Sanjeeva Shivesh & Shivani Singh Kapoor (ThinkStartup co-founders): Goal is to make entrepreneurial skills as fundamental as traditional academics in schools

Building Entrepreneurial Mindsets in Schools

In a nation where academic marks often outweigh creative thinking, IIT Delhi alumni Sanjeeva Shivesh and Shivani Singh Kapoor are on a mission to change learning priorities. As co-founders of ThinkStartup, they aim to integrate entrepreneurial skills into the school system, ensuring that innovation and problem-solving become as essential as mathematics or science.

Rethinking Education

Sanjeeva Shivesh explains that the conventional education model focuses heavily on exams rather than practical application or emotional intelligence. According to him, students need early exposure to both creative challenges and real-world problem solving.

“The entrepreneurial mindset should be considered a basic skill for every student, just like reading or arithmetic,” says Shivesh.

Training Teachers and Students

ThinkStartup collaborates with schools to train teachers in experiential learning and startup-based projects. These programs combine creativity, teamwork, and leadership to help students think beyond standardized tests.

Shivani Singh Kapoor emphasizes that middle and high school years are critical for shaping entrepreneurial attitudes and self-confidence. She believes students must be prepared not only for academic success but also for adapting to fast-evolving global challenges.

“We want teachers to move from ‘instructors’ to ‘mentors’ who inspire curiosity and initiative,” she notes.

Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The organization runs bootcamps, innovation challenges, and startup mentoring programs in collaboration with educational boards and government initiatives. Through these efforts, ThinkStartup seeks to create an ecosystem where children develop both resilience and business acumen early in life.

Shivesh adds that fostering entrepreneurship at school level could help nurture future innovators capable of solving India’s social and economic problems.

The Vision Ahead

The co-founders envision a future where entrepreneurial literacy is embedded into mainstream schooling, similar to traditional academic subjects. Their broader goal is to make India a global hub for young innovators by equipping students with the mindset to create, not just compete.

“Our goal is simple,” says Kapoor. “To make entrepreneurial education a fundamental right, not a privilege.”

Author’s summary: The co-founders of ThinkStartup, Sanjeeva Shivesh and Shivani Singh Kapoor, advocate embedding entrepreneurship in school curricula to nurture creativity, resilience, and practical problem-solving from an early age.

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Education21 Education21 — 2025-11-29

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