Bangalore : The NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is all set to host the 2013 edition of Next Big Idea (NBI), a national business plan competition between May 20th  and May 22nd , 2013 at IIMB.

NBI is sponsored and generously supported by the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under the aegis of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Intel India. The competition will be conducted in 2 rounds. The 32 teams that have been selected to participate in the pre-final will be shortlisted to 10 teams to present at the final.  The top three teams will be identified at the end of the finals.  The details of the first, second and third prize winner will be announced at a separate award function later in June 2013.

NBI is one of the most prestigious national level business plan competitions that provide students with a platform to blossom into entrepreneurs. The top two entries of the competition get to participate in the Intel Global Challenge to be held at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

The two teams will participate alongside participants from close to 30 countries across the world.  The cost of participating in the global challenge is borne by Intel and Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.  Participants at the global challenge get a great opportunity to present their ideas to highly successful entrepreneurs and investors in USA. The first prize winner of NBI 2012, Greenway Grameen Infra (mentored by NSRCEL), won the Intel Global Challenge in 2012.

Why is NBI so special?

Unlike other contests, NBI provides mentoring support to every contestant who is shortlisted for the finals.  Apart from getting valuable inputs for modifying their business strategy from highly successful entrepreneurs and corporate managers who volunteer to mentor the contestants, the teams will also receive guidance on making effective presentations. It is a great opportunity for the teams to present their business plan to a wide range of business leaders from the corporate and private equity investment communities and academics in the jury panel.