Admissions for the founding cohort of 2023 have concluded!

Learning Philosophy at Mesa

1
Build strong business fundamentals
We prioritize depth over breadth, our curriculum is curated by startup experts to build a deep understanding of core concepts, taught via cutting edge case studies, simulations and real-world capstone projects.
2
Apply, Iterate & Perfect
All business concepts learnt are applied to real world contexts via hackathons, live projects with startups, short 1-day challenges while building small businesses. We believe it is important for candidates to try, fail, get feedback (from CXOs) and iterate on solutions to truly grasp concepts.
3
Outcome backwards always
We work industry backwards while designing our courses, and work with students to understand their background, experiences, skills and goals. We tailor a learning experience exactly for those needs, and craft a customized roadmap that helps everyone stay on track to achieving the end result.
4
Become a part of the startup ecosystem
The best way to learn skills that are important in the real world is to truly immerse oneself in an ecosystem. To develop startup leaders we immerse each of our candidate in Bangalore’s startup ecosystem: Visit startups, network with VCs, learn from startup CXOs/practitioners.
5
Develop into an honest and brave leader
Success in the business world requires more than just technical skills and business knowledge. At Mesa, we focus on developing well rounded individuals by having them go through extensive workshops that develop personality, emotional intelligence/awareness and empathy.

Learning Philosophy at Mesa

PG Program in Startup Leadership

7 Terms

7 weeks each

2000+

Contact Hours

200+

CXOs and Startups Leaders

25+

Workshops/ Bootcamps

4

Real Businesses Built

12

months

250+

Hours of career prep

150+

Case Studies

6

Immersive Hackathons

4

Distinct Specializations

Unique Hands-on Learning

In-Class Learning

The course features lectures (20, 10, or 5 hrs) using cutting-edge cases and hands-on challenges for feedback from startup experts. It also includes a graded capstone group project to enhance the immersive experience.

Skill Building Bootcamps

Master in Demand Tech tools like Figma and Tableau through project-based, hands-on learning in fun, engaging bootcamps.

Build your own business (BYOB)

Students form groups of 4, are given a 1 lakh budget to pick a problem area of their choice and build a small business from scratch. Students build a different micro-business every term (first 4 terms) and grades are judged based on final business metrics achieved.

Startup Accelerator

In the last 3 terms of the program, groups of 4-5 students build a startup, guided through research, idea finalization, MVP building, GTM, fundraising. Students can choose to continue the project after the program.

CXO Connects and Personalized Mentorship

Learn from the Stalwarts themselves! Gain insights from startup leaders through engaging discussions and personalized guidance through 1:1 chats.

Immersive Hackathons

Spend 2 days solving a real problem for a real startup. Work in groups and present your work to CXOs of the protagonist company. Get valuable feedback.

Career Acceleration Series

An array of well structured exit role specific Career prep elements that make students productive from Day 0 on their post-Mesa Career paths!

Workshops for Personality Development

Students participate in 1-day immersive experiences hosted by experts in sports, the military, arts, and more. These sessions aim to build confidence and a winning mindset in a light, fun atmosphere.

Student Led Activities

Peer-to-Peer learning is highly encouraged at Mesa. Clubbed with Networking Dinners,and Recreational Activities - students will get a flavor of Learning with fun from the Best minds of the Industry and their peers!

Unique Hands-on Learning

The course features lectures (20, 10, or 5 hrs) using cutting-edge cases and hands-on challenges for feedback from startup experts. It also includes a graded capstone group project to enhance the immersive experience.

Master in Demand Tech tools like Figma and Tableau through project-based, hands-on learning in fun, engaging bootcamps.

Students form groups of 4, are given a 1 lakh budget to pick a problem area of their choice and build a small business from scratch. Students build a different micro-business every term (first 4 terms) and grades are judged based on final business metrics achieved.

In the last 3 terms of the program, groups of 4-5 students build a startup, guided through research, idea finalization, MVP building, GTM, fundraising. Students can choose to continue the project after the program.

Learn from the Stalwarts themselves! Gain insights from startup leaders through engaging discussions and personalized guidance through 1:1 chats.

Spend 2 days solving a real problem for a real startup. Work in groups and present your work to CXOs of the protagonist company. Get valuable feedback.

An array of well structured exit role specific Career prep elements that make students productive from Day 0 on their post-Mesa Career paths!

Students participate in 1-day immersive experiences hosted by experts in sports, the military, arts, and more. These sessions aim to build confidence and a winning mindset in a light, fun atmosphere.

Peer-to-Peer learning is highly encouraged at Mesa. Clubbed with Networking Dinners,and Recreational Activities - students will get a flavor of Learning with fun from the Best minds of the Industry and their peers!

Strengthen
your business
fundamentals

Business Essentials

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6Term 7
Marketing Strategies Applications of Generative AI in Business Web 3.0 and Digital Assets Customer Analytics for Growth Growth Hacking: Product Led Growth Product Analytics and Metrics Sales & Marketing Funnel
Economics 101 Product Management Basics Strategic Brand Management Agile Product Development: MVP Manufacturing in India: Possible business models VC, PE and Angel Equity Behavioural Economics
Startup Business Models Financial Statements Pricing Strategies  Technology Building Blocks 101 Launching & Leading startups Supply Chain Management Managing Customer Experience
Understanding the Customer Economics of D2C Brands Types of 2-sided marketplaces: Meesho, Ola, UC etc.    FinTech in India: Introduction The Creator Economy: Opportunities Global Climate Tech Opportunities Business of Electric Vehicles
Business Analytics Operations Management 101  Fundamentals of Digital Marketing Economics of B2B SaaS Business Strategy Frameworks - -

Bootcamps

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6Term 7
Design Thinking Talking to Customers Basics of UX Design Gamification Principles in business Gaming in India Economics of Cloud Kitchens -
SQL and Excel Visualization Tools - Tableau, PowerBI Wireframing - Figma Agile Product Development - Jira How to craft great presentations - Canva Hyper-local Delivery Businesses -
Decoding Marketing Funnel Building an ecommerce store - Shopify Building an app - No code Tool Leveraging AI tools to your advantage The emerging Landscape in India: Agri-tech - -

Workshops

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6Term 7
Comms - Elevator Pitch Business Storytelling How to Influence without authority The art of Negotiation Selling Yourself and Your idea How to be productive in times of distress People First or Profits?
Improv Writing and Structuring Business Insights Creating a Winner's mindset Personal Branding Common Frameworks for Decision Making Embracing Uncertainty The Art of Managing Conflicts

Hackathons

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6Term 7
Marketing - “Help a leading D2C brand enter a new market” Data - “Analyze a dataset to help a services marketplace price better” Product - “Build features of a B2B SaaS Product to improve monetization” Branding & Sales - “Rebrand an existing product to increase its revenue by 5X” New-age - “Build a business model in the Clean-Tech space” Mesa Fest - “Mesa’s first cultural and business fest” -

Out-class

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6Term 7
BYOB - Build a D2C Business BYOB - Organize and monetize an event BYOB - Manage Social Media for an upcoming brand BYOB - Develop a No-Ops Software Product Startup Accelerator: Ideation Startup Accelerator: MVP & GTM Startup Accelerator: Fund Raising

Strengthen your business fundamentals

Term 1

Marketing Strategies
Economics 101
Startup Business Models
Understanding the Customer
Business Analytics

Design Thinking
SQL and Excel
Decoding Marketing Funnel

Comms - Elevator Pitch
Improv

Marketing - “Help a leading D2C brand enter a new market”

BYOB - Build a D2C Business

Term 2

Applications of Generative AI in Business
Product Management Basics
Financial Statements
Economics of D2C Brands
Operations Management 101 

Talking to Customers
Visualization Tools - Tableau, PowerBI
Building an ecommerce store - Shopify

Business Storytelling
Writing and Structuring Business Insights

Data - “Analyze a dataset to help a services marketplace price better”

BYOB - Organize and monetize an event

Term 3

Web 3.0 and Digital Assets
Strategic Brand Management
Pricing Strategies 
Types of 2-sided marketplaces: Meesho, Ola, UC etc.   
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Basics of UX Design
Wireframing - Figma
Building an app - No code Tool

How to Influence without authority
Creating a Winner's mindset

Product - “Build features of a B2B SaaS Product to improve monetization”

BYOB - Manage Social Media for an upcoming brand

Term 4

Customer Analytics for Growth
Agile Product Development: MVP
Technology Building Blocks 101
FinTech in India: Introduction
Economics of B2B SaaS

Gamification Principles in business
Agile Product Development - Jira
Leveraging AI tools to your advantage

The art of Negotiation
Personal Branding

Branding & Sales - “Rebrand an existing product to increase its revenue by 5X”

BYOB - Develop a No-Ops Software Product

Term 5

Growth Hacking: Product Led Growth
Manufacturing in India: Possible business models
Launching & Leading startups
The Creator Economy: Opportunities
Business Strategy Frameworks

Gaming in India
How to craft great presentations - Canva
The emerging Landscape in India: Agri-tech

Selling Yourself and Your idea
Common Frameworks for Decision Making

New-age - “Build a business model in the Clean-Tech space”

Startup Accelerator: Ideation

Term 6

Product Analytics and Metrics
VC, PE and Angel Equity
Supply Chain Management
Global Climate Tech Opportunities

Economics of Cloud Kitchens
Hyper-local Delivery Businesses

How to be productive in times of distress
Embracing Uncertainty

Mesa Fest - “Mesa’s first cultural and business fest”

Startup Accelerator: MVP & GTM

Term 7

Sales & Marketing Funnel
Behavioural Economics
Managing Customer Experience
Business of Electric Vehicles

People First or Profits?
The Art of Managing Conflicts

Startup Accelerator: Fund Raising
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A Week at Mesa

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Reach campus, grab a coffee!
Economics of B2B SaaS
Strategic Brand Management
Business Storytelling
1:1 with industry mentor
Group work on BYOB
Selling yourself and your ideas
Generative AI in Business
Pricing Strategies
Start-up PM meet up
Hands-on Bootcamp on Tableau and PowerBI
1:1 with Ankit Agarwal
Fireside Chat with Unicorn Founder
MasterClass on Decoding Business of Electric Vehicles
Career-Prep Session on Elevator Pitch
Group work on BYOB
Help a leading D2C brand enter a new market
Self Prep
Help a leading D2C brand enter a new market
Networking Dinner with a leading D2C brand’s leadership team
Football Match and recreational activities
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
Key:
Leisure
Networking
Class
Bootcamp
Workshop
Hackathon
Mentorship
CXO connect
Prep
Career Prep

200+ hours of Personalised Career Prep

1

1:1 Counseling Session w/ Founders
map out your experiences, skills and ambitions.

2

Industry Mentor Allocation

3

Personal Branding
Resume, Linkedin profile and photoshoot

4

Perfect the elevator pitch

5

Job search strategy
Target company/roles list

6

Employer outreach plan

7

Workshop
Communication & public speaking workshop

8

Workshop
Networking & cold reach outs

9

Role specific practicums
Functional knowledge / frameworks for roles like PM, Founder’s Office etc.

10

Workshop
How to crack an interview?

11

Build your portfolio
PM, Founder’s Office etc.

12

Mock Interviews
1-1 aligned for target roles with Experts

13

Workshop: Salary negotiation

14

Campus Placement Drives

200+ hours of Personalised Career Prep

You are here

1:1 Counseling Session w/ Founders
map out your experiences, skills and ambitions.
1
1:1 Counseling Session w/ Founders
map out your experiences, skills and ambitions.
Industry Mentor Allocation
2
Industry Mentor Allocation
Personal Branding
Resume, Linkedin profile and photoshoot
3
Personal Branding
Resume, Linkedin profile and photoshoot
Perfect the elevator pitch
4
Perfect the elevator pitch
Job search strategy
Target company/roles list
5
Job search strategy
Target company/roles list
Employer outreach plan
6
Employer outreach plan
Workshop
Communication & public speaking workshop
7
Workshop
Communication & public speaking workshop
Workshop
Networking & cold reach outs
8
Workshop
Networking & cold reach outs
Role specific practicums
Functional knowledge / frameworks for roles like PM, Founder’s Office etc.
9
Role specific practicums
Functional knowledge / frameworks for roles like PM, Founder’s Office etc.
Workshop
How to crack an interview?
10
Workshop
How to crack an interview?
Build your portfolio
PM, Founder’s Office etc.
11
Build your portfolio
PM, Founder’s Office etc.
Mock Interviews
1-1 aligned for target roles with Experts
12
Mock Interviews
1-1 aligned for target roles with Experts
Workshop: Salary negotiation
13
Workshop: Salary negotiation
Campus Placement Drives
14
Campus Placement Drives

Your Dream Job

Meet your Faculty and Mentors

Mukul Arora

Managing Partner, Elevation Capital
Focus Area:
Startups and 
Venture Funding

Lt. Gen Mishra, PVSM, AVSM

Commandant, Indian Military Academy
Focus Area:
Principles of Leadership

Madhura Kale

Principal Product Manager, Amazon
Focus Area:
Product Management in Big Tech

Tarun Joshi

Engagement Manager, BCG
Focus Area:
Structured 
Problem Solving

Savitri Bobde

Head, Customer Experience, Niyo
Focus Area:
Customer Experience

Nipun Jasuja

Strategy Lead, Plaid
Focus Area:
How to build 
winning teams

Sharan Godya

Strategy, Meta
Focus Area:
Sales Leadership

Gaurav Agarwal

Engagement Manager, McKinsey
Focus Area:
Operations

Kunal Mishra

Product Strategy, Microsoft
Focus Area:
B2B SaaS Strategy

Dr. Rukmini Banerji

CEO, Pratham Education Foundation
Focus Area:
Social Impact at Scale