Anandi Fellowship by Bombay Shaving Company 2026
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Quick Answer
A unique fellowship for 11th, 12th, and 1st-year UG students offering annual scholarships, summer internships with stipends, a PPO, and potential ₹1 crore seed investment for their startup.
- Funding amount
- ₹1 Lakhs – ₹1 Cr
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Provider
- Bombay Shaving Company
- Application deadline
- 23d — 15 Oct 2026
- Eligible stage
- Idea
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
About this grant
The Anandi Fellowship, an initiative by Bombay Shaving Company, is a prestigious program designed to identify, skill, and invest early in India's most promising young entrepreneurs. Targeting students in grades 11 and 12, as well as first-year undergraduates, the fellowship aims to shape the next generation of startup founders. The program emphasizes rigorous selection and a unique apprenticeship model, preparing fellows for the demanding world of entrepreneurship.
Running in parallel to their college education, the fellowship provides extensive exposure through 3-4 intensive summer internships, known as Pit-Stop Internships (PSIs), at India's top startups and venture capital firms. Fellows receive mentorship from leading entrepreneurs and gain practical business experience across various sectors. The long-term vision of The Anandi Fellowship is to cultivate individuals who will go on to found India's top startups by 2037.
Beyond college, fellows are offered a guaranteed fast-track Entrepreneur-In-Residence (E-I-R) position at Bombay Shaving Company. Crucially, the program also offers a significant seed investment opportunity: ₹1 crore for 10% equity, with a 'no-questions-asked' approach, for fellows who choose to start their own company before their 27th birthday. This comprehensive support structure ensures that participants are not only skilled but also financially empowered to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, embodying a philosophy that entrepreneurship is a long-term journey requiring robust foundational support.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹1 Lakhs – ₹1 Cr
- Monthly stipend
- ₹1 Lakhs/month
- Fund type
- Fellowship
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
The Anandi Fellowship offers a comprehensive package of financial and strategic support. Fellows receive an Annual Scholarship of ₹1 lakh for every year they are in college, regardless of their institution or course. This scholarship aims to support their academic journey. Additionally, every summer, fellows engage in rigorous Pit-Stop Internships (PSIs) with India's leading startups and VCs, for which they receive a stipend of ₹1 lakh per month. Each summer internship provides a total of ₹2 lakh.
Upon successful graduation from both the fellowship and college, fellows are awarded a Pre-Placement Offer (PPO) for a full-time Entrepreneur-In-Residence (E-I-R) role at Bombay Shaving Company, with a competitive annual package of ₹25 lakh. This fast-track role provides direct exposure to the leadership team and company founders. For those who aspire to build their own ventures, the program offers a unique opportunity for seed investment: a ₹1 crore no-questions-asked investment for 10% equity in their company, provided it is founded before their 27th birthday. Beyond financial aid, fellows benefit from unparalleled mentorship from India's top entrepreneurs, extensive networking opportunities with partner organizations, and immersive training through bootcamps and hands-on experience, fostering a holistic development path for future founders.
- Disbursement
- Monthly Stipend
- Cohort size
- 10 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The selection process for The Anandi Fellowship is highly rigorous and designed to identify students with exceptional entrepreneurial acumen and grit. It unfolds in two primary stages.
Stage 1: Anandi-NEAT 2026. Applicants first undergo the Nationwide Entrepreneurial Acumen Test (Anandi-NEAT 2026). This is a 2-hour pen-and-paper examination conducted across seven major cities in India. The test features a combination of multiple-choice objective questions and subjective questions, assessing candidates across five key domains: Quantitative Reasoning and Numeric Proficiency, Logic and Inferencing, Data Interpretation and Verbal Reasoning, General Awareness, and Business Judgement. This stage aims to filter for foundational intellectual capabilities and an inherent understanding of business principles.
Stage 2: Grit Bootcamp. The top 50 performers from the Anandi-NEAT 2026 are invited to an intensive 3-day in-person Grit Bootcamp held in Gurgaon. This fully-expensed bootcamp is an advanced evaluation phase, involving a circuit of challenging activities designed to test various elements of grit, including resilience, perseverance, toughness, positivity, ambiguity management, and strength of character. Activities typically include panel interviews, group discussions, intricate case study competitions, dynamic business simulations, and even physical endurance circuits. Esteemed Partner Mentors actively participate in the evaluation process. At the culmination of the Grit Bootcamp, only 10 participants are ultimately selected and extended the prestigious Anandi Fellowship.
Application Process
- 1
Register
Register for Anandi-NEAT 2026 online by providing details, uploading documents, and paying the ₹199 fee.
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 3
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 4
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 5
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can sit for the Anandi-NEAT?
The Anandi-NEAT is open to students currently enrolled in grades 11 and 12 at any school in India, as well as those in their first year of college. There is no requirement to have a startup, prototype, revenue, or any prior entrepreneurial experience to register for the test or the fellowship.
What is life like as an Anandi Fellow?
As an Anandi Fellow, you receive an annual scholarship of ₹1 lakh throughout your college years. Every summer, you participate in a Pit-Stop Internship (PSI) at either Bombay Shaving Company or one of its Partner Mentor organisations, earning a stipend of ₹1 lakh per month for the duration of the internship. This provides rich apprenticeship and business exposure without clashing with your academic schedule.
Do I need to already be an entrepreneur to have a higher chance of being selected?
No, the fellowship specifically looks for entrepreneurial acumen and intrinsics, not commercial proof or prior experience. The selection process focuses on evaluating potential and grit rather than existing startup ventures, and performative entrepreneurship (e.g., half-baked prototypes for resume-buffing) is strongly discouraged.
Does it matter what college I go to or what degree I pursue during The Fellowship?
No, the program encourages fellows to pursue a fulfilling college life and a course of their choice. The fellowship is designed to run in parallel with academic pursuits, emphasizing that completing a college education is important for personal and professional development. Dropping out is strongly discouraged.
How do I graduate from Anandi Fellow to E-I-R?
To graduate from Fellow to Entrepreneur-In-Residence (E-I-R), you must successfully complete your college education and all required Pit-Stop Internships (or their approved equivalents). Following this, you will undergo an interview process. This is not a selective interview, and graduation to the E-I-R role is generally expected unless your performance has been poor.
What do the Grit Bootcamp participants who are not selected for the Fellowship get?
The 40 participants who attend the Grit Bootcamp but are not selected for the final fellowship will receive a Certificate of Excellence from The Anandi Fellowship and a one-time cash prize of INR 20,000. Additionally, the Partner Mentors and Bombay Shaving Company will track their progress through college life, potentially creating future opportunities for apprenticeship and funding outside the formal fellowship network.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
