Blindspot: Stages and Timelines
Screening Desk- Round 1
Participants are introduced to a startup through a concise snapshot containing essential information about the business, market, and context. With limited data available, participants are required to identify key risks, assumptions, and early red flags. Submission Participants submit a short evaluation outlining the most critical risks and an initial recommendation on whether the startup is worth further consideration.
Submission
Participants submit a short evaluation outlining the most critical risks and an initial
recommendation on whether the startup is worth further consideration.
Evaluation Focus
● Ability to identify major red flags
● Clarity of reasoning with limited information
● Separation of meaningful signals from surface-level appeal
This round tests first-impression judgment and structured thinking under uncertainty.
Due Diligence- Round 2
Shortlisted teams will advance to a deeper evaluation stage where additional layers of information are revealed, offering deeper insight into the startup’s operations, market positioning, and potential challenges. Participants must reassess their earlier conclusions and refine their evaluation based on new inputs.
Submission
Participants update their analysis, reprioritizing risks and revising earlier assumptions where necessary.
Evaluation Focus
● Depth and quality of risk assessment
● Adaptability to evolving information
● Logical refinement of earlier judgments
● Strength of prioritization
This round evaluates analytical depth and the ability to adapt thinking when new information
challenges initial beliefs.
Investment Committee- Round 3
The final round simulates an Investment Committee meeting, where teams present and defend their decisions before a panel acting as senior investors. Submission Participants submit a final investment call supported by a clear, well-structured justification reflecting their overall evaluation. Evaluation Focus ● Soundness of the decision-making process ● Coherence and strength of justification ● Risk–reward understanding ● Consistency between analysis and final decision This round assesses overall judgment, clarity of thought, and decision-making confidence under uncertainty.
All that you need to know about Blindspot
OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPETITION
Blind Spot aims to provide participants with hands-on exposure to how investment decisions
are made in practice, by placing them in situations where judgment matters more than ideation
and prioritization matters more than completeness.
The competition is designed to train participants to evaluate startups under constraints,
identify high-impact risks, and make informed decisions with limited information. Blind Spot
focuses on the investor’s perspective — where the primary task is to determine whether an
opportunity is worth pursuing at all.
The event structure reflects the pace, ambiguity, and uncertainty commonly encountered in
real investment environments, where outcomes are shaped not by perfect information, but by
the ability to recognize what others overlook.
SKILLS ASSESSED
Participants are evaluated across key dimensions that reflect the practical demands of
investment, strategy, and high-stakes decision-making roles:
● Risk Identification & Awareness
Ability to recognize critical risks and inconsistencies within business information,
including those that may not be immediately obvious but have significant implications for
viability.
● Prioritization & Judgment
Capacity to distinguish between minor concerns and deal-breaking issues, and to focus
attention on what matters most under time and information constraints.
● Analytical Reasoning
Application of structured, logical thinking to interpret qualitative and quantitative data,
draw cause–effect relationships, and support decisions with clear reasoning.
● Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
Demonstration of sound judgment when making investment calls without complete
information, including the ability to commit to a position rather than hedge excessively.
● Communication & Decision Defense
Clarity and coherence in articulating concerns, explaining decisions, and responding to
questions or counterarguments with confidence and professionalism.
COMPETITION FORMAT
The competition is structured into three progressive rounds, each designed to simulate a
distinct stage of the investment decision-making process.
Important dates & deadlines?
-
21 Jan'26, 05:00 PM IST Registration Deadline
Contact the organisers
Send queries to organizersRewards and Prizes?
Winner
First Runner Up
Second Runner Up
About Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal
Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal was established in the year 1957.
In the year 2000, the institute became part of the deemed university – Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) which is presently known as Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
MIT offers engineering stream in both UG and PG programs.
The institute undertakes sponsored research programs supported by funding agencies like CSIR, DST, AICTE, and the Ministry of Environment Sciences.
The institute has collaborative research programs in the association with premier research labs and institutes in India and abroad.
Goal
Our goal is to be a world-class technical institution fostering innovation, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit.