Participants of the community programme which was held from
December 15 to the 21st in Dimapur.
- KOHIMA — To help
the entrepreneurial spirit of northeast region, Indian Institute of Management
(IIM) Shillong and Boditive, Nagaland's first sanitary startup, came together
for a community immersion programme (CIP) from December 15 to the 21st in
Dimapur.
- Lavish Dakare from IIM Shillong expressed that the CIP
enabled students to address real-world business challenges in northeast India
and also foster cultural awareness and sustainable impact. He said that the
programme reflected the institute's vision of nurturing socially responsible
leaders for meaningful change.
- He stated that the partnered programme combined academic
expertise with hands-on problem-solving. He added that the partnership
highlighted IIM Shillong’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial spirit and
contributing to the economic development of northeast India.
- Avitoli Yeptho is the founder of Boditive and it produces
bamboo charcoal and ultra-thin sanitary pads, aiming to improve menstrual
hygiene and promote entrepreneurship in the northeast.
- Dakare mentioned that the programme was first of its kind
and it encouraged IIM Shillong students to form teams and collaborate with
emerging businesses in the region. He cited how the students worked closely
with Boditive to address key challenges during the programme.
- He also highlighted the contributions of the students
including developing a scalable pricing strategy, crafting effective marketing
campaigns and suggesting improvements to packaging. The participants also
engaged with Boditive’s customers and distributors to gather first-hand
feedback, providing a comprehensive roadmap for implementing the proposed
solutions.
- Boditive’s founder, Avitoli Yeptho also expressed her
gratitude for the partnership and said that "their practical insights are
helping us refine our approach and strengthen our business as we look to
scale.”
