XLRI Delhi-NCR Launches New PGDM IEV Cohort with Focus on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation
XLRI Delhi-NCR, one of India’s premier management institutions, welcomed a new cohort of its Post Graduate Diploma in Management – Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Venture Development (PGDM IEV), a programme designed to nurture aspiring entrepreneurs by combining management education with experiential learning, incubation, mentorship and industry engagement. The students were initiated into XLRI through a three-day orientation programme.
‘The programme was inaugurated by Fr. Antony R. Uvari SJ, Director; Prof. Munish Thakur, Dean Academics; Fr. Alwyn Rodrigues SJ, Dean Admin and Finance and Ms. Rachna Tiwary, COO Entrepreneurship The orientation commenced with the inauguration of the programme, featuring keynote addresses by Mr. Ramkumar Thirumurty, Chief Revenue Officer, Pine Labs (SETU), and Mr. Deep Kalra, Founder and Chairman, MakeMyTrip. While Mr. Thirumurty shared insights on the evolving fintech landscape, digital innovation, and building technology-led businesses in the age of AI, Mr. Kalra reflected on his entrepreneurial journey, scaling one of India’s pioneering internet companies, and the importance of resilience, customer-centricity, and long-term value creation. The inaugural session also included a fireside chat and interactive Q&A, allowing students to engage directly with both industry leaders.
Spread over three days, the orientation programme was designed to familiarise students with XLRI’s academic ecosystem while providing early exposure to India’s startup landscape. The programme featured discussions on fundraising and venture capital, India’s innovation ecosystem through initiatives such as Startup India and NITI Aayog, entrepreneurship-led initiatives like Jagriti Yatra, and an orientation to campus resources and support systems.
PGDM IEV is an AICTE-approved, two-year programme designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, next-generation family business leaders and early-stage professionals. PGDM IEV aims to equip students with the knowledge, mindset and practical experience required to build and scale ventures. Unlike conventional management programmes, it integrates classroom learning with live projects, internships, founder interactions, startup conclaves, industry visits and investor engagement. Students also gain access to XLRI’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through XCEED, XLRI’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, which offers mentorship, networking opportunities, incubation support and access to funding avenues.
Since its inception, the programme has supported ventures across sectors including agritech, AI, consumer brands, edtech and clean energy. Through its Demo Day and incubation initiatives, students have had the opportunity to showcase revenue-positive startups before investors while benefiting from continuous mentoring, ecosystem partnerships and founder-led learning experiences.
Welcoming the incoming cohort, Fr Antony R Uvari, SJ., Director, XLRI Delhi-NCR, said, “Entrepreneurship is not merely about building successful businesses; it is about identifying opportunities where others see challenges, creating value for society, and having the courage to transform ideas into meaningful action. At XLRI, we believe that when innovation is guided by purpose, integrity and compassion, it creates enterprises that not only succeed but also serve society.”
Adding to this, Prof. Munish Thakur, Dean (Academics), XLRI Delhi-NCR, said, “I hope the IEV program nurtures students with an entrepreneurial mindset, clarity of thought, an enduring fire in the belly, and the passion to create meaningful change.”
With the new cohort, XLRI Delhi-NCR continues to strengthen its commitment to developing entrepreneurial leaders equipped to build innovative, sustainable and impact-driven ventures.
