A Report on

Design Thinking for Startups & Entrepreneurs 30^th January, 2026 (Friday)

Time: 11:00 AM- 01:00 PM

Venue: Room No. F-106 MSOBM Department

Organized by: E-Club, Maharishi School of Business Management, Maharishi University of Information Technology (MUIT), Noida, in collaboration with MUIT Incubation & Innovation Foundation and supported by the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) and Start-Up India.

Objective of the Workshop

The primary objective of the workshop was to introduce students to the concept of Design Thinking and its application in startups and entrepreneurial ventures. The session aimed to foster innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, customer-centric approaches, and creative decision-making, enabling students to transform ideas into viable business solutions.

Participating Students:

Students from MBA and BBA programs (E-Club members and aspiring entrepreneurs)

Introduction

The session began with the formal felicitation of Prof. (Dr.) Sahab Singh, the Resource Person, by the organizing members of E-Club, Maharishi School of Business Management. This was followed by an insightful introduction to the concept of Design Thinking, in which the speaker encouraged students to approach problems with empathy, creativity, and an open mindset.

Proceedings of the Workshop

The session commenced with the formal welcome of the resource person, Prof. (Dr.) Sahab Singh, followed by an introductory address highlighting the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in today’s dynamic business environment.

Prof. Singh initiated the workshop by explaining the fundamentals of Design Thinking and its relevance for startups. He emphasized that successful entrepreneurship begins with understanding customer needs, empathizing with real-world problems, and designing solutions that are both innovative and practical. The speaker elaborated on the five key stages of Design Thinking—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—illustrating each stage with real-life startup examples.

The session included interactive discussions in which students were encouraged to think creatively, question assumptions, and explore alternative perspectives. Prof. Singh highlighted how Design Thinking helps entrepreneurs reduce risk, improve product–market fit, and build sustainable business models. He stressed that innovation is not limited to technology but also extends to processes, services, and customer experiences.

Through engaging activities and case-based explanations, the speaker demonstrated how startups can use Design Thinking to identify problems, generate ideas, and develop user-focused solutions. Students actively participated and shared their ideas, making the session highly interactive and experiential.

Key Topics Covered

• Concept and importance of Design Thinking
• Role of empathy in understanding customer needs
• Idea generation and creative problem-solving
• Prototyping and testing business ideas
• Design Thinking as a tool for startup success

Conclusion

The workshop on “Design Thinking for Startups & Entrepreneurs” was highly informative and inspiring for the participants. It provided students with practical insights into innovative thinking and entrepreneurial problem-solving. The session successfully motivated students to adopt a design-led approach in their academic projects and future startup initiatives. Overall, the workshop contributed significantly to nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset and strengthening innovation-driven learning among students.