Successful candidates will be awarded a certificate from XLRI Leadership Education and Development (Image source: Pexels/ representative)XLRI in collaboration with Masai, one of India’s outcome-based learning platforms, has announced the launch of a six-month entrepreneurship programme aimed at equipping recent graduates, working professionals, and aspiring founders with hands-on skills, mentorship, and exposure to the startup ecosystem.The programme is open to graduates from any stream. Selection will be based on a qualifier test conducted by Masai, followed by a counselling process before admission. Successful candidates will be awarded a certificate from XLRI Leadership Education and Development.Applications are now open on Masai’s official website.Structured around six modules — founder’s mindset, problem-solving and idea discovery, prototyping and product-market fit, marketing and brand building, business models and fundraising, and scaling and demo day — the programme will combine live interactive sessions, hands-on mentorship, and real-world projects. Participants will engage in tasks such as building MVPs with no-code tools like Webflow and Bubble, running marketing campaigns, creating financial plans, conducting customer interviews, and preparing investor-ready pitch decks.The programme will start with a Demo Day at XLRI’s campus, where selected teams will present their ventures to investors and industry mentors in a two-day pitch challenge.The launch of the new programme comes at a time when the global digital economy — driven largely by entrepreneurial ventures — is projected to touch $23 trillion by 2025, growing at an annual rate of 15–20 per cent. In India, startups drew a record $35 billion in funding in 2024, underscoring the country’s dynamic entrepreneurial landscape. Against this backdrop, the Masai–XLRI programme seeks to prepare the next wave of founders to turn ideas into scalable ventures.Commenting on the launch, Prateek Shukla, CEO and co-founder of Masai, said: “India is brimming with entrepreneurial energy, but structured, outcome-driven pathways to turn ideas into ventures remain scarce. With this program, we aim to provide aspiring founders with the mindset, skills, and mentorship to navigate challenges and build sustainable businesses. By combining the academic strength of XLRI with Masai’s practical approach, we are creating a learning experience that prepares participants for the realities of entrepreneurship.”Dr Arindam Mondal, Program Director, XLRI, added: “Entrepreneurship has the potential to create not only businesses but also long-term social and economic impact. This programme reflects XLRI’s commitment to nurturing future leaders who are equipped with resilience, ethical grounding, and practical skills. Through rigorous training, mentorship, and real-world exposure, we want to help participants develop ventures that are innovative, responsible, and scalable.”Story continues below this adThe curriculum will feature XLRI faculty alongside startup founders, investors, and industry leaders. Participants will also gain access to AI-powered and no-code platforms for product development, analytics, and automation. Industry readiness will be further strengthened through case studies, peer collaboration, and direct engagement with the startup ecosystem.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:entrepreneurshipXLRI