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The Youngest Entrepreneur at IIMK didn’t need a CAT score
Back in the early 2000s, IIM Kozhikode came up with a student-driven social initiative, known as Prayaas. This initiative was set up with an aim to work with underprivileged kids in and around Kozhikode, primarily from orphanages, shelter homes, and government schools. Till today, IIM Kozhikode holds this fest, known as Backwaters fest, where several student clubs, corporate sponsors and food vendors put up their own stalls.
This Story also Contains
- What is the ‘No CAT Score Needed’ Joke All About?
- What Made his Success Possible at IIM Kozhikode
- Lessons from Backwaters Fest at IIM K
During one of these events, one small stand caught everyone by surprise. The best part of his stall was that it wasn’t flashy; there were no big banners or celebrity tie-ups. Instead, this stall was being run by a 12-year-old kid who was selling simple items: hand-painted bookmarks, greeting cards, handicrafts and even some simple homemade snacks for just Rs. 10 or Rs. 20, and his items were sold out in just a few hours.
By the end of the day, his sales had beaten many of the big-name corporate booths. And that’s how the saying spread: “The youngest entrepreneur at IIM K didn’t need a CAT score.”
What is the ‘No CAT Score Needed’ Joke All About?
Ever since the massive success of the 12-year-old kid at the IIM K Backwaters fest, “The youngest entrepreneur at IIM K didn’t need a CAT score”, this saying cheekily pointed out that this kid had achieved something entrepreneurial and had become successful in the IIM space. This was achieved not through test scores but through creativity, hustle and execution.
Through this, it was highlighted that success isn’t only about formal credentials but about impacts, passion and connections.
What Made his Success Possible at IIM Kozhikode
Here are the following reasons which led to the massive success of the 12-year-old kid’s stall as compared to the stalls of students studying in IIM Kozhikode.
Authenticity & Storytelling: For him, his items weren’t just products to be sold; each bookmark or card had a little story. When buyers came up to his stall, he would chat and tell them stories behind the design or the inspiration that went into it. This kind of authenticity drew people.
Priced for Accessibility: With items priced between Rs. 10 and 20, there was almost no barrier for people to buy. From fellow students, faculty, to random visitors, all bought multiple items; that too, more out of encouragement or novelty than just utility.
Engaging Presentation: Even with minimal resources, the kid made his stall inviting using a bright tablecloth and hand-written signboards. This created interest, and people stayed longer.
Human Connection over Brands: While corporate stalls had gloss, glitz and free merchandise, the customers still gravitated towards the small stalls’ warmth. They liked someone who was excited about each sale, someone they could talk to.
Viral Word of Mouth: As people began to see that the little stall was outperforming the other stalls, word spread. This led to more foot traffic than any corporate promotions could.
Lessons from Backwaters Fest at IIM K
This little story from the Backwaters fest at IIM K holds a larger lesson for all the students, entrepreneurs and educators out there.
Entrepreneurship starts early and is not confined to big capital or fancy marketing.
Human connection and storytelling are powerful tools and sometimes even more powerful than brand budgets.
Lastly, business isn’t just about profit. It’s about connection, trust, and experience, which the kid stood for naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who is the famous alumni of IIM Kozhikode?
A:
Some of the notable alumni of IIM Kozhikode include Abhishek Agarwal (Head of Investor Relations at Swiggy), Harmanpreet Singh (Founder & Managing Partner at Prath), and Nitin Gupta (Sustainability Head at Capgemini).
Q: Is IIM Kozhikode a baby IIM?
A:
No, IIM Kozhikode is not a baby IIM. It was established in 1997 and is considered to be ‘Old IIM’ or Tier 1, along with IIIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow.
Q: Is IIM Kozhikode Tier 1?
A:
Yes, IIM Kozhikode is considered a Tier 1 B-school in India.
Q: What is the flagship programme at IIM Kozhikode?
A:
The flagship program offered at the IIM is the Post Graduate Programme in Management, a two-year residential program equivalent to an MBA.
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Have a question related to IIM Kozhikode ?
In situations like yours, where the CAT 2025 payment has been successfully debited from your bank account but the portal shows the transaction as failed, it is usually due to a technical delay in updating the system. Such discrepancies can sometimes take more than 48 hours to be resolved automatically. It is important to retain all proof of payment, including bank statements, transaction IDs, and any receipts. You should contact the CAT helpdesk again, providing full details of your application and payment. Additionally, keep checking your email for any automated confirmation or ticket numbers. If there is no response within a few days, you can escalate the issue by contacting the IIM Kozhikode admissions office directly through official contact details.
Dear Candidate ,
Yes , the IIM Kozhikode BMS Aptitude Test admit card has been released , It became available on the IIMK official BMS webpage from June 13 , 2025 and it is live now.
You can download it by logging in with your user ID and Password from the 2025 form submission .
The final results for the IIM Kozhikode PGP (Post Graduate Programme) batch of 2025-27 have been released.
According to the latest updates, IIM Kozhikode announced the final admission results, and candidates can now check their status on the official IIM Kozhikode website: iimk.ac.in .
Here's how you can check your IIM Kozhikode result for the 2025 batch:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the official website of IIM Kozhikode: iimk.ac.in .
- Log In: Look for the "PGP Admission 2025" or a similar link on the homepage or under the "Admissions" section. You will likely need to log in using your registered email ID and the email-generated OTP that would have been sent to you.
- Check Admission Status: Once you log in to your account on the admission portal, navigate to find the link for the final result or admission status for Stage 3 (which includes the Written Ability Test and Personal Interview).
- View Result: If you have been selected, your admission status will be displayed, and you should also be able to download your selection letter.
Shortlisted candidates will also likely receive an offer acceptance email on their registered email ID. Make sure to check your inbox regularly, including spam or junk folders.
If you don't see the result immediately, keep checking the official website, as there might be some delays in updating the portal for all candidates.
Hello,
The main differences between IIMA and IIMK are as follows-
- IIMA was established in 1961, while IIMK was in 1996
- IIMA has been accorded NIRF Ranking 1 while IIMK with NIRF Ranking of 4
- The course fee structure in IIMK was Rs 20.50 Lakhs while that of in IIMA it's Rs 23 Lakhs for a duration of two years for MBA program. the eligibility criteria for the same has been passed graduation in any discipline from a recognized board with 50% aggregate in case of IIMK, and for IIMA there is requirement of 60% aggregate at graduation level,
- When it comes to the placements, in case of IIMK the highest salary has been 46.88 Lakhs while for IIMA it has been 82 Lakhs,
- The placement has been 100% in both the institutions, while McKinsey has been top recruiters for IIMA with 30 offers, for IIMK the top recruiters has been Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Microsoft to name a few.
You can visit the official website of the intuitions as follows to know more detailed information about the same-
- IIMK - https://www.iimk.ac.in/
- IIMA - https://www.iima.ac.in/
PGP Finance is a much newer 2 Year Management Programme at IIMK. Incase you are interested in pursuing an MBA with Specialization in Finance, you may opt for this course.
For more information about IIMK PGP Finance do follow the link below
https://bschool.careers360.com/news/iim-kozhikode-pgp-finance-admission
Though, I would suggest you to go for the Flagship PGP Program at IIM Shillong. IIM Shillong is one of the best IIM's after the Top 6, having an excellent ROI Factor, strong faculty and placements.
For more information about IIM Shillong do follow the link below
https://www.careers360.com/university/indian-institute-of-management-shillong
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