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

Investing Firms

Incubation Partners

Upstart National

Glimpse of last year...

Testimonials

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 Ventures Co-founder at Droom


Dr. Sandeep Verma

SERB Secretary


Ms. Ekta Kapoor

Mission Director DST

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'23.

Networking and Funding 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'23

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





Our Associates

Service Partner

Service Partner

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Outreach Partner

Service Partner

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Service Partner

Competition Structure



Submission of Pitch Decks

Submission of Pitch Decks

All participating startups have to fill the Google Form and submit the Pitch Deck of their startups, preferably in the specified format Specified Format. The submissions will undergo a round of screening and 20* startups will be shortlisted for each location (Bangalore, Mumbai,Pune, Delhi NCR) to participate in UpStart Nationals at the various locations.

7+5 Format Pitches

After the screening round, the shortlisted startups will get a chance to present at UpStart Nationals in front of a panel of Venture Capitalists (details about the VC Panel can be found below) in 7+5 Pitching Format. This will be followed by mentoring sessions of the shortlisted startups from this round.

7+5 Format Pitches

Intensive Mentoring Sessions

Intensive Mentoring Sessions

Five* shortlisted startups will have subsequent, four weeks long one to one mentoring and brainstorming sessions with a mentor. Mentors will spend a considerable amount of time exclusively on one startup. Startups get to discuss their ideas and business plans to build a proper legal, operational and structural framework. Along with invaluable advice from one of the most experienced Entrepreneur-cum-Mentors in the country, startups also get to enhance their network manifold with help from them.

Elevator Pitch

Following the mentoring sessions, the shortlisted startups will be invited to E-Summit’23 at IIT Kanpur for the finale, One-Minute Elevator Pitches. (Elevator pitches present the overview of the company, and it needs to be succinct and thoughtful, and to clearly articulate your business strategy). Shortlisted startups will move to the Final Pitching round.

Elevator Pitch

Final Pitch

Final Pitch

Startups will have time till the next day to build upon their Plan and modify their Pitch based on the inputs they received. They will then participate in a 10-minute pitch (followed by Q&As) to present their improved Business Plans before the Upstart panel of judges. The start-ups will accordingly be given their final positions based on the Judging Criteria**

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 2023-24 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
  • +91-8290974451

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