Dr. D. Y. Patil B-School (DYPBS), Pune connects classroom learning with the real world through a panel discussion with leading MSME founders
Pune, (Maharashtra) [India], 12 October 2026: Dr. D. Y. Patil B-School (DYPBS), Pune, organised the MSME’s Founders’ Forum on 6 October 2026 at the Seminar Hall. The one-hour session, held from 2 PM to 3 PM, was titled “Real Businesses. Real Challenges. Real Opportunities.” It was hosted by the DYPBS Startup and Innovation Cell, together with the Institution’s Innovation Council (Ministry of HRD Initiative). The forum gave PGDM students a chance to sit face to face with business owners and hear about the actual working of small and medium enterprises.
The panel brought together founders and leaders from different sectors. Mr. Abhijeet Phadke, Founder and Managing Partner of Dhaval Technologies, Mr. Parag Shellikeri, Managing Director of Trutek Systems Combine Pvt. Ltd., Ms. Kranti Kkaulgud, Director of Victory Polychem Pvt. Ltd., and Mr. Girish Vispute, Executive Director of Furnteck Engineers Pvt. Ltd., shared their journeys with the students. Ms. Bharti Gokhale,Director of Dynamic Group, also joined the panel. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Jitendra Sandu, Director, Dr. D. Y. Patil B-School.
The main aim of the forum was to reduce the gap between what students learn in class and what happens in real business. The speakers spoke openly about the problems they face in growing their businesses, running daily operations, getting sales, managing money, handling people, adopting new technology and facing competition. They also spoke about the big decisions they had to take, the mistakes they made, and the lessons these mistakes taught them. Students learnt how a business problem is first noticed, studied, ranked in order of importance and then solved in practice.
The founders also told students what they expect from fresh PGDM graduates. They spoke about the importance of the right attitude, professional behaviour, and practical skills in a work environment. Through their stories, students understood what it means to take risks, think of new ideas, stay strong in difficult times, work with limited resources and spot opportunities where others see only problems.
An important outcome of the forum was the discussion on live projects. Many of the problems shared by the founders can be taken up by students as structured industry live projects. This will let them apply management concepts to real situations while helping MSMEs find workable solutions.
Speaking about the event, Dr. Somnath P. Patil, Pro-Chancellor, Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU)& Secretary, Dr. D.Y Patil Unitech Society, said, “MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, and our students must learn from the people who build them. When founders share their real struggles and successes, students learn things that no textbook can teach. At DYPBS &DPGU, we will keep creating such platforms so that our students grow into confident, practical and responsible business leaders.”
The session ended with an interactive question and answer round, where students asked the panelists about their experiences and career guidance. Through initiatives like this, Dr. D. Y. Patil B-School (DYPBS), continues its commitment to industry-linked education and to preparing students for the real needs of the business world.
