about the event
The Grand Startup Challenge, run with Startup India and the Startup Policy Forum, puts early-stage startups on real problems, with real deployment, capital, mentorship, investor visibility and national recognition.
4
Problem tracks
Fintech, mobility and road safety, supply chain and sovereign AI
₹1 Cr
Total prize pool
Shared among the winning startups across all four tracks
4 months
Build to deploy
For India’s brightest minds to build, test and deploy
the 4 problem tracks
Open a brief to see the problem space, the opportunity and the kind of startup we want to meet.
Track 1 · Fintech
Lending & Fintech
Better credit, underwriting and fraud checks for India’s fast growing base of borrowers.
explore the brief ↘
Track 2 · Mobility
Mobility & Road Safety
Vehicle health, driver risk and safety systems made for Indian road conditions.
explore the brief ↘
Track 3 · Supply chain
Supply Chain
Route, load and hub optimisation across a live fleet and distributed network.
explore the brief ↘
Track 4 · Sovereign AI
Sovereign AI
Practical, trusted intelligence for the systems that power a more self-reliant India.
explore the brief ↘Timeline
from application to the finale
Four months, from applications and shortlisting to a month of mentorship and a final pitch in New Delhi. All dates are in IST.
eligibility and scoringInvitations
choose your way into the room
Academic partnership
Bring your founders, faculty and students into the challenge
Join as a Founding Knowledge Partner. Help pick the winners, send your incubated startups and student founders, and put your institution beside Startup India.
open academic partnership ↗Investor partnership
Meet the next generation of India's builders
Access a screened pipeline, the Founders’ Lounge, selected pitch decks and the final showcase.
open investor partnership ↗Sponsor partnership
Put your brand behind meaningful progress
Support the challenge through a sponsorship package designed around visibility, founder access and the themes shaping India’s next chapter.
open sponsor partnership ↗Who can apply?
Early-stage startups incorporated in India, as a private limited company or an LLP, with at least one founder working on it full time. If you have raised more than ₹50 crore in funding, the challenge is not for you.
When do applications open and close?
Applications open on 9 October 2026 and close on 10 November 2026 at 11:59 pm IST. The deadline is firm and will not be extended.
How are applications scored?
Every application first clears eight yes-or-no eligibility checks. It is then read by two independent reviewers and scored on four equally weighted criteria: track fit, product evidence, team and traction. Both are published in full, so you can write your application against them.
Read the eligibility checks and screening rubricWhat do I need to apply?
Details on your company, every founder, your product, market and traction, your pitch deck as a PDF (up to 50MB), uploaded on the form, and a link to a 2 to 5 minute video of the founders on YouTube, Google Drive or Loom. It takes about thirty minutes, and your answers save in your browser as you go.
Which track should I apply to?
Pick the one closest to the problem you solve: lending and fintech, mobility and road safety, supply chain, or sovereign AI. Open a track brief to see what we are looking for.
What happens after I apply?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and shortlisted startups are invited to interview. Everyone who applies hears back by email. We may contact you for clarification along the way; that does not mean you have been selected. Shortlisted teams then work with a mentor and refine their solution before the finale.
Where and when is the finale?
In New Delhi in January 2027. Startups pitch and demo to the jury in their track room, and track winners re-pitch in the main auditorium.
What do startups get?
A shot at the ₹1 crore shared prize pool, plus real deployment, mentorship, investor visibility and national recognition.