Reliance TUP : Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest private sector company, has been at the forefront of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. One of the flagship programs organized by RIL to encourage new business ideas from management students across India is The Ultimate Pitch or TUP. Now in its 9th edition, Reliance TUP 9.0 is a prestigious nationwide competition that gives budding entrepreneurs a platform to showcase innovative business concepts and get mentored by RIL’s leadership.
About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is India’s largest private sector company with a consolidated revenue of INR 6.59 lakh crores (USD 87.1 billion) for FY21-22. Operating across various industries like oil & gas, petrochemicals, retail and digital services, RIL employs over 2 lakh people directly and creates employment for many more indirectly.
Under the visionary leadership of its Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, RIL has consistently focused on fostering innovation and nurturing young entrepreneurs. Several initiatives have been launched over the years like Jio GenNext, Jio Institute, Facebook-Jio Platforms partnership to encourage new ideas and provide mentorship to startups.
Introduction to Reliance TUP
The Ultimate Pitch or TUP was launched in 2015 as RIL’s flagship startup competition exclusively for MBA/PGDM students across India. The primary objective of TUP is to provide a platform for management students to showcase innovative business ideas and get mentored by RIL’s leadership. Over the years, TUP has grown to become one of the most prestigious B-school competitions in the country.
Some key highlights about TUP:
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TUP 9.0 is the 9th edition of the annual competition launched in 2023.
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It is open for both 1st and 2nd year full-time MBA/PGDM students from B-schools across India.
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The competition follows a multi-stage process including regional and national finals to select the winning ideas.
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Winners get cash prizes worth Rs. 10 lakhs along with pre-placement interviews at RIL.
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Past editions have seen participation from over 10,000+ student teams with ideas across sectors.
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Provides a unique opportunity for management students to interact with RIL’s top management at the grand finale.
Eligibility and Registration for TUP 9.0
The key eligibility criteria for participating in TUP 9.0 are:
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Open for both 1st and 2nd year full-time MBA/PGDM students only from B-schools/universities recognized by AICTE/UGC.
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Each participating team must have 1-4 members from the same institute.
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A student cannot be part of more than one team.
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There is no restriction on the number of teams that can register from a B-school.
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Ideas must be original and plagiarized content will lead to disqualification.
Competition Structure and Timelines
TUP 9.0 follows a multi-stage competition structure spanning over 2 months to select the winning ideas. Here are the key stages and timelines:
Stage 1: Submit Your Idea (Nov 7 – Dec 10, 2023)
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Registered teams upload a 3-minute pitch video of their innovative business idea on the TUP website.
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Ideas are evaluated basis concept, scalability, social impact etc. by the jury.
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Top ideas shortlisted from this round move to the next campus rounds.
Stage 2: Campus Rounds (Dec 17-22, 2023)
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Shortlisted teams get to present their 3-min video followed by a 3-min presentation and 4-min Q&A to a live jury virtually.
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Best ideas from each campus move to the regional finale stage.
Stage 3: Regional Finale (Jan 9-12, 2024)
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Selected teams from campus rounds present with an enhanced video, presentation and Q&A.
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Top performers qualify for the grand finale at RIL’s corporate headquarters.
Stage 4: Grand Finale (Jan 2024)
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National finalists visit RIL, interact with leadership over 2 days at the idea exhibition.
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Final pitches to the grand jury panel to determine the ultimate winner.
This structured process tests ideas at every stage and helps refine concepts based on feedback. It also gives national exposure to the most innovative business ideas.
Prizes and Rewards
Some of the most exciting prizes and rewards for Reliance TUP 9.0 include:
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Ultimate Winner – Rs. 6,00,000/- cash prize and certificate
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Ultimate Runner Up – Rs. 3,00,000/- cash and certificate
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Popular Choice Award – Rs. 1,00,000/- cash and certificate
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National Finalists get pre-placement interviews at RIL
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Campus Round winners get Rs. 50,000/- and runners up Rs. 25,000/-
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Participation certificates and TUP merchandise for all teams.
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Special awards for most ideas submitted and early bird campuses.
Feedback and Reviews
Based on feedback from past participants, some key learnings and impacts of Reliance TUP include:
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It provides a unique platform to get ideas evaluated by industry experts and mentors which is invaluable.
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Interacting with RIL leaders inspires participants and opens up new career opportunities in the energy sector.
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The structured process and feedback at each stage helps refine ideas and learning. Many participants could validate demand for their concepts.
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Winning cash prizes boosts confidence and motivation of participants to consider entrepreneurship seriously.
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National recognition and media coverage increases visibility for innovative ideas and their founders.
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Networking with peers from top B-schools across India helps foster lifelong relationships and learning.
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Overall, it is considered one of the most prestigious competitions that leaves a lasting impact on management students in India.
Some participants also shared that the competition exposure and mentoring has directly led to many starting their own ventures post MBA. Thus, Reliance TUP is clearly playing a defining role in India’s startup ecosystem.
The multi-stage competition structure and mentorship from RIL’s leadership provides a unique learning experience. It helps refine ideas, gain exposure and build networks. By fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship, TUP is nurturing the next generation of business leaders and startup founders in India. With its emphasis on innovation and social impact, RIL continues to encourage young minds through such initiatives.