Masters' Union High School Startup League

The Masters' Union High School Startup League, a prestigious two-day event, was successfully conducted on 9th and 10th November 2024 at Our Own English High School Sharjah, Boys. The event witnessed an enthusiastic participation of 97 students, aiming to nurture entrepreneurial skills and provide hands-on experience in ideation, collaboration, and business pitching. The program commenced with the introduction of the esteemed guest speakers, followed by an inspiring address by the  Principal. He emphasized the importance of career related programmes, internships and career-oriented competitions, highlighting how these opportunities prepare students for future professional challenges. 
Following this, Mr. Ankur, Head of Partnerships provided an overview of Masters' Union and its High School Startup League. He elaborated on the objectives and structure of the event, setting a motivating tone for the sessions to come. 

Five student mentors Tanmay, Yash, Utkarsh, Dhruv, Harshvardhan facilitated the event under the guidance of Mr. Ankur. 

The first day focused on brainstorming and ideation. Mentors guided the groups to come up with innovative startup ideas while adhering to the following criteria: Problem Identification and Solution, Market Sizing, Competitive Matrix, Revenue Model and Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy. 
Students actively collaborated within their teams to identify real-world problems and brainstormed creative solutions. All mentors provided continuous support and constructive feedback throughout the process. 

The second day revolved around preparing and presenting the startup ideas. Each group created a PowerPoint presentation that encompassed all the essential components of a successful business pitch. 
Students were required to structure their pitches around the guidelines shared by mentors on day one. Under the guidance of the mentors, each team presented their startup idea to the panel of judges, consisting of guest speakers and mentors. Out of the 11 participating groups, 3 groups – Xeron, Catrology, 1GYM qualified for the second round of the competition. These teams demonstrated exceptional creativity, strategic thinking, and business acumen in their presentations. 
The Masters' Union High School Startup League was a resounding success, providing students with invaluable exposure to entrepreneurship and teamwork. students gained insights into real-world business challenges and developed critical skills such as problem-solving, market analysis, and persuasive communication. 

The event was a testament to the collaborative efforts of the mentors, guest speakers, and facilitators like Mr. Ankur. It was an enriching experience for all students and laid the groundwork for fostering entrepreneurial thinking in young minds.