Step into the shoes of founders and bring your entrepreneurial vision to life with NAVRACHNA, the flagship Shark Tank-style pitch competition at XAVIESTA 5.0. Designed to challenge innovation, business acumen and financial thinking, the competition takes participants through three exciting stages: developing a compelling business pitch, presenting their venture before a panel of investors, and navigating real-world business crises. From identifying market opportunities and building viable business models to defending financial assumptions and making strategic decisions under pressure, participants must demonstrate creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurial excellence. Assemble your team of four and pitch your way from an idea to a venture ready to face the real world! ROUND 1 – THE PITCH DECK Build the Vision. Pitch the Idea. Teams must submit a written pitch deck presenting their entrepreneurial venture, including the problem being addressed, proposed solution, target market, value proposition, competitive advantage, growth strategy, financial assumptions and funding ask. The submission will be evaluated on innovation, problem-solution fit, market understanding and completeness. The Top 16 teams will qualify for Round 2.
Team Size: 4
Written Pitch Deck Submission: Business pitch deck covering problem, solution, target market, value proposition, competitive advantage, growth strategy, financials and funding ask.
Top 16 Teams Evaluation: Innovation, problem-solution fit, market understanding and completeness. ROUND 2 – THE FOUNDER'S PITCH Present the Vision. Defend the Business. Shortlisted teams will present their ventures before a panel of judges, explaining their business models, target markets, competitive positioning, financial assumptions, scalability and funding requirements. The round will consist of a live pitch followed by an investor-style cross-examination, where participants must defend their assumptions and demonstrate a strong understanding of their venture. This is a qualifying round and not the final.
Team Size: 4
Offline Format: Live Pitch + Investor
Q&A Challenge: Present and defend the business model, market opportunity, competition, financials, scalability and funding ask.
Evaluation: Business understanding, communication, financial thinking and ability to defend assumptions.
Qualification: Finalists advance to Round 3. ROUND 3 – FACE THE REAL WORLD Adapt. Negotiate. Defend. Finalists will deliver a concise pitch or recap of their venture before facing a real-time, scenario-based cross-examination. Teams will encounter unexpected business challenges tailored to their ventures, including cost shocks, new competitors, cash-flow crises, sudden demand surges and regulatory changes. Participants must adapt their strategies, explain trade-offs and defend their decisions before the judging panel.
Venue
St. Xavier's University, Kolkata Plot No. III - B/1, Action Area III B Newtown, Kolkata - 700160
Kolkata, India
Team Size: 4
Members Mode: Offline – Grand
Finale Format: Final Pitch/Recap + Scenario Challenge + Investor/Judge
Cross-Examination Challenge: Real-world business crisis and strategic decision-making.
Evaluation: Strategic thinking, adaptability, financial judgment, negotiation, communication, teamwork and founder mindset. OVERALL RULES & REGULATIONS
Team Size: 4 Members. No substitutions once registered. Open to college students; valid ID is required for offline rounds.
Format: Round 1 (Online) → Round 2 (Offline) → Round 3 (Offline Final).
AI in Round 1: Language/design polishing only; not for the core business idea or financials. One laptop per team for offline presentation material; mobile phones are prohibited unless explicitly permitted. Submission deadlines and prescribed formats apply; no late submissions or resubmissions. No inter-team collaboration; violations may lead to disqualification. Round 3 scenarios are confidential and must not be obtained in advance. The judges' decisions are final and binding.