Applied Startup Leadership Lab

Your Launchpad to Startup Leadership

Founder’s Office | Entrepreneur in Residence | Growth & Strategy | Chief of Staff

Session Mode

Online

Duration

4 months

Commitment

8-10 hours per week

Program kickoff

24th October

Session Days

Weekend

Enrollment Deadline

10th October

Hand-on Module

Live Sessions

0 +

Real-world Projects

Personalized Support

0 %

Why Startup Roles Are Hot Careers Today?

Excellent Opportunities

Diversity · Impact · Upside

India’s startup ecosystem is expanding across sectors and geographies, creating diverse career opportunities beyond traditional career paths.

2.3L+

Recognised startups

23L+

Direct jobs created

~50%

Beyond metro cities

Career Growth

Ownership · Exposure · Acceleration

A rapidly expanding startup ecosystem is creating opportunities for both experienced professionals and fresh graduates to take ownership early.

55,200+

New startups in FY26

36%

Job creation growth

0-3 yrs

Freshers welcome too

Smart Generalist

Policy · Business · Problem-Solving

Startups reward people who can work across functions, understand problems holistically and turn ideas into measurable outcomes.

Functions, one career

32%

AI hiring growth

23%

Startup AI talent

Exit Opportunities

Build · Lead · Create

Startup experience can open pathways into high-growth companies, leadership roles, consulting and eventually entrepreneurship.

120+

Indian unicorns

$350B+

Unicorn ecosystem value

1 → Founder

Build your own startup

Who is this PROGRAM for?

The “One More Attempt” Club

For UPSC aspirants building a Plan B

Develop startup-ready skills alongside UPSC preparation, without putting your career on hold.

The “What Next?” Batch

For aspirants exploring alternatives Transition from UPSC preparation into high-growth startup roles across strategy, operations, research, product and more.

The Weekend Warriors

For working professionals seeking a switch

Move from your current role into the startup ecosystem and build a career with greater ownership, exposure and growth.

The Career Rebuilders

For professionals moving beyond low-growth roles

Transition from coaching, teaching, content and similar roles into high-growth startup careers with greater ownership, learning and managerial growth.

Why UPSC Aspirants in Startup Roles?

Smart Generalist

Connect the dots. Solve across domains.

Turn multidisciplinary knowledge into an advantage across strategy, policy, operations and growth.

High-Ownership

Own problems. Create visible impact.

Work directly on strategy, operations, growth and Founder’s Office challenges.

Quick Learner

Learn fast. Adapt faster.

Thrive in dynamic environments where curiosity, adaptability and continuous learning matters.

Strong Communicators

Think clearly. Communicate with influence.

UPSC preparation builds structured thinking, articulation and stakeholder communication that startups value.

Get Sh*t Done

Less theory. More execution.

Turn ideas into outcomes with initiative, ownership and an execution-first mindset.

What Makes This Program Unique?

Live Masterclasses

Learn from industry practitioners and understand how the startup ecosystem works in the real world.

Industry Practitioners

Gain insights from founders, hiring leaders and professionals solving real business problems.

Portfolio Strengthening

Build projects, case studies and proof of work that make your profile market-ready.

Networking

Connect with founders, professionals and peers and build a strong industry network.

Personalised Support & Guidance

Get 1:1 career guidance, role mapping and profile positioning for startup careers.

Placement Support

Access relevant startup opportunities through our partner network and get hiring support.

Explore High-Ownership Career Pathways

Founder’s Office

Work closely with founders on strategic priorities and special projects.

Strategy & Business Operations

Solve critical business problems and drive initiatives.

Growth & Go-To-Market

Identify growth opportunities and drive business expansion.

Chief of Staff

Support leadership on strategic priorities and organisational alignment.

Entrepreneur in Residence

Explore new ventures, markets and strategic opportunities.

Strategic Projects

Lead high-priority, cross-functional initiatives.

Category Manager

Manage product categories, performance and growth opportunities.

Program Manager

Lead cross-functional programs, execution and delivery.

Program Curriculum

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

Module 7

Module 8

Module 9

Module 10

Module 11

Module 12

Module 13

Module 14

Module 15

Module 16

How Businesses Actually Work

What to Cover :

What is a business? Startup vs SME vs enterprise; creating, delivering & capturing value; business models; customers, products, revenue, costs and profit; business teardown

Practical Output :

1-page Business Teardown

Customers, Markets & Business Economics

What to Cover :

Customer segments, ICP, value proposition, B2B vs B2C, JTBD; revenue streams; fixed/variable costs; gross margin, contribution margin, EBITDA; CAC, LTV, break-even

Practical Output :

Business Model + Unit Economics Analysis

How Organisations Operate

What to Cover :

Functions and their interdependencies; organisational structures; decision rights; RACI; accountability; operating cadence; KPIs vs OKRs; business reviews and decision logs

Practical Output :

Design a 200-person Startup Operating Model

Business Problem Solving

What to Cover :

Problem vs symptom; problem framing; scope; facts vs assumptions; MECE; issue trees; driver trees; hypotheses; first-principles thinking; root-cause analysis

Practical Output :

Problem Statement + Issue Tree + Hypotheses

Solving Business Cases Under Uncertainty

What to Cover :

Incomplete information; identifying what is known/unknown; prioritising analysis; testing hypotheses; 5 Whys, Fishbone, Pareto; evidence-based recommendations

Practical Output :

End-to-End Business Case

Excel for Business Analysis

What to Cover :

Data cleaning; formulas; IF/AND/OR; XLOOKUP; SUMIFS/COUNTIFS; filtering; segmentation; pivot tables; conditional analysis

Practical Output :

Excel Analysis + Management Dashboard

Metrics, Growth & Analytics

What to Cover :

Metrics vs KPIs; North Star Metric; leading/lagging indicators; funnels; conversion; cohorts; retention; churn; ARPU/AOV; diagnosing performance problems

Practical Output :

Growth & Retention Diagnostic

Finance for Operators

What to Cover :

Reading P&L; revenue, COGS, gross profit, OpEx, EBITDA, net profit; cash flow; working capital; CapEx vs OpEx; unit economics; diagnosing financial performance

Practical Output :

Financial Diagnosis of a Company

Decision Making & Prioritisation

What to Cover :

Decision framing; alternatives; trade-offs; opportunity cost; cost-benefit analysis; expected value; impact vs effort; risk/reward; scenario analysis

Practical Output :

CEO Decision Simulation: ₹10 Cr Allocation

Market & Competitive Intelligence

What to Cover :

Market definition; TAM/SAM/SOM; market sizing; industry growth; market attractiveness; competitor mapping; benchmarking; Five Forces; SWOT

Practical Output :

Market & Competitive Intelligence Report

Strategy & Go-to-Market

What to Cover :

Strategy vs tactics; competitive advantage; positioning; strategic choices; growth vs profitability; build/buy/partner; ICP; acquisition; conversion; retention; pricing; channels

Practical Output :

5-Slide Strategy + GTM Recommendation

Product & Customer Thinking

What to Cover :

Customer journey; JTBD; pain points; product-market fit; MVP thinking; feature prioritisation; impact vs effort; product metrics; experiments/A-B testing

Practical Output :

Product Prioritisation Case

Project Management & Execution

What to Cover :

Project vs programme; objectives; scope; milestones; WBS; dependencies; critical path; RACI; RAID; risk management; governance; status reporting; execution recovery

Practical Output :

Project Plan + RAID + Recovery Plan

Stakeholder & Executive Management

What to Cover :

Stakeholder mapping; influence without authority; alignment; negotiation; conflict; escalation; senior stakeholder management; CEO communication; BLUF; Pyramid Principle; executive storytelling

Practical Output :

1-Page CEO Memo + 5-Slide Executive Deck

Founder’s Office / Chief of Staff Simulation

What to Cover :

What CoS/Founder’s Office actually does; CEO leverage; strategic vs operational work; decision support; executive prioritisation; leadership meetings; business reviews; cross-functional execution

Practical Output :

CEO Briefing + Executive Decision Simulation

Generalist Challenge + Career Readiness

What to Cover :

Full business case covering financial, customer, market and operational data; diagnosis; strategy; execution roadmap; KPIs; JD decoding; CoS vs Strategy vs PM/Ops positioning; resume, LinkedIn, portfolio, STAR stories, case interviews, guesstimates

Practical Output :

Final Capstone + 15-min CEO/Board Presentation + Career Plan

Month 1

Business Foundations & Problem Solving

Month 2

Business Analytics & Finance

Month 3

Strategy, Market & Product

Month 4

Execuion, Leadership & Founder’s Office

What you will learn :

Business Models & Value Creation
Customers, Markets & Value Proposition
Revenue, Costs & Unit Economics
Organisational Design & Operating Models
KPIs, OKRs & Business Reviews
KPIs, OKRs & Business Reviews
Problem Framing & Scoping
MECE, Issue Trees & Hypothesis Thinking
Root-Cause & First-Principles Analysis

What you will learn :

Business Case Solving Under Uncertainty
Evidence-Based Problem Solving
Excel for Business Analysis
Data Analysis & Management Dashboards
Metrics, KPIs & Performance Measurement
Growth, Funnels & Customer Analytics
P&L, Profitability & Unit Economics
Cash Flow, Working Capital & Financial Diagnosis

What you will learn :

Decision Making & Strategic Trade-offs
Cost-Benefit & Scenario Analysis
Market Sizing & Industry Analysis
Competitive Intelligence & Benchmarking
Strategy & Competitive Advantage
Go-to-Market Strategy
Customer & Product Thinking
MVP, Prioritisation & Experimentation

What you will learn :

Project Planning & Execution
Dependencies, Critical Path & Risk Management
Governance & Operating Cadence
Stakeholder Management & Influence
Negotiation, Escalation & Senior Management
Executive Communication & Storytelling
Founder’s Office & Chief of Staff
Business Cases & Career Readiness

Programme JOURNEY

Learn Startup skills

Build comprehensive, market-relevant skills through expert-led live masterclasses.

Strengthen Portfolio

Apply foundational consulting skills to execute a real-world project and showcase your credibility.

Resume Mentorship

Craft a polished, ATS-compliant resume with personalized guidance from the founders.

Gap Coverage Strategy

Compelling story to showcase your gap years as strength adding value to your targeted role.

Job Hunt Strategy

Helping you build a maverick job hunt strategy for your targeted roles.

Cover Letter Review

Create a compelling, job-winning cover letter and get it personally reviewed by industry experts.

LinkedIn Optimization

Stand out to recruiters with one-on-one mentorship to enhance your LinkedIn visibility.

Interview Preparation

Refine your narrative and interview content through mock interviews and personalized feedback.

Assignment Support

Get detailed reviews on your assignments to stand out in competitive hiring processes.

10.

Strategy Refinement

Analyze your job search progress and fine-tune strategies in focused 1:1 sessions.

11.

Salary Negotiation

Get expert advice on navigating job offers and negotiating for the compensation you deserve.

12.

Placement support

Placement support till you get your first job.

Faculty : Learn from Practitioners Who Have Lived It

Shruti Sinha

Business Strategy & Startup Professional | Chief of Staff, Chakr Innovation

7+

Years of Experience

4+

Diverse Roles Held

IIM

Kozhikode Alumna

B2C

Consumer Internet Experience

PAST EXPERIENCE

Chief of Staff

SpeakX.ai | Chakr Innvovation

EDUCATION

MBA, IIM Kozhikode

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Amazon

CONSULTANT

Oracle

EXPERTISE

Business Strategy

Program Management

Operations

Startup Strategy

Program Outcomes

What Happens After You complete the program

Your Rebounce certificate is the smallest thing you walk away with. Here is what actually changes

BEFORE THE PROGRAM

Where most learners start

Unclear Career Direction

No clear path beyond conventional careers

Limited Marketable Skills

Knowledge without industry-ready application

Generic Resume

A profile that doesn't stand out

Limited Proof of Work

Few tangible projects to showcase

Small Professional Network

Limited access to industry professionals

Low Hiring Confidence

Uncertainty around roles and opportunities

THE 4-MONTH PROGRAM

From Business Fundamentals to Startup Execution

Month 1

BUSINESS & PROBLEM SOLVING

Business Fundamentals · Business Models · Structured Thinking · Executive Communication

Month 2

DATA, FINANCE & DECISION-MAKING

Excel · Business Analytics · Finance · Metrics · Strategic Decisions

Month 3

STRATEGY, GROWTH & PRODUCT

Market Intelligence · Strategy · GTM · Growth · Product & Customer Thinking

Month 4

EXECUTION & LEADERSHIP

Project Management · Stakeholder Management · Founder’s Office · Capstone

AFTER THE PROGRAM

Where you can be

Marketable Startup Skills

Strategy, execution & business acumen

8 Portfolio Projects

Practical proof of real-world capability

Impeccable Resume

Sharper positioning for high-growth roles

Strong Professional Network

Peers, practitioners & industry connections

Placement Support

Access relevant startup opportunities

Salary Negotiation Power

Stronger leverage for better offers

Pricing

₹19,922

~~₹28,460~~

Duration: 4 Months
Session Mode: Online
Commitment: 8-10 hours per week
Program Kickoff: 24th October
Enrollment Deadline: 10th October
Session Days: Weekend

End to end support and guidance from upskilling till salary negotiations

Risk is Ours

If you’re not satisfied after the first session, we offer a no-questions-asked, 100% refund. No risk to you – we believe in the value we deliver.

Have Any Queries?

We’ll reach out within 24 hours to answer any questions about the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Startup Leadership Program?

The Startup Leadership Program is a practitioner-led program designed to help UPSC aspirants build the business acumen, strategic thinking and execution capabilities required for high-ownership careers in the startup ecosystem.

Who is this program for?

The program is designed primarily for UPSC aspirants and ambitious professionals looking to transition into cross-functional roles within startups and high-growth organisations.

What do you mean by a Smart Generalist?

A Smart Generalist is someone who can learn across domains, connect different perspectives and solve problems that do not fall neatly within one function.

This capability is particularly valuable in startups, where professionals often work across multiple areas.

Do I need prior startup experience?

No. Prior startup experience is not required. The program is designed to help you understand the startup ecosystem while building practical capabilities from the ground up.

Is this program only for aspiring founders?

No. The program is designed for professionals exploring a wide range of startup careers, including Founder’s Office, Strategy, Business Operations, Growth and other high-ownership roles.

How does UPSC preparation help in startup careers?

UPSC preparation can build transferable capabilities such as research, structured thinking, communication, systems thinking and comfort with ambiguity.

The program helps you translate these strengths into practical business capabilities.

Will I work on practical projects?

Yes. The program incorporates business cases, practical assignments and real-world problem-solving exercises to help you apply your learning.

How much time will the program require?

The expected commitment is approximately 8-10 hours per week, including live sessions and practical assignments.

Will I receive career support?

Yes. The program includes support around professional positioning, resume development, LinkedIn optimisation, networking and startup career navigation.

Is placement guaranteed?

No. We do not believe in making unrealistic placement guarantees. The program focuses on building relevant capabilities, practical experience and strong career positioning to help you pursue relevant opportunities.