Some E Cells have over 1,000 members. So why would IIM Calcutta's E Cell, with a mere 45 members, merit winning NEN E Cell of the Month?

Because its reach and impact extends to 1000s across the country, and not lightly. i2l, its business plan competition, attracts over 1000 participants from all over India. Its workshops engage more than half the students on campus.

So what is the secret of its success? Every single member of IIMC's E Cell is an E Leader.

Being an IIMC E Cell member is an intense experience, and gaining admission to the club is tough. In fact, it is torture. Aspirants have to fight sleep while they await their interview, which sometimes runs till 4 am! Only 30 are chosen among hundreds of applicants. It's good to have a startup idea, but B Plans alone don't impress. What matters is enthusiasm, networking skills and willingness to work on E Cell activities, points out Manish Motwani, President of the cell.

The E Cell works closely with the faculty-led Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to maximize entrepreneurship engagement on campus, and beyond. Today, its members are considered the most entrepreneurial students on campus. No surprise that final year MBA student Prathikrit Ghosh first approached his E Cell for help when he launched a logistics company. Their resources? Access to over 60 potential funders; connections to 70 SMEs (potential clients) and the 700-strong alumni network around the globe; and support to firm up his B Plan.

IIMC's E Cell proves that strategy and execution triumphs over size alone.