Product Paradox

Welcome to Product Paradox, where every decision solves one problem while creating another. Step into the shoes of a Product Manager and navigate high-stakes business challenges, market uncertainty, shifting priorities and unexpected crises. Test your product knowledge, build solutions, defend your strategy and adapt when the situation changes. From identifying the right problem to making critical trade-offs in the boardroom, every decision matters. Will your team outthink the competition, survive the chaos and emerge as the ultimate Product Paradox champions? Only the Top 20 Teams will make it to the Final Boardroom Showdown. Round 1: Online Qualification Quiz: Before you enter the boardroom, prove your product and business IQ. Teams will compete in a fast-paced online quiz covering: Product Management KPIs Business Models Startup Case Studies Product Launches & Pivots Format: Online Quiz Quiz Date: 5th September 2026 Platform: Unstop Qualification: Highest-scoring teams advance to Round 2 Round 2: Online Strategy Deck: Turn a real-world business problem into a product that can win the market. Shortlisted teams will receive a problem statement from industries such as FinTech, AI, Healthcare, Consumer Tech or Sustainability and submit an 8–10 slide Product Strategy Deck. Teams are expected to: Identify the target audience and key pain points Define the MVP and value proposition Establish a monetization strategy Build a product roadmap Justify the product's market fit Format: Product Strategy Deck Submission Deadline: 8th September 2026, 11:59 PM Qualification: Top 20 teams advance to the Final Boardroom Showdown Round 3: Offline Boardroom Finale: The Top 20 teams step into the shoes of a Product Manager and tackle a high-stakes business crisis. Teams will present their response strategy to a panel acting as the Board of Directors and Investors. The presentation will be followed by an intense Q&A and challenge round, where judges will introduce unexpected twists, question key decisions and test the team's ability to adapt its strategy under pressure. Judging Criteria: Product Thinking: Ability to identify user needs, define problems and develop effective product solutions. Strategic Decision-Making: Quality of strategic reasoning and alignment of decisions with business objectives. Prioritization & Trade-offs: Ability to make informed choices when faced with competing priorities and limited resources. Adaptability Under Pressure: Ability to respond effectively to unexpected challenges and modify the strategy when circumstances change. Important Notes: Round 1 will be conducted online via Unstop. Round 2 will be conducted online through deck submission. The Final Round will be conducted offline at NSUT Main Campus. Only the Top 20 teams advance to the Final Boardroom Showdown. All team members must be present for the offline round. Team composition cannot be changed after registration closes. Organiser decisions during the event are final.