Currently based in Houston, United States, Madhavan Vinod is a student who has traveled across the world. From a young age, he watched himself and others struggle with unequal access to education, and he couldn't shake the feeling that students deserved more than classes and exams. With a desire to promote the entrepreneurial outlook, he launched Entrevamp, an organization dedicated to turning students into entrepreneurs and innovators, last year in June.

India's Entrepreneurial Spirit

As someone who spent time in India, Madhavan saw entrepreneurship and problem-solving everywhere. In conversations with local street vendors and in stories of multi-billion-dollar founders, he noticed the same impulse: do something more, empower a greater community. The landscape itself seemed to teach entrepreneurial principles—bowls made of banyan leaves for snacks, homes designed to use natural sunlight for heating and cooling. India's everyday ingenuity inspired him. It was also in here that Madhavan first learned about the design thinking process, a five-step framework for turning a problem into a venture opportunity. And in India, one organization really stood out: Agastya.

The Cold Email That Changed Everything

Early June arrived, school in America had just closed, and one night Madhavan began searching Google for potential partner organizations. It didn't take long before he came across a mission with massive impact. Agastya had already reached over 31 million children and 300,000 teachers, clear proof that this was the real deal. Still, he was a high-school student from the United States who had founded Entrevamp and, at that point, couldn't dream of impacting over a thousand students. As any entrepreneur would, he took the risk of not hearing back and sent a cold email.

To his astonishment, a reply arrived the next morning. A representative expressed interest and invited him to schedule a meeting. Shock gave way to focus as Madhavan dusted off an old pitch deck and drafted talking points. During the meeting, he realized Agastya was different. They weren't just listening; they were ready to build. After hearing his story, Agastya immediately tasked him with creating a plan of action for a 1-week workshop. The pace that followed was electric. Over the next few weeks, the workshop prototype was developed and refined at remarkable speed; by month's end, the workshops were fully outlined. The following month, scaling began, with representatives connecting Madhavan to Agastya's ignators, high-impact leaders responsible for expansion across India.

Orientation Day: Presenting to 30+ Regional Leaders

When orientation day arrived, Madhavan presented to more than 30 regional heads and ignators. He walked into the virtual room nervous, worry crawling up his spine, but soon his entrepreneurial self took over and he spoke as if among old friends. Gratitude, he decided, would anchor his voice: grateful for the chance to present to people serving tens of thousands of students. The presentation quickly became a discussion about specific workshop skills, the curriculum, and tailoring content to the unique needs of students, including those with existing prototypes. He emphasized a core goal: getting students comfortable thinking from an entrepreneurial and problem-solving perspective. As he put it, "Students are very creative, but they don't use that side of their creativity often."

Building the Action Plan

By the end, clear action items emerged. Madhavan would train teachers from different regions in the entrepreneurial workshops and create multiple versions to deliver a personalized experience for every student. Agastya, in turn, would coordinate rollout based on regional schedules. Most transformative was the shared resolution: impact over 8,000 students by December.

A Partnership of Vision and Courage

Looking back, Madhavan might credit timing, reaching out in June while Agastya sought an entrepreneurial program to complement its design thinking and innovation labs that have transformed communities. But timing alone didn't hit send on that email. Courage did. Most of all, it was Agastya's bold, revolutionary vision, aiming to uplift over a hundred million students, that opened a door for a high-school founder and for Entrevamp. Together, they formed a partnership where youthful ambition and institutional scale met, each elevating the other.

The Impact: By the Numbers

• 8,000+ students impacted through the Agastya partnership
• 30+ regional leaders trained in entrepreneurship education
• Multiple countries reached through Agastya's network
• Customized curriculum adapted for diverse student needs

This partnership represents more than numbers—it's about creating lasting change in how young people around the world think about problems, opportunities, and their own potential to make a difference.