Illustration of a student with a backpack looking out over a mountain valley toward a distant city skyline, under a rainbow.

Win prizes and funding upto 20 lakhs

Student Unicorn
Prize 2026.

A one-month founder discovery program for
student-led startups with real proof of work.

Register now
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Your college calls your idea a final year project but,

We call it your
First Startup✨

Built a prototype?Eligible
Got your first users?Eligible
Pre-revenue ?Eligible

We built this for students who already have proof of work. You don’t need a perfect project. You don’t need revenue. We need proof that you’ve started.

Student Unicorn Prize 2026 is a 1-month founder competition program, welcoming student builders across India to take serious campus projects beyond the classroom.

Gain access to mentorship, investors, demo day visibility, and up to ₹20 lakhs in seed investment.

Backed by people who believe in early founders

Finding the student founders before the world does.

Students across India build with real potential — but most never get the guidance to go further. We identify high-potential student founders already building (POC, MVP, or early validation) and help them move from campus to serious startup.

Portrait of Ranjith, founder
Ranjith
Founder (Multiple companies)
Portrait of Allwyn Kent, co-founder
Allwyn Kent
Co-founder at Vonnue

Great ideas can come from any tracks.

You don’t have to be from expert background to build something important. We’re looking for student founders solving real problems across sectors.

AI & Machine Learning / Climate & Sustainability / Fintech & Payments / Agritech & Food Systems / Health & Biotech / EdTech & Skilling / D2C & Consumer Brands / SaaS & Dev Tools / Mobility / Logistics / Social Impact / Deep Tech / Consumer Internet

What you get at SUP.

1-Month
Founder Sprint

A focused one-month program guiding student founders to refine ideas, validate solutions, and ready their startups for growth.

Founder
Mentorship

Learn directly from experienced founders and investors who understand what it takes to build, validate, and grow startups.

Demo Day
Access

Pitch your startup live to an investor panel, ecosystem partners, and industry leaders who can open doors to your next opportunity.

Visibility Beyond
Campus

Take your startup beyond your college by gaining exposure to a wider network of founders, investors, and mentors.

Competition
Recognition

Compete with ambitious student founders for recognition, prize money, and the opportunity to get your work noticed by the right people.

Seed Investment
Opportunity

For the most promising, SUP can become the first step toward funding, with the opportunity to pitch for up to ₹20 lakhs in seed investment.

One month. Clear steps. Serious momentum.

You bring the proof of work. We build the support system around it. One focused month can change how seriously the world sees your startup.

  1. To be announcedLast Date

    Apply for SUP

    Submit your startup. POC, MVP, or validated pre-revenue work is required.

    Register now
    Student working on a laptop at a desk, sketching product ideas on a whiteboard.
  2. To be announcedAnnouncement

    Get Shortlisted

    Applications are reviewed by founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.

    A founder checking a shortlist confirmation notification on their phone outdoors.
  3. To be announcedFirst Day

    Join the Founder Sprint

    Selected teams enter the 1-month program: mentorship, validation, business clarity, pitch refinement.

    Two founders in a mentorship session, reviewing a business plan together.
  4. To be announcedDemo Day

    Pitch on Demo Day

    Present your startup live to an investor panel and ecosystem partners.

    A founder presenting their startup pitch on a large outdoor screen to an audience.
  5. What’s Next

    Move Forward

    Winners receive prize money, founder support, and may be considered for seed investment.

    Learn about prizes
    A founder standing on a balcony overlooking a city skyline, looking ahead.

Competition prizes.

Three positions. Real prize money.

Winner
1,50,000 INR
Winner Recognition
1st Runner-up
75,000 INR
Recognition, founder support.
2nd Runner-up
50,000 INR
Recognition, founder support.
Win prizes and funding at SUP’26
Register now

Seed funding up to 20,00,000 INR for the right founding team, SUP can become the first serious step from student project to funded startup.

*Not a guaranteed award.

This is for students who have already started.

Final-year students or graduates from the last two years. Solo founders and teams both eligible. You need proof of work — not a perfect product.

Final year student*Graduated in last 2 years*Solo founderFounding team (up to 3)
POC / MVP / Prototype*Early users / PilotPre-revenue validatedBuilt a prototypeGot first users

*Mandatory eligibility check for the program

Questions before
you apply.

No. You can apply with a POC, MVP, or validated pre-revenue project — a registered company is not required to apply.

Not on its own. We’re looking for proof of work — a prototype, early users, or validated pre-revenue traction — not just an idea.

Selected teams get founder mentorship, help validating their idea, business clarity sessions, and pitch refinement ahead of Demo Day.

Neither is guaranteed. SUP awards prize money to top teams and can be a first step toward seed investment for the most promising founders — not a guaranteed grant or investment.

Both. Solo founders and founding teams of up to three members are eligible to apply.

Reach out through the contact links in our footer — we’re always looking for experienced founders, mentors, and investors to support the program.

⏳ Application closes Aug 31, 2026

Your project has a deadline.
So does SUP’26.

Register now