Startup Aid 2026

A 40-day entrepreneurship sprint to launch your startup journey

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About The Program

StartUp Aid is an intensive 40-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 eight high-impact sessions, including:

  • ✦ Five Masterclasses - Learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders as they share insights and real-world experiences.
  • ✦ Two Mentoring Sessions - Validate and improve your ideas through the experiences of well-established entrepreneurs.
  • ✦ The Final Pitch - Present your startup to a panel of external investors and judges, who will decide the winners of StartUp Aid 2026.

To ensure hands-on learning, there are three small challenges, each associated with a masterclass, which are short tasks 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 6

Roll The Dice

Ideation & Market Analysis
Every venture begins with a calculated risk. Refine your idea, validate it with real users, and study the board before you make your move.

March 14

Choose Your Property

Mentor Cafe - I
Sit across the table from experienced founders and industry experts. Get direct feedback, challenge your assumptions, and rethink your strategy before you scale.

March 17

The Banker’s Table

Financing
In business, numbers speak first. Define your revenue model, calculate margins, estimate valuation, and understand what keeps you out of bankruptcy.

March 25

The Utility Works

Software Prototyping
Infrastructure powers the board. Transform your concept into a working prototype — functional, testable, real.

April 3

Secure the Deed

Mentor Cafe - II
Return to the table with progress in hand. Refine your prototype, sharpen your strategy, and prepare for the final stretch.

April 7

Houses To Hotels

Branding
Growth demands identity. Craft your logo, voice, and positioning — and build a brand that stands tall on its block.

April 10

Make the Deal

Pitching
Confidence closes contracts. Structure your pitch, defend your valuation, and convince the room your venture deserves investment.

April 12

The Final Roll

Final Showcase
The final square. The highest stakes. Pitch before judges in a real-world equity simulation and play for more than just prize money.

Rewards & Recognition

₹2 Lakh+ Prize Pool

Startup Aid 2026 offers a massive ₹2 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 a reward of Rs.10,000 to the top performer, 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

Register Your Team

Frequently Asked Questions

StartUp Aid 2026 is an intensive 40-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.
There is a registration fee of Rs. 200 for non-IIIT participants.
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.
There are five masterclasses, two mentoring sessions and a final showcase to determine the winners, with three hands-on challenges in between.
The leaderboard is updated after each session based on performance in tasks and challenges. The top three participant/team will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 10000. The leaderboard resets after each session.
Points are awarded based on performance in challenges, engagement in sessions, and completion of assigned tasks.
Yes, a cutoff will be applied based on total leaderboard points to determine the finalists.
The winning team of StartUp Aid 2026 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.
Recordings for the masterclasses will be available. However, showing up for the Mentor Cafe sessions is mandatory and compensation will not be provided for those.

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