A practical learning initiative where students interact directly with local entrepreneurs and present real business insights.
Date9th of January to 3rd of February, 2026
EventKnow the Business
Organized ByE-Cell, IIIT Surat
Total Registrations23 Teams
Introduction
Know The Business (KTB) is a practical learning initiative where students step beyond classrooms to interact directly with local entrepreneurs and understand how real businesses operate. During this activity, students visit businesses, learn about their operations, revenue models, marketing strategies, and challenges, and gain first-hand exposure to real-world entrepreneurship. After collecting insights, students analyze and present the entrepreneur's business model in front of a jury panel, where they are evaluated on their understanding, analysis, and presentation skills. KTB aims to develop business awareness, practical knowledge, and entrepreneurial thinking among students.
Learning beyond the classroom through observation, analysis and presentation.
Objectives of the Event
To provide real-world exposure to students by connecting them with local entrepreneurs
To help students understand practical business operations and working environments
To enable analysis of real business models, revenue streams, and strategies
To bridge the gap between theoretical academic knowledge and practical industry experience
To develop research, observation, and analytical thinking skills
To enhance communication and professional interaction abilities
To improve presentation and business storytelling skills
To encourage entrepreneurial mindset and innovation thinking
To build market awareness and understanding of customer behavior
Jury Members
Dr. Kaustibh DhongdeDr. Aditya KarnikDr. Nishad G. DeshpandeDr. Sudeep SharmaDr. Hemant S. GokhlaniDr. Manish RaiDr. Khamosh Yadav
Event Structure
The event was structured in a way, where teams visited local businesses, collected insights, performed analysis, and presented their findings before the jury panel. The final presentation was reviewed by the jury members on 2nd & 3rd of February. Teams were evaluated on multiple parameters including business understanding, market analysis, marketing strategy, and presentation skills.
Day 1 Highlights
The teams from the first year demonstrated strong enthusiasm and analytical depth while presenting their observations about the businesses they studied. The jury appreciated the practical insights and structured approach shown by participants.
TEAM VERVE
Anjali — UG25ECE052 — 1st Year
Vyshanvi KP — UG25CCS036 — 1st Year
Hima Chandana — UG25CSE028 — 1st Year
BIZ CATALYST
Dhruv Yadav — UG25ECE020 — 1st Year
Aditya Rathi — UG25ECE005 — 1st Year
BUSINESS MINDS
Aaditesh Parashar — UG25ECE001 — 1st Year
Samarth Kargathia — UG25ECE061 — 1st Year
Shivam Kumar — UG25ECE066 — 1st Year
SHOEDOG
Manvi — UG25CAI017 — 1st Year
STRATEGIC SEEKERS
Hanish M — UG25CSE064 — 1st Year
Nikhil — UG25CSE067 — 1st Year
Lucky Kumar — UG25CSE057 — 1st Year
THE SHARKS
Dhiwyansh Parmar — UG25CCS014 — 1st Year
Harsh Sen — UG25CCS015 — 1st Year
Day 2 Highlights
The second day introduced a more diverse set of teams, including participation across different years of study. The evaluation criteria remained focused on business understanding and presentation quality, with an added emphasis on student academic diversity and cross-year collaboration.
TEAM SPARK
Parth Dobariya — UG25ECE022 — 1st Year
Hiren Kachariya — UG25ECE033 — 1st Year
Namya Shah — UG25ECE043 — 1st Year
TEAM VISION (1st Year)
Shreedhar Joshi — UG25ECE068 — 1st Year
TECHNO VYAPARI (1st Year)
Deep Dobariya — UG25CSE032 — 1st Year
Aayush Patel — UG25CSE002 — 1st Year
Panth Rangholiya — UG25CSE093 — 1st Year
TECHNOLITES
Maitreya Chauhan — UI24CS16 — 2nd Year
Borra Moneshwar — UI24EC13 — 2nd Year
Mallipudi Venkat Subash — UI24CS46 — 2nd Year
VISION HUNTERS (2nd Year)
Divya Patel — UI24EC45 — 2nd Year
Abhinay Gunda — UI24EC24 — 2nd Year
Koushik Tangudu — UI24EC34 — 2nd Year
TEAM BAKEHIVE (1st & 2nd Year)
Rishit Nagar — UI24EC57 — 2nd Year
Pratibha — UG25CSE086 — 1st Year
Priyanka Wadhwani — UG25CSE087 — 1st Year
Judging Criteria
Business Category Understanding
Business Model Clarity
Market Analysis Depth
Marketing Strategy Understanding
Additional Business Insights (Operations, Challenges, Growth Scope, etc.)
Presentation Skills
Overall Impact and Clarity
Key Takeaways
Helped students understand real business challenges
Improved confidence in professional communication
Encouraged entrepreneurial curiosity
Provided networking exposure with local business owners
Winners
1stThe Sharks
Manpasand Khana 2.0
Dhiwyansh Parmar
Harsh Sen
2ndStrategic Seekers
Unisouk 2.0
Hanish Musin
Nikhil Raj
Lucky
3rdBiz Catalyst
Epiphany AI Tech Pvt. Ltd
Dhruv Yadav
Aditya Rathi
3rdTeam Verve
FrozBites
Anjali
Himachandana
Vyshnavi KP
Conclusion
Know The Business (KTB) proved to be a highly impactful experiential learning event. It enabled students to gain first-hand exposure to real-world business environments and apply academic concepts in practical scenarios. The participation, enthusiasm, and quality of analysis presented by students reflected the success of the event in achieving its learning and entrepreneurial development goals. KTB continues to stand as an important initiative in nurturing future business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
