India’s most prestigious business model competition is back — and this year, it’s grander than ever.
IIT Bombay’s Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) is all set to host the 28th edition of Eureka!, Asia’s largest business model competition, offering early-stage entrepreneurs the perfect launchpad to transform ideas into sustainable ventures. Indian Startup Times is proud to be associated with this landmark event as a media partner.
From ideation to acceleration, Eureka! 2025 provides a deeply structured five-month journey designed to refine business models, offer sector-specific mentorship, and unlock exposure to top incubators and over 50 leading VC firms, including 100X.VC, 3one4 Capital, Equirus Capital, Ankur Capital, and IIMA Ventures.
Why Eureka! Matters:
Last year, 25,000+ applications poured in from across India and the GCC. Startups underwent three rigorous rounds, culminating in a high-stakes pitch at IIT Bombay’s E-Summit. Finalists benefited from curated mentoring, accelerator bootcamps, and live feedback from jury members like Rajesh Mane (9Unicorns) and Reshma Jhaveri (Venture Catalysts).
This year, participants can look forward to:
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Prizes worth INR 2 crore
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50+ VC Firms in attendance
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300+ Expert Mentors
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Sponsored US pitch visits and a chance to pitch in Dubai
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Access to top incubators like NSRCEL (IIM-B), SINE (IIT-B), iCreate, T-Hub, Razorpay Rize, and FITT (IIT-D)
The first stage of the competition begins with building a Business Model Canvas, guided by hands-on mentoring. Shortlisted teams will move into more advanced mentorship rounds before facing the final showdown — a three-day accelerator and pitch round at E-Summit 2025.
Who Should Apply?
The competition is tailored for early-stage founders — particularly those in ideation or MVP stage — and is designed to help sharpen go-to-market strategies, gain visibility, and build lasting investor and mentor connections.
Global Reach, National Impact
Beyond Indian borders, Eureka! has expanded into six GCC countries — including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait — with a dedicated prize pool of $100,000 and sponsored Dubai travel for GCC finalists.
Last Date to Apply: 10th August 2025
Past Eureka! Success Stories:
Notable alumni include P-TAL, DeHaat, Sputnik Brain, DocEye, Curomates, BlisCare, and AI-Genix — several of which raised capital during the competition and pitched at the Indian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020.
Eureka! is presented by Technosoft Engineering Solutions, co-presented by WestBridge Capital, and supported by BPCL, FedEx, Voltas, Emil Pharma, EarthON Foundation, and Tattva by Somany Impressa Group. It also boasts institutional support from Startup India, MeitY Startup Hub, T-Hub, Startup Odisha, We Hub, MSINS, Startup Haryana, and many other state startup missions.
For regular updates, follow E-Cell IIT Bombay:
https://www.instagram.com/iitbombay_ecell/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecell_iitb/
