UPSTART

The Indian Business
Model Competition

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About

An event that caters to the budding startups of our country, UpStart - The Indian Business Model Competition stands apart from the conventional Startup Competition and ten-minute pitching - we strive to give our participants more than just the prize.

The startups go through multiple rounds of screening, which are essentially brainstorming sessions at different levels and face-to-face mentoring.

Finalists get to develop their ideas and hone their business plans with a panel of mentors. Upstart standing apart on the pillars of its unique structure marks its launch with UpStart Nationals.

Event Timeline

Upstart National

Glimpse of last year...

Incentives

One on One Mentorship

1 month long one on one mentorship from industry professionals (finale participants only)

Get
Incubated

Incubation opportunity to your nearest incubation center which are our incubation partner for UpStart'24.

Networking Opportunity

On the spot funding opportunities from top Venture Capital Firms (details about the VC Panel can be found below) , Networking opportunities with dignitaries at E-Summit'24

Delhi Angels Denx

Startup Founders Linkedin Branding [ Profile optimisation for Top 3 Winners ] Worth 20,000 each, Business Growth Strategies Consulting to Top 3 Winners, Chance to get Selected for Our Accelerator Program worth Rs.2.5 Lakhs.

The StartupLab

Legal Services Worth 10 thousand free to winners and 15% discount to all the finalist startups

Caller Desk

Free idea subscription to all the zonelist. 16000 worth of free credits to all the finalists valid for six month

Deskera

Deskera All-in One 1 Admin 5 Users CRM and Books, 15 employees with Mobile app Free for 6 months (finale participants only) | 3 months (all interested participants), followed by 50% Off on Renewal for next 1 year

GitHub Enterprise

Each winning startup would receive 20 seats on GitHub enterprise plan for 1 year (worth $5000 each approx).

AWS Credits

$5000 in AWS Activate credits to each winning startup

Awfis

100 hours of credits to winners of Upstart 2024 (7 start-ups)
50 hours of credit to runners-up of Upstart 2024
25% discount at mobility solutions (day pass and meeting rooms) to startups associated with E-cell.





Testimonials

Kalki Ocean Energy Storage System

We are thankful and delighted to be a part of this UpStart event. Coordination and support from E-Cell IIT Kanpur is required for every startup to up start their growth in the global market. E-Cell has developed the perfect platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovation. Preliminary pitch events had eminent mentors and evaluators who can understand new solutions offered to solve complex problems. We are participating in UpStart for global recognition which no other platform can offer. Limelight we received from the UpStart event is our message to the world that sustainability is the way forward. We would like to thank all the organizers behind the UpStart event. Looking forward to collaborating with IIT Kanpur for a sustainable future. Kalki Ocean Energy Storage System

Pankti Shah, Euphoria

The E Cell IIT K did a great job with the Upstart Competition. Thank you and the whole team for your great contribution to making this one of the most memorable events and giving the exposure and stage to display our work.

Treacle Tech

We at Treacle Tech participated in the Upstart Edge event organized by ECell IIT Kanpur in collaboration with our incubator C3iHub, IIT Kanpur. The event was well managed and we got to learn about pitching to investors at scale. The discussions with various investors amplified our knowledge regarding the startup culture and helped us with networking as well. We hope E-Cell, IITK continues to organize such events. Treacle Tech

past year...

UPSTART Edge

In collaboration with C3i Hub, IIT Kanpur

CYBERSECURITY TRACK

2CR+

ON SPOT FUNDING

15

Startups Participated

7

VCs

2CR+

ON SPOT FUNDING

15

Startups Participated

7

VCs

Past Edge Delegates


Dr. Ajay Sood (PSA)

Principal Scientific Advisor


Dr. S. Chandrasekhar

DST Secretary


Mr. Anant Krishnan

Group CTO of TCS


Rishab Malik

Venture Partner at Jungle


Dr. Sandeep Verma

SERB Secretary


Ms. Ekta Kapoor

Mission Director DST

Our Partners

Co-working Parter

Co-working Parter

Co-working Parter

Service Partner

Service Partner

Service Partner

Service Partner

Service Partner

Service Partner

Oureach Partner

Outreach Partner

Outreach Partner

Outreach Partner

Incubation Partner

Incubation Partner

Media Partner

Media Parter

Media Parter

Media Parter

Media Partner

Media Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Venture Partner

Incubation Partner

Incubation Partner

Ecosystem partner

Judging Criteria

Concept
  • Originality of Idea.
  • Scalability, in terms of the potential for growth and replication of the venture.
  • Well-conceived implementation plan and timetable.
  • Overall likelihood of achieving demonstrable results
Market
  • Evidence of demand for the venture in the marketplace; market size and growth opportunity.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of target market
  • Competitive analysis , SWOT analysis
  • Marketing Plan addresses (wherever applicable): positioning, pricing, advertising, promotion, packaging, timetable.
Performance Benchmark
  • Outline the development of systems to track, monitor and assess the performance milestones articulated in venture plan
Financial Aspects
  • Fundability: The potential for the venture to receive financial support from additional investors/donors(including opportunities for funding from foundations, social venture funds, angel investors and venture capitalists)
  • The rigor and feasibility of the venture's financial model and goals
  • Potential for follow-on funding to grow the venture through self-sufficiency or profitability.
Risk Assesments and Contigency Plans
  • Identify risk factors associated with the enterprise and external environment. Develop a plan for mitigating them.
Demonstrated Leadership Ability
  • Quantify venture leader's ability to develop people, promote change and achieve results
Improvement
  • Improvement in the business plan from original proposal, post the mentoring session, will be taken into consideration.

Eligibility

UpStart is a competition meant only for early stage startups, we have put the following criteria for entry into the Final Round:

The Startup must have been incorporated at least, if not registered for operations.

The Startup's date of incorporation should be on or after 1st January 2013.

Startup entries must be the original work of participants i.e. team members competing must be the principal owners of the venture.

Terms And Conditions

NO offline submissions of the Pitch Decks for UpStart 2024-25 will be accepted.

All the necessary documents should compulsorily be submitted along with the Pitch deck.

Participants are only allowed to participate in only one of the UpStart Nationals.

Participants are free to participate in other business plan competitions as well.

Entries submitted after the deadline shall not be considered.

The resources and example Pitch Deck provided are only for reference.

All conflicts are subject to jurisdiction of Kanpur courts only.

The confidentiality of the entries/ ideas is guaranteed.

Entries remain the property of their legal owner.

Entries need to have an innovative value (an innovative idea provides a solution for a new need, or advancement compared to existing products, services or technologies).

Contact Info

  • Room No G2,
    Imagineering Laboratory
    Gate No. 4 Academic Area Near DOAA canteen
    IIT Kanpur- 208016
  • events@ecelliitk.com
  • +91-9799659464

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