Long before startups and pitch decks, Odisha’s Sadhabas are remembered for sailing out in boitas, carrying goods and ideas across the sea. On 14 and 15 November 2026, that spirit of enterprise comes to Bhubaneswar in a contemporary form. AA KA MA 2026, the third edition of the business carnival by Regional College of Management (RCM), Bhubaneswar, takes place at the RCM campus in Chandrasekharpur.
This guide covers the dates, timings, venue, agenda, startup pitches and registration, along with the heritage that inspires the event.
Table of contents
- What Is AA KA MA 2026?
- Why Is AA KA MA Inspired by Odisha’s Maritime Heritage?
- What Can Visitors Experience at AA KA MA 2026?
- AA KA MA 2026 Day-Wise Agenda
- Startup Pitch & Idea2Success Summit
- Who Should Visit or Participate in AA KA MA 2026?
- How Are RCM Students Connected to AA KA MA?
- Conclusion: Why AA KA MA 2026 Matters
- FAQ’s
What Is AA KA MA 2026?
AA KA MA – Bizz Buzz Soirée 2026 is the third edition of a business carnival organised by Regional College of Management, Bhubaneswar, on 14 and 15 November 2026. Inspired by Odisha’s maritime heritage, it brings together entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses and students through stalls, startup pitches, networking and a cultural programme.
Its theme is “From Tradition to Transformation – Pioneering Young Business Wizards”, and its positioning is “Odisha’s Maritime Legacy – Where Heritage Meets Enterprise”. RCM describes three pillars: heritage, which preserves the legacy; innovation, which inspires new ideas; and enterprise, which empowers future leaders.
Why RCM organises it
Many small entrepreneurs, traditional artisans, homegrown brands and local businesses in Odisha still struggle for visibility, market access, professional support and growth opportunities. RCM’s view is that the shortage is not of talent or ideas but of an ecosystem that helps them flourish. AA KA MA is its attempt to build part of that ecosystem, and students of the college take an active part in it. The previous edition, held on 8 and 9 November 2025, had 51 exhibitors, according to RCM’s 2025 event page. That is a 2025 figure, not a 2026 forecast.
AA KA MA 2026: Dates, Timings and Venue
AA KA MA 2026 is on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026 at the RCM campus in Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
AA KA MA – Bizz Buzz Soirée 2026
From Tradition to Transformation – Pioneering Young Business Wizards
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | AA KA MA – Bizz Buzz Soirée 2026, Third Edition |
| Organiser | Regional College of Management (RCM), Bhubaneswar |
| Dates | Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 November 2026 |
| Venue |
RCM Campus Plot No. GD 2/12 & 13, Chakadola Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751023 |
| Day 1 Programme (14 November) |
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM From registration to evening networking |
| Day 2 Programme (15 November) |
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM From visitor welcome to closing |
| Theme | From Tradition to Transformation – Pioneering Young Business Wizards |
| Highlights | 50+ Stalls | Startup Pitches | Symposium | Funding Opportunity of up to ₹1 Crore for startups, subject to terms and conditions. |
| Chief Guest | Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, as listed on the official event page |
| Official Event Page | Explore AA KA MA 2026 → |
| Registration | Register for AA KA MA 2026 → |
| Contact |
Phone: +91 90900 80801 Toll-Free: 1800 1214 357 Email: info@rcm.ac.in |
The programme times above follow the day-wise agenda on the official page. A broader 10 AM to 10 PM window also appears in the event’s communication. Where the two differ, follow the agenda, and check the official page for updates before you travel.
Finding the venue
The event is held at the RCM campus in Chandrasekharpur, not at RCM’s separate city office in Sahidnagar. The registration site carries a Get Directions link. Information on parking, public transport, entry fees and facilities is not published, so please check the official page or contact RCM on the numbers above. Cuttack, where the Bali Jatra festival is held, is a different city.
Why Is AA KA MA Inspired by Odisha’s Maritime Heritage?
AA KA MA draws on the memory of the Sadhabas, the seafaring merchants of ancient Kalinga, who according to tradition and historical accounts sailed in large wooden vessels called boitas to places such as Bali, Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Sri Lanka. For the full story, read the story of the Sadhabas and Boitas.
Boita Bandana and Bali Jatra: how the memory lives on
That memory is kept alive every Kartika Purnima through Boita Bandana, when people float miniature boats with lit lamps on rivers, ponds and beaches. It is also commemorated at Cuttack’s Bali Jatra, on the banks of the Mahanadi. The Ministry of Culture’s account of Bali Jatra and Odisha’s maritime heritage and the Cuttack district administration’s culture and heritage page are good places to read about the tradition from official sources.
From the Sadhabas to today’s enterprise
The link to enterprise is the spirit rather than the setting. The Sadhabas took the products and identity of Kalinga to distant markets. AA KA MA asks how today’s weavers, artisans, founders and students can take Odisha’s ideas and products further, through innovation, technology and partnerships.
Two separate events. Bali Jatra is a traditional cultural festival in Cuttack, and in 2026 it runs from 24 November to 1 December, according to official tourism information. AA KA MA 2026 is an RCM initiative in Bhubaneswar on 14 and 15 November. They are not organised together and do not share a venue. To read more, understand the difference between Bali Jatra and AA KA MA 2026.
What Can Visitors Experience at AA KA MA 2026?
Visitors can walk through entrepreneurial stalls, watch startup pitches, meet founders and industry professionals, and enjoy a cultural programme. The event describes its offer through six named experiences. These describe how it presents itself. The scheduled sessions are in the day-wise agenda further down.
The six named experiences
| Experience | What It Means for a Visitor |
|---|---|
| The Captain’s Pitch | Entrepreneurs present pitch decks and connect with experts and investors. Visitors can watch the pitches. |
| Enterprise Harbour | A marketplace of emerging ventures, innovative products and business ideas. |
| Trade Winds | Networking and exchange of ideas among entrepreneurs and industry leaders, aimed at collaboration. |
| The Innovation Voyage | Creative thinking and new business ideas. |
| The Trade Challenge | Strategic thinking and entrepreneurial decision-making. |
| Legacy of the Sadhabas | A celebration of Odisha’s maritime trading heritage. |
Stalls and products on display
Around these sit the stalls. RCM says more than 50 entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses will take part, with handlooms, handicrafts, handmade jewellery, artistic décor and innovative products. For a closer look at what to expect, read what to expect at a business carnival in Bhubaneswar and a closer guide to stalls, startup pitches and campus activities.
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-011: Business Carnival in Bhubaneswar 2026: What Visitors Can Expect at AA KA MA]
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-020: AA KA MA 2026 Visitor Guide: Stalls, Startup Pitches and Campus Activities]
Sponsors and partners
The official page lists SIDBI, ScaleMate and Oasis as sponsors, and Metro TV Odisha as media partner. SIDBI is the Small Industries Development Bank of India, the principal financial institution for the MSME sector. ScaleMate is a Bhubaneswar-based business consultancy. Sponsoring the event does not mean these organisations will fund individual participants.
AA KA MA 2026 Day-Wise Agenda
The agenda below follows the official event page. Times may change, so check the page for updates before you plan your visit.
Day 1: Saturday 14 November 2026 (Inauguration and Entrepreneurship Pitch)
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:00 to 9:30 AM | Registration and guest welcome |
| 9:30 to 9:45 AM | Formal inauguration |
| 9:45 to 10:00 AM | Guests escorted to the auditorium |
| 10:00 to 10:10 AM | Lamp lighting and welcome |
| 10:10 to 10:25 AM | Classical dance performance |
| 10:25 to 10:40 AM | Welcome address and event introduction |
| 10:40 to 11:00 AM | Chief Guest and distinguished guests’ address |
| 11:00 to 11:30 AM | Stall visits and entrepreneur interaction |
| 11:30 to 11:45 AM | Jury introduction and evaluation briefing |
| 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM | Pitch presentations, Session I |
| 1:30 to 2:15 PM | Lunch |
| 2:15 to 4:15 PM | Pitch presentations, Session II |
| 4:15 to 4:30 PM | Tea break |
| 4:30 to 6:30 PM | Pitch presentations, Session III |
| 6:30 to 7:00 PM | Jury feedback |
| 7:00 to 9:00 PM | Stall operations and networking |
Day 2: Sunday 15 November 2026 (Showcase and Awards)
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 11:00 to 11:30 AM | Visitor welcome and stall opening |
| 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM | Stall visits and product showcase |
| 1:00 to 1:45 PM | Lunch |
| 1:45 to 3:30 PM | Final and pending pitch presentations |
| 3:30 to 4:00 PM | Entrepreneur and jury interaction |
| 4:00 to 5:00 PM | Jury evaluation |
| 5:00 to 5:30 PM | Tea break |
| 5:30 to 6:30 PM | Final jury deliberations |
| 6:30 to 7:30 PM | Cultural programme and student engagement |
| 7:30 to 8:15 PM | Awards ceremony |
| 8:15 to 8:45 PM | Valedictory address and vote of thanks |
| 8:45 to 9:00 PM | Closing and networking |
Guests and speakers
Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, is listed on the official page as Chief Guest. The page also publishes the following speaker profiles. They are shown here as published, and final participation is confirmed by the organisers.
| Name | Designation as published |
|---|---|
| Soumya Panda | Founder and Corporate Founder Coach, Simplifoundr |
| K. Ajay Kumar | Founder, XBandGlobal |
| Krishna Rath | Founder and Chief Financial Officer, Zenisk Insurance; SEBI-registered investment adviser, finvestor.in |
| Prof. Maheswar Satpathy | Professor of Psychology, Global Health, Brain and Mental Health and Public Policy, Utkal University |
| Mohar Mishra | Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Inovaare Corporation |
| Srustijeet Mishra | Strategic M&A Advisor, mentor (IIT REP), investor and founder, ActionLab 2050 Foundation |
| Venkatesh Setty | Founder, VCPlus |
| Priti Prativa Bhola | Former Odisha Administrative Service officer |
Meet more of them in guest speakers and startup mentors at AA KA MA 2026.
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-093: Meet the Guests and Startup Mentors at AA KA MA 2026]
Startup Pitch & Idea2Success Summit
The Startup Pitch & Idea2Success Summit is a platform where aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage founders and innovators present business concepts to industry experts, mentors and potential investors. It is organised by Regional College of Management and presented by ScaleMate Services Pvt. Ltd.
Who can pitch
Who it is for. Aspiring entrepreneurs with promising ideas, early-stage founders and co-founders, student entrepreneurs and campus innovators, emerging businesses looking to grow, technology innovators, and young business leaders with scalable concepts. Ideas can come from technology and AI, fintech, edtech, healthtech, agritech and food, e-commerce, sustainability, manufacturing, social entrepreneurship, or consumer brands and lifestyle.
What participants do
What participants do. Pitch presentations run on both days, before a jury, with jury feedback after the sessions. The programme also describes diagnostic feedback on the pitch, an assessment of business viability and operations, guidance on company registration, licensing, certification and compliance, a funding-readiness assessment, and potential pathways involving government schemes, grants, venture capital, angel investors and ScaleMate’s ecosystem.
How the pitch process runs
How the process runs. Entrepreneurs register and submit ideas. Ideas are screened, shortlisted entrepreneurs receive pitch preparation, selected entrepreneurs pitch at the summit, and eligible participants can enter a post-summit support journey for further guidance and application facilitation.
Funding: terms and conditions apply
Funding caveat. A funding opportunity of up to ₹1 crore is associated with the summit. It is subject to terms and conditions, eligibility, assessment and the availability and terms of the relevant funding organisation. Registering or pitching does not guarantee funding, and not every participant will receive it. Participation does not promise government support or venture capital either.
To take part, use the pitch registration page, or read more on the Idea2Success Summit page.
Who Should Visit or Participate in AA KA MA 2026?
AA KA MA 2026 is meant for anyone interested in local enterprise, startups and Odisha’s business culture. The relevance differs by group.
- Visitors and families: an open chance to browse handlooms, handicrafts, handmade jewellery, artistic décor and new products, and to watch a cultural programme.
- Students: a live view of how businesses are pitched, run and judged.
- Startups and early-stage founders: a stage to pitch before a jury and to meet mentors, experts and potential investors.
- Established MSMEs and small businesses: a place to show products, meet customers and find collaborators.
- Women entrepreneurs: RCM names opportunities for women entrepreneurs to scale their ventures as part of its vision for the initiative.
- Artisans and product-based businesses: a showcase for craft and product brands in Enterprise Harbour.
- Mentors, investors and industry professionals: the chance to see early ventures and take part in networking.
These are the opportunities the event offers. None of them is a promise of sales, funding or partnerships.
How Does AA KA MA Support Odisha’s Entrepreneurs and Local Businesses?
At this edition, AA KA MA offers entrepreneurs visibility, a stall to showcase products, direct contact with customers, networking with peers and industry professionals, and exposure to modern approaches to branding, digital marketing and e-commerce. For startups, there are pitch sessions with a jury.
RCM’s longer-term vision
RCM also states a longer-term vision. It aims to build a network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, industry partners and academic institutions; to encourage incubation and mentoring; to help traditional businesses adopt digital marketing, branding, e-commerce and modern management practices; to enable market connections beyond Odisha; to support women entrepreneurs and small businesses; and to nurture young business leaders. These are goals for the initiative’s future. Incubation, mentoring and market linkages should not be read as services confirmed for this edition unless the official page says so.
Odisha’s wider startup ecosystem
Odisha’s wider startup ecosystem also includes state initiatives such as the Odisha Startup Hub, an incubation facility in Bhubaneswar. Those are separate government programmes. AA KA MA does not itself offer their benefits.
How Are RCM Students Connected to AA KA MA?
RCM students take part as working participants. They study business models, follow entrepreneurial journeys, and support marketing, sales and stall operations, and the event’s own motto is “Built by Students, Built for Tomorrow”. RCM also describes earlier initiatives that included a two-month research and analysis project in which students studied business models, prepared reports and developed entrepreneurship case studies. In 2025, according to the event page, a dedicated student support team helped with stall management, logistics and on-site coordination.
What students learn
The learning value is practical: pricing, pitching, customer questions and decisions made on the spot. Readers who want to go further can explore how business carnivals build practical marketing experience, what students learn from managing a live business stall, how students experience entrepreneurship through AA KA MA and the connection between business education and entrepreneurial practice at RCM.
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-063: How Business Carnivals Give Students Real-World Marketing Experience]
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-064: What Students Learn by Managing a Live Business Stall]
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-070: How RCM Students Can Learn Entrepreneurship Through AA KA MA 2026]
[INTERNAL LINK – BLOG BA-090: AA KA MA 2026 at RCM: Connecting Business Learning with Entrepreneurial Practice]
Business programmes at RCM
For students interested in business and management, RCM offers programmes such as BBA+, MBA+ and PGDM+, which cover areas such as marketing, strategy, finance and operations. Taking part in an event does not guarantee a business, funding or any other outcome.
AA KA MA 2026 and Bali Jatra: What Is the Difference?
AA KA MA 2026 is an RCM business and entrepreneurship initiative in Bhubaneswar. Bali Jatra is a separate cultural festival in Cuttack. They are not the same event, they are not organised together, and they do not share dates or a venue.
| AA KA MA 2026 | Bali Jatra 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | A business carnival and entrepreneurship initiative of RCM | A traditional cultural festival commemorating Odisha’s maritime voyages |
| City | Bhubaneswar | Cuttack |
| Dates | 14 and 15 November 2026 | 24 November to 1 December 2026, according to official tourism information |
| Venue | RCM Campus, Chandrasekharpur | Bali Jatra Ground, on the banks of the Mahanadi |
What they share is an inspiration: the memory of Odisha’s Sadhabas. To read more, understand the difference between Bali Jatra and AA KA MA 2026.
How to Register for AA KA MA 2026
Registration is through the official registration site. The official event page carries Register Now buttons, and the registration site has separate options for visitor registration, the Pitch Deck and an Exhibitor Booth.
Steps to register
- Open the AA KA MA 2026 registration page.
- Choose the option that fits you: visitor registration, the Pitch Deck for startups, or the Exhibitor Booth for stalls.
- Fill in the form and submit it.
Fees, deadlines and eligibility
Registration fees, deadlines, eligibility rules, entry conditions and exhibitor categories are not published on the page at the time of writing. Please confirm them on the official page or with RCM on +91 90900 80801 or info@rcm.ac.in.
Explore AA KA MA 2026 and register through the official registration page.
For students – Interested in building your future in management and business? Explore RCM’s BBA+, MBA+ and PGDM+ programmes.
Conclusion: Why AA KA MA 2026 Matters
AA KA MA 2026 asks a simple question of a heritage that is already part of Odisha’s everyday memory: if the Sadhabas could carry Kalinga’s goods and identity across the sea, how can today’s entrepreneurs carry Odisha’s ideas further? On 14 and 15 November, RCM’s campus in Bhubaneswar becomes the place where that question meets stalls, pitches and conversations. Check the official page for the latest programme, and come with questions.
FAQ’s
AA KA MA – Bizz Buzz Soirée 2026 is the third edition of a business carnival by Regional College of Management, Bhubaneswar. Inspired by Odisha’s maritime heritage, it brings together entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses and students.
Visitors can explore entrepreneurial stalls, watch startup pitch sessions, join networking, see a product showcase and attend a cultural programme and awards ceremony, as listed in the official agenda.
Visitors, students, startups, small businesses, artisans, women entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and anyone interested in Odisha’s enterprise and heritage can attend.
It is a platform where aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders present business concepts to experts, mentors and potential investors. Funding of up to ₹1 crore is subject to terms, eligibility and selection, and is not guaranteed.
Entrepreneurs can register on the official registration site, using the Pitch Deck option to pitch or the Exhibitor Booth option for a stall. Terms are on the official page or available from RCM.
Visit the official event page and choose Register Now, or go directly to the registration site. Fees and deadlines are not published, so contact RCM to confirm.
