With Oasis ‘24 approaching, the Oasis English Press sat down with Shreeram Verma, the StuCCAn of the Department of Sponsorship and Marketing (Sponz) to learn more about their work for the fest.

Shreeram shared that their work began in May, which entailed preparing data sheets and targeting sponsors of other college fests, previous Oasis sponsors and legacy sponsors. They secured their first sponsor four months before the fest, setting a positive tone for the rest of their work. He further highlighted that Oasis ‘23 set a benchmark for Sponz as they had procured nearly 1.6 times the sponsorship of Oasis ‘22. He mentioned that they had already touched the amount of sponsorships collected last year and were confident that they would surpass it. He said that with the increased sponsorships, they had also expanded their slabs and deliverables.

Shreeram went on to elaborate on the challenges they faced in securing sponsorships. He said that the primary challenge was the remote location of the institute, which made attracting footfall difficult. Additionally, they were met with challenges in attracting participants due to inadequate accommodation facilities in Pilani. Shreeram informed that the title sponsor for this year would be Myntra FWD, with Acer returning as the associate sponsor. He credited the alumni network for playing a vital role in securing these deals, stating that many of them connected the Sponz team to their companies and contacts.

Speaking about his experience as a StuCCAn, Shreeram described it to be ‘very nice’ and was very appreciative of his department. He added that they have been supportive and understood the importance of a major department. 

On a parting note, Shreeram acknowledged the GBM’s lack of trust in the StuCCA but reassured that they had been trying their best to lower the costs and make the fest a memorable experience for everyone.