AWS, IDFC FIRST Bank and Campus Fund Announce Seventh Edition of Grand Challenge
AWS, IDFC FIRST Bank, and Campus Fund have launched the seventh edition of the Grand Challenge, a nationwide competition for student-led startups. The initiative provides mentorship, capital, and networking opportunities to young entrepreneurs across India.
Why it matters
This program serves as a critical pipeline for early-stage innovation, helping bridge the gap between academic research and commercial viability in the Indian startup ecosystem.
Bangalore, Karnataka, India – Business Wire India
Amazon Web Services (AWS), IDFC FIRST Bank and Campus Fund today announced the seventh edition of Grand Challenge, a flagship nationwide initiative that continues to recognize and support India’s most innovative student-led startups. This edition is powered once again by 360 ONE.
Building on the momentum of previous editions, Grand Challenge 2026 invites student entrepreneurs from across the country to apply by October 10, 2026 . The challenge is open to current students, recent graduates who graduated in or after 2023, and dropouts from the 2023 graduating cohort onwards, across all sectors.
Since its inception in 2020, Grand Challenge has evolved into a movement, celebrating the entrepreneurial potential of India’s youth. The sixth edition received over 1,500 applications from student-led startups across the country , further cementing Grand Challenge as a leading national platform for young entrepreneurs.
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