Student Unicorn Prize 2026
National student-founder competition awarding cash prizes and potential seed investment up to INR 20 lakh.
About the Program
Student Unicorn Prize 2026 is a one-week founder competition for student-led ventures with demonstrated proof of work. Selected teams receive mentoring, validation support and pitch preparation before presenting at Demo Day.
Eligibility requirements
- Applicants must be final-year students or graduates from the previous two years.
- The venture must have proof of work through a POC, prototype, MVP, pilot, early users or validated pre-revenue activity.
- An idea without proof of work is not eligible.
- A registered company is not required.
Offerings / Benefits
- INR 1.5 lakh winner’s prize.
- INR 50,000 first runner-up prize.
- INR 25,000 second runner-up prize.
- Opportunity for promising ventures to pitch for seed investment up to INR 20 lakh; investment is not guaranteed.
- One-week founder sprint.
- Mentorship, validation assistance, business-clarity sessions and pitch refinement.
- Demo Day exposure to investors and ecosystem partners.
Sectors supported
Selection process
- Applications are reviewed by founders, investors and ecosystem leaders.
- Shortlisting is scheduled between 18 and 26 October 2026.
- Selected teams join the Founder Sprint and pitch at Demo Day.
- Prize winners and ventures considered for investment are selected after program evaluation and pitching.
Related funding opportunities
National energy challenge awarding cash prizes and India Energy Week opportunities to DPIIT-recognised startups.
MeitY-funded incubation program supporting idea-to-early-revenue ESDM startups with prototyping, laboratories, mentorship and funding access.
A hybrid, equity-free accelerator in Leipzig supporting startups across energy, smart city/digital city, eHealth and related cross-functional sectors with coaching, investor access, pilot opportunities and up to €50,000 in free funding.