“Keep Growing”
Link of our study: Link
Do you know what a case competition feels like?
If you’ve never done one, imagine compressing a startup lifecycle into a 72-hour mental marathon. You ideate, research, analyze, project, narrate, pitch — and then pray the judges see your logic. This one was a wild ride, and we want to share what went down, what we learned, and what stayed with us long after the final slide.
The Case: Gramin E-Mobility – Powering Rural India
We participated in a business case competition focused on launching an EV startup for rural India. The challenge? Build a feasible and impactful go-to-market strategy that empowers rural populations like Rekha (an artisan) and Rajesh (a farmer), who struggle with mobility and cost-effective transport.
Our team — MAD (Aditya & Mohit) — dived deep into the unique constraints of rural economies, from affordability and charging access to behavioral barriers like trust and awareness.
What We Proposed
- 2 products:
- Gramin Zippy – a lightweight, low-maintenance electric two-wheeler for daily travel, targeting students, artisans, and small vendors.
- Gramin Hauler – a rugged electric three-wheeler designed for farmers and traders to transport goods affordably and efficiently.
- Battery-as-a-Service – to lower upfront costs and increase adoption via monthly subscription and battery-swapping models.
- Charging Infrastructure – decentralized, solar-powered charging at key village locations like schools and haats.
- Community-Centric Marketing – emotional, local-language messaging with village fairs, WhatsApp broadcasts, and demo booths.
- Financial Model – break-even achievable in 18–20 months with support from subsidies (FAME-II), NBFC financing, and local partnerships.
What We Learned (aka the MBA Gold)
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Every number needs a story. It’s not just about showing ₹8.3 crore in revenue, but backing it with believable assumptions — down to EMI affordability in ₹8,000/month income households.
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Frameworks make sense… only if you make them make sense. Think 4Ps, AIDA, TAM-SAM-SOM — but tailor them, don’t blindly apply.
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Execution eats strategy for breakfast. The best ideas fail without a realistic execution roadmap. We focused hard on pilot phases, ground partnerships, and behavioral nudges like referral programs.
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Financial projections = clarity. Build breakeven. Build worst-case. Build what-if-subsidies-vanish case. Numbers ground ideas.
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Concise is clear. Clear is compelling. Our final PPT went through 6 ruthless trims. Charts replaced text. Visuals told the pitch. Keep it intuitive.
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Spot the gap — in the story and the numbers. We repeatedly asked: “Why this? Why not that?” Finding weak links before the judges did made all the difference.
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AI is good for story, not for number and worst for justification. Use AI for compelling story to drive narative and justification for the number need human (as of now).
Reflections: Beyond the Slides
This wasn’t just a competition. It felt like designing a real-world impact engine. We weren’t just solving for EV adoption — we were solving for mobility, access, and agency in the heart of India.
We left with a sharper brain, stronger bond as a team, and a deeper appreciation for how business models can change lives, especially when you hear stories like Rekha’s and Rajesh’s.
Would we do it again?
In a heartbeat. Because in the end, it’s not just about winning cases — it’s about making a case for something that matters.
Let’s keep cracking, dreaming, and building 🚀
If you’ve been in a case comp war room before, you know the rush. Got a story? Ping me.