Startup Aid

A 45-day entrepreneurship sprint to launch your startup journey

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About The Program

StartUp Aid is an intensive 45-day expedition designed to equip you with essential entrepreneurship skills, focusing on the key aspects of launching a startup.

Throughout the program, you'll take part in seven high-impact sessions, including:

  • ✦ Five Masterclasses - Learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders as they share insights and real-world experiences.
  • ✦ Minithon - Put your skills to the test by rapidly prototyping your ideas.
  • ✦ The Final Pitch - Present your startup to a panel of external investors and judges, who will decide the winners of StartUp Aid 2025.

To ensure hands-on learning, each masterclass will be paired with a challenge, a short task designed to reinforce key takeaways from the session. These challenges will be tailored to the insights shared by our guest speakers, giving you practical experience in applying what you learn.

Whether you're refining an idea or preparing to launch, StartUp Aid is your chance to gain real-world startup experience and take your entrepreneurial skills to the next level.

Program Timeline

March 3rd

The First Ascent

This session will provide valuable insights into the ideation process, helping you generate, refine, and strengthen your startup ideas. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance an existing concept, this session will set the stage for innovation and success.

March 10th

Scouting the Terrain

Understand your audience, analyze your competition, and refine your idea with precision. This session will help you identify the right target demographic while assessing competitors to position your product effectively. Gain valuable insights into market research, user-centric design, and strategic differentiation to create a solution that stands out.

March 17th

Funding the Expedition

This session will take you through the entire process of securing and managing funds for your startup. You'll gain insights into the roles of angel investors, venture capitalists, and capital raises, while also exploring key financial concepts such as runway, equity management, and cash flow strategies. Learn how to navigate the financial landscape effectively and set your startup up for long-term success.

March 26th

Building the Bridge

Get hands-on with Figma and other essential design tools in this interactive session led by the E-Cell team. You’ll learn the fundamentals of digital prototyping before taking on an exciting challenge—developing a prototype or proof-of-concept for your idea within just 6 hours. This is your chance to bring your vision to life and refine it with practical, real-time application!

April 7th

Leaving your Mark

Learn how to craft powerful and targeted marketing strategies for your product in this essential session. You’ll gain expert insights on designing effective campaigns that directly appeal to the demographic identified during the market analysis task. Master the art of positioning, messaging, and outreach to ensure your product resonates with the right audience.

April 14th

The Tipping Point

Master the art of the perfect pitch in this session. You’ll learn how to effectively communicate your product’s value, integrating key entrepreneurial concepts covered in previous sessions. Gain the skills to deliver a compelling, persuasive pitch that captures attention and drives impact.

April 21st

The Final Summit

Selected participants will have the exclusive opportunity to pitch their ideas before a panel of esteemed investors. This high-stakes session will not only test your ability to present a compelling business case but also determine the final winners of StartUp Aid 2025. Seize this chance to showcase your startup’s potential and make a lasting impression!

Rewards & Recognition

₹1.5 Lakh Prize Pool

Startup Aid 2025 offers a massive ₹1.5 Lakh prize pool, giving participants the chance to win big across various challenges and the final pitch.

Challenge Prizes

Engage in multiple hands-on challenges throughout the program, with exciting rewards at every stage to keep you motivated and pushing forward.

Industry Exposure

Gain direct access to top entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. Network, receive expert feedback, and explore potential opportunities to scale your idea.

Incubation & Support from CIE

The winning team will receive incubation at CIE, providing them with a launchpad to bring their startup vision to life. Additionally, all teams selected for the final pitch will receive support from CIE.

How to Participate

Form teams of up to 4 members

Open to participants outside IIIT

Physical presence required for final pitch

Frequently Asked Questions

StartUp Aid 2025 is an intensive 45-day program designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurship skills, focusing on key aspects of launching a startup. It includes masterclasses, challenges, prototyping sessions, and a final pitch competition judged by investors.
The program is open to all students who are eager to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Both individuals and teams can participate.
No, participation in StartUp Aid 2025 is completely free.
Teams can have up to 4 members, and individuals are also welcome to participate.
No, you can join even if you don't have an idea yet. The program will help you develop and refine one.
There are no restrictions—StartUp Aid welcomes ideas from all sectors, including technology, healthcare, sustainability, and more.
No, code implementation is not required. The focus is on developing an implementable idea, and participants are encouraged to create prototypes or proof-of-concept models to strengthen their final pitch and demonstrate feasibility.
The program consists of five masterclasses, a minithon(a prototyping hackathon) challenge, and a final pitch competition, with hands-on learning through challenges and real-world applications.
The leaderboard is updated after each session based on performance in tasks and challenges. The top three participants/teams are recognized with prizes. The leaderboard resets after each session.
Points are awarded based on performance in challenges, engagement in sessions, and completion of assigned tasks.
The final round selection is based on cumulative performance and consistency across multiple sessions.
Yes, a cutoff will be applied based on total leaderboard points to determine the finalists.
The winning team of StartUp Aid 2025 will be incubated at CIE, where they will receive essential resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Finalists will also receive mentorship to refine their ideas.
No, this program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who have not yet launched a startup. If you already have a registered startup, you are not eligible to participate.
Absolutely! The program is open to students from all disciplines, and entrepreneurship thrives on diverse perspectives.
Yes, individual participants will have opportunities to connect with others and form teams during the program.

If you have any additional queries, feel free to contact E-Cell.