Breaking Down A National Win: Airtel iCreate 2024 Through The Eyes Of Team Telecom Titans

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"Our solution, now adopted by Airtel as a new business function, “Connected Homes,” was appreciated because it was implementable." - Team Telecom Titans

Winning a national case competition is no small feat and behind every victory lies a compelling story of collaboration, strategy, and personal growth.

In this article, Team Telecom Titans from SIBM Pune, winners of Airtel iCreate 2024, share their candid journey—how they formed a powerhouse team, tackled challenges, and impressed judges with a solution now being implemented by Airtel!

Airtel iCreate 2024 is Bharti Airtel’s flagship innovation challenge, designed to spark creativity, bold thinking, and real-world impact. The platform invites top B-school students to explore infinite possibilities and bring their best ideas forward. 

Here’s an inside look at how it all came together for Team Telecom Titans.

Forming the Team: Turning Differences into Strengths

Hi, we’re Yashas, Anirudh, and Kurisetti—three students from SIBM Pune who came together for Airtel iCreate 2024. However, when our project began, none of us knew each other well. Coming from different specializations—HR, Operations, and Finance—initially felt like a challenge. However, we quickly realized this diversity was our greatest strength. Each of us brought a unique perspective, allowing us to approach problems holistically and craft well-rounded solutions.

Forming the team happened organically. We recognized that combining our varied backgrounds would help us learn from each other and play to our individual strengths. This laid the foundation for genuine collaboration and mutual respect.

Of course, our differences occasionally led to disagreements and even heated debates. But what set us apart was our ability to navigate these moments with humor and a positive outlook. We always kept our shared goal in mind, knowing we were all equally invested in our success.

Preparation Strategy: Groundwork That Made the Difference

We prepared extensively for the competition. A major focus was a robust primary survey—we built a well-structured questionnaire after understanding Airtel’s business focus areas.

We supported this with secondary research, competitor analysis, and insights from Think School videos, research papers, and Airtel’s historical strategies. We also benchmarked global telecom players for broader perspectives.

Roles were divided based on our strengths—research, financial modeling, presentation design, and storytelling. We engaged in mock Q&A sessions that helped us refine our final delivery. This strategic, layered preparation made us stay confident throughout.

Strategy Breakdown: What We Did in Each Round

Here's how we planned and executed the two rounds:

Round 1 – Ideation & Vision Alignment

We focused on Airtel’s #BeLimitless mission and proposed “B-Mobile”—a bundled offering combining telecom, OTT, and smart home services. We suggested tiered subscription plans (Basic, Semi-Premium, Premium) with a potential INR 63,600 Cr annual revenue.

Key elements included:

• Market data-backed revenue model
• Smart home integration
• Customer engagement tactics like gamified loyalty programs and app-based features
• Positioning Airtel as a futuristic digital lifestyle brand
  
  

Final Round – Deep-Dive & Execution Blueprint

Our deck, Telecom Titans – SIBM Pune, was about execution. This round wasn’t just about ideation but a lot about translating strategy into action. We focused on building a solution that wasn’t just innovative on paper but also scalable, realistic, and ready to deploy in a real-world telecom environment.

Key inclusions:

• Detailed competitor gap analysis
• Smart home strategies tailored for tech-savvy customers
• Research-driven customer pain points
• Brand-building via VR concerts, influencer campaigns, and gamification
• Cash flow projections with premium service-based growth strategy

Biggest Learning: Growth, On All Fronts

Airtel iCreate was a truly transformative experience. The biggest takeaway was understanding what leadership really means. It’s not just about delegating—it’s about inspiring, listening, and making quick yet thoughtful decisions during uncertain moments. It taught us to stay grounded and focus on the process rather than obsessing over outcomes.

Professionally, this was a masterclass in real-world problem-solving. Being mentored by Mr. Varun Das, Chief Product Officer at Airtel, was a game-changer. His guidance pushed us to think strategically while finding simple, effective solutions. We saw firsthand how high-stakes decisions are made and why clarity and impact matter most.

In short, the competition sharpened our business acumen and gave us the confidence to tackle challenges beyond the classroom.

Advice to Future Participants: Be Curious, Be Practical, Be You

If you're planning to participate in such competitions, here’s what we suggest:

• Understand the Problem First: Don’t rush into solutions. Read the case thoroughly, clarify doubts, and research deeply. The strongest ideas always stem from a solid grasp of the problem statement.
• Focus on Practicality: Innovation is great, but feasibility is essential. Our solution, now adopted by Airtel as a new business function, “Connected Homes,” was appreciated because it was implementable.
• Enjoy the Journey: Don't let pressure override the joy of learning. Celebrate every small win and stay curious through the process.
  

Airtel iCreate: A Journey of Insight, Impact, and Inspiration

From initial uncertainty to becoming national champions, our Airtel iCreate 2024 journey was one of growth, grit, and collaboration. It challenged us to think strategically, pushed us to work outside our comfort zones, and taught us lessons that go far beyond the boardroom.

We walked in as students and walked out with real-world insights, industry exposure, and lifelong friendships. For anyone considering entering a case competition—go for it. Because when you focus on learning, the winning often takes care of itself.

Think you're up for more than classroom theories? Explore challenges that put your skills to the ultimate test, and make your mark - Click here & start competing!