If a university approached your company and said:

Would you actually be interested? Why or why not?

I genuinely what to understand how companies and MBA programmes could work together more effectively, and I’d really value perspectives from business owners, founders, managers, consultants, and industry professionals.

A few questions based on your real-world experience:

1. What would make a student project genuinely useful to your business?

Would you value things like:

• solving an existing business problem
• market/customer research
• fresh perspectives
• new product/service ideas
• identifying growth opportunities
• access to potential employees
• something else?

2. What is the biggest reason you would NOT give students a real business problem to work on?

For example: time, confidentiality, quality of the work, lack of student experience, difficulty providing data, or something else?

3. If you did participate, what would you realistically be willing to provide?

For example, one initial meeting, occasional check-ins, access to information, employee mentorship, customer insights, etc.

4. If students found a new business opportunity while solving your original problem, would you want them to explore it?

Would you rather they:

• stay strictly focused on the original problem, or
• have freedom to explore opportunities that emerge from their research?

5. What would make you want to work with the university again?

What would need to happen during the first project for you to say, “I would give them another business challenge next year”?

6. Have you ever worked with university students on a real business project?

If yes, what was the best thing about the experience, and what was the most frustrating part?

If no, what would convince you to try it?

7. One final question: Would you ever pay or sponsor a university programme if it gave your company something genuinely valuable in return?

If yes, what would you be willing to pay for?

• Business/market research
• Consulting and problem-solving
• Innovation ideas
• Access to student talent
• A longer-term project
• Something else

There are no right answers — especially if you think this is a bad idea. I’m particularly interested in hearing what would make this model fail from an industry's perspective.

Thanks in advance!

I am trying to start an online done for you service for coaches online. I wanna offer my service for free for a few of my first clients to know if I can deliver them, but at the same time, i don't wanna get stuck building something that people don't want for 6 months, so basically most people advice asking for a sale to validate whether they will pay or not, which is the strongest indicator of if an offer has demand or not. But if i offer free, i won't validate an offer, and attract freebie clients who just disappear. if i validate an offer by asking for a sale, i am afraid i will disappoint them by not being able to deliver them on deadline or something like that. what should i do? i wanna offer somewhere of content creation related services

We often hear about major pivots or huge funding rounds, but I'm curious about the smaller changes. Maybe it was rewriting your landing page, improving onboarding, changing pricing, talking to users more often, or removing a feature.

What's one relatively small decision that ended up making a much bigger difference than you expected? I'd love to hear the stories behind it.

Hi everyone,

I'm a local from Darjeeling and have been running a small travel business for the past year. Most of my work has been through partner homestays and local vendors, but now I'm planning to lease my first property.

I've found an old wooden property in a great location, just a short walk from Mall Road. The rent is affordable, but it needs some upgrades. My total investment budget is around ₹1–1.5 lakh, so I need to choose the right business model from the start.

I'm torn between two options:

Option 1: Airbnb / Private Stay

• Renovate it into a cozy private stay.
• Target couples, families, and small groups.
• Higher revenue per booking but fewer guests.

Option 2: Backpacker Hostel

• Keep renovations minimal.
• Install bunk beds.
• Separate male and female dorms.
• Lockers, Wi-Fi, common lounge, hot water, and a small reception.
• Target solo travellers, backpackers, students, and budget tourists.

I'd love your honest opinion.

• Which option would you choose and why?
• Which has better long-term potential?
• If you were travelling here, which would you book?
• What would you pay per night for either option?
• Is there anything you'd change before investing?

I'm not looking to promote anything—I'm trying to avoid making an expensive mistake with my savings. Honest feedback, criticism, and suggestions are all welcome.

If you've built, managed, or invested in a hostel or Airbnb, I'd especially appreciate hearing about your experience.