stay Hungry Stay Foolish by Rashmi Bansal
- The Entrepreneurial Connection: East Meets West in the Silicon Valley by Gurmeet Naroola
- Innovation By Design: Lessons from Post Box Design & Development by B. K. Chakravarthy & Janaki Krishnamoorthi
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is ideal for:
- Undergraduate students in Design Engineering, Technology, or Business who want to explore entrepreneurship.
- Aspiring founders with an idea who need a structured framework to begin.
- Innovators and designers looking to understand the business side of product development.
- Anyone seeking to develop a rigorous, practical understanding of how incubation ecosystems function.
By the end of these 12 weeks, you won't just understand entrepreneurship—you'll be equipped with the tools, mindset, and framework to start navigating your own entrepreneurial journey. You'll learn to form a problem statement, build a team, conduct customer discovery, and model your business, transforming your innovative idea into a potential startup reality.
Enroll Now →