SYMUDHYM 25

Institution’s Innovation Council

The Institution’s Innovation Council at SCMS Noida organized Symudhyam 2025, a two-day entrepreneurship and innovation festival held on April 22–23, 2025. Aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and promoting cross-disciplinary innovation, the event empowered students through mentorship and real-world business exposure. Featuring panel discussions, simulation competitions, strategy challenges, and startup workshops, Symudhyam brought together industry experts, thought leaders, and students, generating enthusiastic participation and a dynamic environment for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Day 1 – April 22nd, 2025

The first day began with a panel discussion titled “Encouraging Innovation through the Power of AI”, featuring a diverse lineup of esteemed panelists including Mr. Deb Gooha, Mr. Aamir Ajmal, Mr. Aditya Kandoi, and Ms. Amrita Sirohia. The conversation focused on how Artificial Intelligence is transforming business by enhancing productivity, decision-making, and efficiency. Mr. Aamir Ajmal discussed AI’s impact on recruitment, highlighting tools like applicant tracking systems and KPI-based filters. Mr. Aditya Kandoi explained how HR departments in tech firms are using AI to drive digital transformation and align operations with innovation goals. Ms. Amrita Sirohia emphasized automation in customer support and operations, sharing how her firm promotes innovation through internal AI hackathons. Mr. Deb Gooha offered a tech-driven view, detailing AI’s role in banking through digital KYC and geo-analytics, while stressing the need to tailor AI tools to specific business models. The session concluded with a shared belief that AI should complement rather than replace human intelligence.

Following the panel, the festival hosted B-Strategist, a strategic case competition designed to test students’ business acumen and problem-solving skills. Participants were presented with a complex scenario for Le Figaro. Teams were required to analyze financial data, identify core business problems, and devise a feasible multi-stage strategy to reposition the brand in the global market. Ultimately, Team Synergy emerged victorious for their bold, innovative, and well-articulated solution, while Team The OGs and Stratagem secured runner-up positions.

The event then progressed to Symulation, a dynamic, three-round simulation-based entrepreneurial challenge that tested participants’ strategic thinking and adaptability. In Round 1, teams engaged in rapid ideation to develop business concepts. Round 2 required domain-specific research and planning. The final round introduced a gamified setup inspired by Monopoly, with “chance” cards impacting team finances and operations in real time, demanding quick strategic pivots. Team Trigo won for their consistent performance and cohesive strategy, while Team 2 were the runners-up.

Another highlight was The Entrepreneur’s Deck, a card-based simulation game that mimicked a startup’s journey from ideation to expansion. Teams navigated stages like Foundation, Scaling, Funding, and Expansion, using cards representing business elements such as marketing, tech, legal issues, and funding. Special “Forfeit” and “Opportunity” cards introduced unexpected twists, pushing teams to make quick strategic decisions, trade resources, and adapt their plans in real time.

Simultaneously, Case Tank, a case study competition in collaboration with INDmoney, challenged participants to apply real-world problem-solving and critical thinking. In the prelims, teams submitted written analyses of a curated business problem, with finalists presenting their solutions before an expert panel. Judging was based on analytical depth, creativity, feasibility, and presentation. Case Floyds took first place with a strategy that combined technical precision and strategic vision, while The Outliers were named runners-up.

The final event of Day 1, Pitch Perfect, was a startup pitch contest focused on AI-integrated business ideas. Teams first submitted a four-slide concept deck, with shortlisted teams presenting to a jury. Ideas ranged from AI in education to agri-tech and sustainable retail. Team Hero Talk won with a compelling pitch blending storytelling, tech depth, and scalability, while Teams Mandi Bhai and Benitwist shared the runner-up spot for their strong presentations and research.

The day concluded with a closing ceremony where Dr. Prashant Dev Yadav, Faculty In-Charge of the Institution’s Innovation Council, delivered the closing remarks. Winners from each event were felicitated with cash prizes and certificates, and the ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks to faculty members, organizing teams, and student volunteers.

Day 2 – April 23rd , 2025

Day 2 centered on structured learning through a multi-session Entrepreneurship Bootcamp led by industry experts. The first session, conducted by Dr. Chandrasekhar Buddha, Chief Coordinating Officer at AICTE, focused on the startup conceptualization phase. He stressed identifying real-world, everyday problems as sources of innovation and introduced tools like the Business Model Canvas (BMC). Dr. Buddha shared examples of successful ventures born from unexpected by-products, highlighted the value of diverse, committed teams, and emphasized designing scalable, user-centric solutions. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, offering students personalized guidance on idea validation and resource mapping.

In the second session, Mr. Abhishek Ranjan, a startup mentor and currently serving as the Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Education, elaborated on the structure of India’s startup ecosystem and how students can leverage platforms like Yukti for mentorship, funding, and acceleration. He walked participants through the three-tier selection model used by the portal to evaluate student startups. Mr. Ranjan highlighted common pitfalls such as weak market research, lack of diverse perspectives, and insufficient branding efforts. He encouraged students to seek continuous feedback and iterate their ideas early in the process. Through relatable anecdotes and candid advice, he inspired budding entrepreneurs to embrace experimentation and long-term thinking.

The final session was led by Mr. Deb Gooha, a senior fintech leader who played a key role in launching RuPay Cards and UPI systems in India. He provided valuable insights into digital payment ecosystems, focusing on how data analytics and digital tools can be harnessed for scalable startup growth. Mr. Gooha emphasized the role of user experience in fintech success, and addressed student queries around startup scaling, regulatory navigation, and building digital trust. His practical advice was especially beneficial for participants with tech-driven ideas seeking to grow in India’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Symudhyam 2025 successfully bridged innovation and execution, blending academic rigor, hands-on learning, and industry mentorship. The festival empowered students to approach entrepreneurship with creativity, resilience, and purpose. Through competitions, real-world challenges, and expert sessions, participants sharpened their business skills and embraced collaboration, adaptability, and bold thinking, reaffirming SCMS Noida’s commitment to nurturing future innovators and changemakers.