The Alliance School of Business, Alliance University, conducted a workshop titled Vision to Venture, focusing on the Business Model Canvas. This workshop introduced undergraduate business students to a practical tool for shaping entrepreneurial ideas and developing strategic thinking.

Understanding the Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas, developed by Alexander Osterwalder during his doctoral research, has become a globally recognised framework used by entrepreneurs and business leaders. It provides a structured approach to developing, visualising, and refining business models, making it suitable for both new ventures and established enterprises seeking innovation.

The workshop aimed to familiarise students with the nine key building blocks of the canvas: customer segments, value propositions, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structure.

Facilitator Expertise

The session was led by Dr Rebecca Natrajan, a Freelance Entrepreneurship Consultant affiliated with Regent College London. Dr Natrajan guided students through the process of building business models using real-world examples and interactive exercises. The workshop enabled participants to apply their classroom learning in a simulated entrepreneurial setting.

Dr Natrajan provided insights into how the Business Model Canvas can assist in refining business ideas, identifying market needs, and assessing the feasibility of proposed ventures. The session encouraged collaboration among students, who worked in teams to create and present their own business models using the canvas framework.

Focus on Experiential Learning

The Vision to Venture workshop aligned with the Alliance School of Business’s emphasis on experiential learning and innovative pedagogy. The activity-based format of the session allowed students to move beyond theoretical concepts and engage directly with tools used in entrepreneurial practice.

Through the hands-on approach, students enhanced their problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. The session also served as a platform to bridge academic learning with industry expectations in entrepreneurship and business strategy.

Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets

By introducing undergraduate students to structured tools like the Business Model Canvas, the workshop contributed to building entrepreneurial mindsets. It encouraged participants to consider real-world applications of business concepts and to think creatively about building and sustaining enterprises.

Students gained practical exposure to innovation processes and strategic decision-making frameworks, equipping them with relevant skills for future careers in business development, consulting, and start-up ventures.

Conclusion

The Vision to Venture workshop demonstrated the Alliance School of Business’s commitment to integrating innovative teaching methods into its academic programmes. By offering opportunities to apply learning in practical contexts, the university continues to prepare students for dynamic business environments and entrepreneurial challenges.

Workshops such as this reinforce Alliance University’s focus on industry-relevant education and support the development of future-ready professionals through practical exposure and structured learning experiences.