Spark Up was an engaging and innovative event organized by the IEEE Education Society Kerala Chapter with the goal of nurturing entrepreneurial thinking and strategic problem-solving in undergraduate students. Held online on May 30 and June 2, 2025, the event attracted 34 participants. It featured two rounds designed to simulate real-world business challenges. Through this unique format, Spark-Up aimed to enhance students’ creativity, critical thinking, and decision-making skills by encouraging them to analyze failures and innovate under pressure.

The competition was conducted in two rounds, each designed to test different aspects of entrepreneurial aptitude:

Round 1 – Strategic Revival Challenge
Participants were provided with the profile of a failed company and were required to:

• Analyze the causes of the company’s downfall
• Propose a practical and innovative revival strategy
• Submit a brief report (within 2000 characters)
• Deliver a 3–5 minute live presentation explaining their solution
• Q&A Session: After each presentation, judges engaged the participants with thoughtful questions to assess the depth of understanding, feasibility of the revival plan, and clarity of explanation

The round assessed the participant’s ability to understand real-world business problems and think critically to suggest viable turnaround plans.

Round 2 – Impromptu Startup Pitch
This round tested spontaneity and creative thinking. Participants were given two unrelated topics and asked to:

• Connect the topics in a logical and creative manner
• Develop a unique startup idea based on this connection
• Present their pitch within 3–5 minutes, following 10 minutes of preparation time
• Q&A Session: The judges posed on-the-spot questions after each pitch to evaluate the originality, coherence, and practicality of the proposed startup idea

Evaluation focused on creativity, originality, logical flow, and clarity in presentation.

Spark-Up stood out for its blend of real-world relevance and spontaneous ideation. By combining structured strategic analysis with creative improvisation, the event provided a holistic platform for students to develop essential entrepreneurial skills. Its dynamic format pushed participants to go beyond conventional thinking, making it not just a competition, but a valuable learning experience in innovation, leadership, and business strategy.