Inside UPES Mind Verse: The Consumer Psychology Breakthrough Every Young Uttarakhand Founder Needs to Hear
- Yati Vandana Tripathi
- Nov 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 27
Dehradun, November 25, 2025 — UPES School of Business hosted Mind Verse, an interactive consumer-psychology event that quickly transformed into one of the most exciting and insight-driven showcases the campus has seen this year. Designed by the GEMS Marketing Society, the event challenged students to blend creativity with strategy — producing single-image ads that capture attention, communicate emotionally, and trigger real consumer action.
Judged by Mr. Kshitij Doval (Founder & CEO, Unhu) and Mr. Avinash Mishra (Founder & CEO, Badmaash Kebabi), Mind Verse became a high-energy learning arena with the rigor of a startup accelerator and the vibrancy of a cultural fest.
A Powerful Start: Panel Discussion on Consumer Psychology
Before the competition even began, the day kicked off with a sharp and interactive panel discussion where Mr.Doval and Mr.Mishra broke down the foundations of consumer psychology. They answered questions from students, shared how brands shape perception, and explained how emotional cues, visual storytelling, and clarity in communication influence buying behavior.
For young entrepreneurs and marketers at UPES, this session set the tone — strategy first, creativity next.
The Mind Verse Format:
One Image. One Ad. One Shot to Influence a Consumer.
Unlike traditional presentations, Mind Verse pushed students to create:
A single ad image
With copywriting + visual design
Built to trigger action using consumer-psychology principles
No slides. No long explanations. Just pure messaging — like a real brand campaign.
Students were judged on clarity, emotional resonance, brand understanding, design strength, and how convincingly their ad could influence real-world consumer behavior.
Panel Discussion led by Kshitij Doval & Avinash Mishra — and the Bar Rose Quickly
With two seasoned founders leading the evaluation, the competition escalated from a student activity to a strategic workshop. Their feedback was hands-on, precise, and rooted in real consumer behavior.
Each team was guided on how to make messaging more direct, visuals more intentional, and emotional cues more persuasive — the same principles used by high-growth startups and top-performing brands.
As the Founder & CEO of Unhu, and as someone who has mentored thousands of entrepreneurs and supported startups reaching even national platforms, Doval's guidance is grounded in lived experience—not inspiration for inspiration’s sake,
but practical direction founders can use immediately.
And the Winners Were…
1st Place — H&M Chips
The runaway winners of the event.
H&M Chips delivered an ad that perfectly balanced visual impact, messaging clarity, and consumer psychology triggers. Their concept felt market-ready, and their understanding of real business dynamics was evident — especially since the team already runs an operating café. Their ad stood out for its confidence, relevance, and professional execution.
2nd Place — Vicks Speaker
Smart, visually engaging, and strongly message-driven, the Vicks Speaker concept impressed the jury with its storytelling and clarity. Their ad had a polished structure and presented a powerful call to action.
3rd Place — Oreo Umbrella
A clever and delightfully original concept that applied emotional framing and brand recall beautifully. Oreo Umbrella showcased creativity with strong consumer understanding.
All three teams delivered exceptional work — but H&M Chips outperformed with precision and a near-professional brand approach.
Cultural Performances That Won Hearts
The GEMS Society did not stop at marketing excellence.
The dance and musical performances they presented were vibrant, energetic, and beautifully executed. Both jury members were genuinely moved — the performances added warmth, connection, and cultural richness to the event.
A Campus That Knows How to Host
From beginning to end, the hospitality at UPES School of Business stood out.
Professors were warm, involved, and encouraging
Students were polite, enthusiastic, and incredibly welcoming
Coordination by the faculty and the GEMS team was top-notch
The entire experience reflected the growing professionalism and confidence of UPES as a hub for future entrepreneurs and creators.
A Memorable End: Lunch & Conversations at Vishram Resorts
After the event concluded, the guests were invited to Vishram Resorts for lunch — a serene, warm, and engaging closing to an already inspiring day. The hosts showed the property, shared local stories, and ensured the guests felt genuinely valued. It wrapped the day with connection, gratitude, and community spirit.
Why Mind Verse Matters for Uttarakhand’s Emerging Startup Scene
Though rooted in marketing and psychology, Mind Verse quietly delivered something bigger — a real-world lesson in how brands influence decisions, a skill every founder needs.
For students who dream of launching startups in Uttarakhand, raising investment, or learning how to pitch to investors in Dehradun, this event provided the fundamentals:
How to influence consumers
How to communicate value clearly
How to design with purpose
How to build brand recall
How to think like a founder
Mind Verse wasn’t just an event — it was early training for Uttarakhand’s next wave of brand builders and entrepreneurs.
To every student, creator, and aspiring founder who was part of Mind Verse — keep building, keep experimenting, and keep expressing your ideas boldly. Your creativity is the spark that shapes Uttarakhand’s future entrepreneurial story.
And trust us… this is just the beginning.
If you’re a young founder or a student dreaming of building something impactful,
keep showing up at events like these, stay curious, and stay connected to Uttarakhand’s growing startup community.
Your next big lesson — or your next big break — could be waiting!
UPES Mind Verse felt like a spark. The kind that reminds young founders that big stories don’t only start in metros; some begin right here in Dehradun, in classrooms and corridors filled with ambition.
To every young entrepreneur reading this: Keep showing up, keep asking questions, keep experimenting—because the ecosystem is growing with you.
If you’re building something—an idea, a prototype, a brand, or a dream—don’t build it alone. Uttarakhand’s most exciting founder stories are being written inside communities like Unhu, where creators meet mentors, learn faster, and grow bolder. Show up, share your work, and let the ecosystem see what you’re truly capable of.
Opportunities, collaborations, and visibility are opening up every month — and the next big founder story we feature in the Unhu Founder’s Journal could be yours.
Great founders don’t rise alone — they rise with a community. Come be seen, be supported, and be celebrated with Unhu.
If you’d like your founder journey to be considered for our Founder’s Spotlight, you can submit your story here:
Our editorial team reviews every submission with care — we look forward to learning about your work.
Written by
Yati Vandana Tripathi
Editor
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