As preparations for BOSM neared their summit, the BOSM English Press sat down with Vishal Dhabali, CoSSAcn of the Department of Sponsorship and Marketing, to gain insights into their work prior to the fest.
Vishal explained that—much like the name suggested—BOSM Sponz was responsible for the acquisition of sponsors, followed by collaboration and marketing efforts in order to ensure that ‘there is value added on both sides of the partnership’. He added that the department was also invested in revenue generation during the fest by way of setting up and managing food stalls, while also procuring and distributing BOSM merchandise.
When asked about the distinction between BOSM Sponz and its counterpart responsible for Oasis and APOGEE, Vishal argued that brands that would sponsor cultural or technical fests were vastly different from those involved in a fest like BOSM. He felt that brands were generally more open to the idea of sponsoring a cultural event as opposed to a sports fest. Additionally, Vishal was of the opinion that the workload involved in acquiring sponsorships for three fests would simply be too much for any one department to bear.
On the topic of the sponsorship value, Vishal revealed that this BOSM would see sponsorships from companies like SBI, RedBull, EaseMyTrip, as well as MetaNova, a gaming company. He estimated that the total sponsorship value was upward of Rs 20 lakh, although he later added that the exact number would only be known once the fest was complete. Additionally, due to higher cuts and sponsorships from food stalls this year, he was sure that the fest was likely to make a profit.
He went on to disclose some of the stalls that we would get to see at BOSM ‘26, with the list including Taco Bell, Faasos, Behrouz, Wendy’s, Subway, KFC, Keventers, and many others. When asked why students on campus were unable to get their hands on some McDonald’s, Vishal replied that their regional managers were simply unwilling to attend the fest. While discussing the overcharging in food stalls, Vishal conceded that the prices were high and stated that the markups were an unfortunate consequence of the travel, accommodation, and logistical expenses that companies bear as a result of setting up stalls in Pilani.
When asked about challenges faced by the department, Vishal noted that it was not uncommon for a month or more to be spent in talks with companies that eventually fall through due to changes in their quarterly plans or marketing strategies. He also extensively described how the department had to adapt its pitches and the companies they reached out to. He specifically referred to the fact that brands now value influencer marketing over physical marketing, especially with companies now questioning the reach that fests like BOSM provide. He claimed, however, that these changes were now things that the department had come to expect and account for.
On a concluding note, Vishal spoke of the special planning and effort that BOSM had received: it being the first fest for the ‘26 batch. Bearing this in mind, he requested the GBM to ‘come out of their rooms, have fun, talk to people, and make the most of it’.