IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), a leading national impact first incubator, in collaboration with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), successfully concluded the second bootcamp under the DICV–IIMCIP Social Impact Incubation Program for Viksit Bharat.

The three-day bootcamp brought together a cohort of 10 startups for an intensive capacity-building programme focused on strengthening entrepreneurial and business capabilities. This initiative gives emerging entrepreneurs practical insights across key aspects of startup growth and sustainability.

The bootcamp included expert-led sessions on topics such as Introduction to Finance & Accounting for Startups, Leadership & Team Building, Negotiation Skills, and Branding for Startups, aimed at helping founders build resilient and growth-oriented ventures.

The programme featured sessions by distinguished faculty members and mentors associated with the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ecosystem, including:

• Prof. Manju Jaiswal, Faculty, Finance & Control Area, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, conducted sessions on Introduction to Finance & Accounting for Startups.

• Prof. Abhishek Goel, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences / Organisational Behaviour at Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, led sessions on Leadership & Team Building and Negotiation Skills.

• Professor Chandradeep Mitra, Visiting Faculty at Indian Institute of Management and Mentor at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Founder & CEO of PipalMajik, conducted sessions on Branding for Startups.

As a catalyst for innovation-led entrepreneurship, Dr. VK Rai, CEO, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, said, “We value our partnership with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, and appreciate such capacity-building programmes that are closely aligned to our focus on strengthening the ecosystem. This initiative will equip emerging founders with the knowledge, mentorship, and strategic capabilities required to navigate entrepreneurial challenges and translate innovative ideas into scalable and sustainable businesses.”

Speaking on the initiative, Torsten Schmidt, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles said, “At DICV, we believe entrepreneurship and innovation are critical drivers of inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Through our collaboration with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park under the Daimler Cares initiative, we aim to support emerging entrepreneurs with access to meaningful learning opportunities, mentorship, and ecosystem engagement. We are pleased to support initiatives that contribute towards strengthening India’s startup ecosystem and advancing the larger vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

By facilitating focused learning engagements and founder capacity-building initiatives, IIMCIP aims to create stronger entrepreneurial pipelines and encourage greater participation in future cohorts of the programme.

Image Caption: Founders from the cohort with Dr. Manju Jaiswall (Professor, IIM Calcutta) and Pankaj Baruah (Head – Startup Programs, IIMCIP)

About IIM Calcutta Innovation Park

The IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a not-for-profit (Section 8) company established under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India. Recognised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, IIMCIP’s mission is to nurture innovative, socially impactful entrepreneurs who can drive inclusive growth. Its core offerings span structured mentoring, capacity building, seed funding and access to markets and investors. To date, IIMCIP has supported over 2,000 startups and seed-funded 136 ventures, which have collectively raised more than Rs 2,000 crore and built a cumulative portfolio valuation of nearly Rs 8,000 crore. IIMCIP also works closely with government bodies, corporates and academia to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem, foster high-impact collaborations and promote women’s entrepreneurship, with a special focus on underserved regions of the country. www. Iimcip.org

Daimler Truck at a glance

Daimler Truck is one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, operating 35 main locations and employing roughly 100,000 people worldwide. With 130 years of heritage, dating back to the invention of the first trucks and buses, Daimler Truck remains committed to a clear purpose: supporting all who keep the world moving. Together with its global partners, the company is shaping the future of transportation with the ambition to be the industry’s leading truck and bus manufacturer. Daimler Truck focuses on delivering sustainable, regulation‑compliant transport solutions that enable our customers to succeed in their respective markets. The company operates through four key segments: Trucks North America (Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses), Mercedes‑Benz Trucks (including BharatBenz), Daimler Buses (Mercedes‑Benz and Setra) and Daimler Truck Financial Services. Daimler Truck’s portfolio includes light-, medium‑, and heavy‑duty trucks for long‑haul, distribution, construction, vocational and defense applications. In the bus segment, the company offers city buses, school buses, coaches and bus chassis. In addition to vehicle sales, Daimler Truck also offers financing products, after-sales services, digital and connectivity solutions.

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. at a glance

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, Germany, is a full-fledged commercial vehicle player in India with a brand dedicated to its home market: BharatBenz. DICV produces and sells trucks from 9 to 55 tons, as well as BharatBenz buses and bus chassis. DICV’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at Oragadam near Chennai, spread over 400 acres (160 hectares), including a highly modern test track, is home to the company’s headquarters, R&D, and training operations. With one global quality standard, it also produces Daimler Trucks’ brands of Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner. Products and parts are exported to more than 70 markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. DICV represents an overall investment of more than INR 9,560 crores.