Keystone Venture Lab: Helping Students Take Their Ideas Further with AIC ISB
A student can spend months on a project and still feel it isn't finished when the deadline arrives. Maybe the research turned up a problem that deserves more attention. Maybe the prototype hasn't been tried by anyone yet. Maybe there are people out there who could really use the idea.
At Keystone, we'd like students to get the chance to find out.
That's why Keystone School has teamed up with AIC at the Indian School of Business to start Keystone Venture Lab, a student entrepreneurship program in Hyderabad for Keystone high school students who want to take their Idea Loom passion projects further.
What Is Keystone Venture Lab?
Venture Lab is for high school students who have already done the groundwork in Idea Loom and want to see how far their idea can go. They can be studying either Cambridge International AS & A Level or the IB Diploma Programme.
Our partner is AIC ISB, the incubator and accelerator established by the Indian School of Business. Students get guidance from mentors and industry practitioners, and they spend their time on three things: understanding their users and market, testing what they assume to be true, and refining the idea as the evidence comes in.
Curious about how we work with students more broadly? Have a look at admissions at Keystone.
How Idea Loom Prepares Students for Venture Lab
Everything starts with Idea Loom. Students pick a problem they care about and take time to understand it before deciding what to build or investigate.
Starting with the problem
They talk to the people affected. They look at the evidence. What they learn shapes the project, not the other way round.
We care a lot about this part. It's easy to fall for an idea before checking that anyone needs it, and talking to communities pushes students past their own assumptions.
Documenting decisions and reflecting
Then comes the building. Students develop their project, write down the decisions they make along the way and reflect on how it went.
Some want to keep going, and that's where it gets harder. A solution that worked in a first test may need changes before anyone can use it week after week.
Someone also has to think about what it costs to keep running and how much effort that takes. This is the stage Venture Lab is built to support.
What AIC ISB Brings to the Program
Who is AIC ISB?
AIC ISB is a business incubator and accelerator. The Indian School of Business set it up in partnership with NITI Aayog under the Atal Innovation Mission, and it works with entrepreneurs while they build their ventures.
Mentorship for IB Diploma and Cambridge AS & A Level students
Selected students on the Cambridge AS & A Level or IB Diploma pathway get time with mentors and industry practitioners. Together they dig into who the users really are, whether the market is there, and which assumptions still need testing.
For a student, that means having their work looked at by people with experience beyond school. They have to explain the problem they're solving. They have to answer when someone questions their approach.
That can be uncomfortable. It can also save weeks spent heading in the wrong direction. Knowing when to change your mind is part of developing an idea well.
Why Test Ideas Outside the Classroom?
We want students to see what happens when their work meets the real world.
Someone might use a prototype in a way its creator never expected.
A solution might cost more than the people it's meant for can afford.
More research might show that the whole project needs a rethink.
None of this is bad news. Each one hands students something concrete to work with and a reason to get better.
Some projects may grow into ventures. Others may end with a clearer understanding of the problem, or a decision to try a different approach.
Either way, students learn something, as long as they look at the evidence and understand how they got there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Keystone Venture Lab?
It's a program run by Keystone School with AIC ISB. Selected senior students take an Idea Loom project further with help from mentors and industry practitioners.
Who can join?
Keystone high school students studying Cambridge International AS & A Level or the IB Diploma Programme.
How is Venture Lab different from Idea Loom?
Idea Loom is where students choose a problem, research it and build a project. Venture Lab is the next step for those who want to continue, with outside mentors questioning and sharpening the work.
Does every project become a startup?
No. Some grow into ventures. Others lead to a better understanding of the problem or a different approach, and students learn from each of those outcomes.
Explore the Keystone Experience
Our work with AIC ISB builds on what Keystone students already do. For those ready to take a project further, Venture Lab offers experienced guidance while they work out what the idea needs next.
Thinking about Keystone for your child? Come and see how this works in school. Visit the campus, meet the team and ask us anything about the learning opportunities on offer.
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