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YEEP 2025: Building Entrepreneurial Bridges
15.09.2025 This summer, 10 students from BFH traveled to Vadodara, India, to take part in the Young Entrepreneur Exchange Project (YEEP), where they collaborated with 15 Indian peers from Parul University who are actively developing their own startup projects. Together, they engaged in an immersive, multi-week program designed to strengthen entrepreneurial capacity in a multicultural context.
At the heart of the YEEP Indian Summer School 2025 was an intensive, hands-on learning journey. Swiss and Indian students teamed up to tackle real-world business challenges through experiential workshops, project-based teamwork, and continuous mentoring.
Guided by BFH lecturers Deepti Pahwa and Aron Braun, the program combined strategic management, business modeling, design thinking, and intercultural reflection sessions. Students developed innovative startup ideas ranging from healthcare diagnostics to AI-powered platforms.
Leading YEEP ISS was a masterclass in collaborative innovation—watching students bridge cultural perspectives to build real, implementable solutions has been truly inspiring. These moments remind us how global challenges require global teams that learn from each other at every step.
The final deliverables included comprehensive business plans and polished investor-style pitches, which were evaluated by an expert jury. This academic rigor, coupled with the iterative learning process, ensured participants gained not only entrepreneurial know-how but also the resilience and adaptability required in today’s global startup landscape.
I’ve been following the development and progress of Parul University for the last 5 years, and they have developed a truly entrepreneurial system with so many success stories. PU is a very entrepreneurial-spirited university! The exchange at YEEP ISS shows how much can be achieved when diverse minds come together with a shared purpose.
Cultural Immersion and Exchange
Beyond business, YEEP offered a rich cultural and social program that deepened the intercultural experience. Students were welcomed with traditional Indian ceremonies and engaged in Mehendi and Rangoli workshops, Holi festival celebrations, and guided city tours highlighting India’s religious and cultural diversity. Evening social events and informal networking sessions strengthened team bonds and created space for open exchange. Visits to local startups, incubators, and cultural performances such as dance and puppet shows further enriched the program. These activities gave participants not only insights into India’s innovation ecosystem but also a genuine appreciation of its traditions, hospitality, and diversity.
