The Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship of XISS (CIINEX), Ranchi, organized an inspiring startup talk session titled, “Navigating the Challenges of Early-Stage Startups: The Ecosystem,” featuring Mr Abhinav Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Osam Dairy on 16 January 2025 to celebrate the ‘Start-up Day’. The event aimed towards inspiring students for exploring entrepreneurial opportunities and provided insights into the realities of running a business venture.  The talk session was attended by Heads of Programs (HoPs), faculty members and the first- and second-year students from all the departments.

Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director, XISS, opened the session by welcoming Mr Shah and highlighted the importance of innovation and startups in building the nation’s wealth. He encouraged students to actively participate and motivate themselves to embrace entrepreneurship and also explore ideas for entrepreneurship in the future.  Dr Amar Eron Tigga, Dean Academics, followed with a reminder that students are key to CIINEX’s mission. He stressed the need to shift from being job seekers to job creators and highlighted the rising demand for skills over traditional work.

Mr Abhinav Shah then took the stage and shared his entrepreneurial journey. Proudly speaking about Osam Dairy, which employs over 650 people, he emphasized the joy of building something from scratch. The session highlighted valuable insights into the journey of Osam Dairy as an enterprise and the general aspects of entrepreneurship in the growth phase. It also reflected on the ecosystem and the multifarious challenges in the early phase as well as growth phase of startups.

The talk equally navigated the regional context of Jharkhand and Bihar and its ecosystem for the startups such as Osam dairy.  He highlighted several essential skills for aspiring entrepreneurs. He stressed the importance of conducting a thorough self-SWOT analysis and explained how mastering sales and marketing is critical. He equally emphasised on the numbers and the business aspects of startups which is key to ensure a sustainable business model. He also underscored the value of teamwork and networking. He addressed the risks involved in entrepreneurship, sharing that six out of ten startups fail within their first six months. Despite these odds, he urged students to see failure as part of the journey, not the end of it.

Mr Shah shared the story behind Osam Dairy’s inception, highlighting the importance of identifying market gaps and developing a business idea rooted in solving real-world problems. He emphasized the value of resilience, adaptability, and a long-term vision. Drawing from his personal entrepreneurial journey, he spoke about the transition from ideation to execution, emphasizing the role of teamwork in overcoming early-stage hurdles. He elaborated on Osam Dairy’s success in introducing innovation within a traditional industry and building a trustworthy brand. Speaking about marketing strategies, he stressed the importance of storytelling, transparency, and connecting with local markets before scaling to a national level. On financial management, Mr. Shah discussed the funding landscape, explaining the difference between bootstrapping and raising capital, as well as the significance of maintaining cash flow for sustainability.

He also addressed the legal and regulatory aspects, focusing on compliance with safety and quality standards and navigating bureaucratic challenges. One of the most engaging parts of the session was the exploration of business challenges, where Mr. Shah shared his strategies for tackling competition, creating a unique value proposition, tapping financial resources and building a reliable supply chain. Lastly, he highlighted the lessons learned from failures, but consistently going ahead with that fun, passion and positive attitude to make one’s own success story. The talk provided a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, emphasizing adaptability, customer focus, teamwork, and sustainability as key ingredients for entrepreneurial success. It left the audience motivated to take their first steps into the startup world with confidence and clarity.

The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, during which students asked insightful questions about balancing quality and affordability, finding mentors and investors, and building a competitive edge in the markets. Mr Shah encouraged students to explore entrepreneurship fearlessly while leveraging resources like CINNEX for guidance and mentorship.