3 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — June 2026
Three startup competitions in India are closing within 14 days. TiE Women Program 2026 offers ₹4.2 crore in prizes, SLINGSHOT 2026 has a ₹16.34 crore pool, and iDEX Open Challenge provides up to ₹15 crore for defence-tech innovators.
Three startup competitions in India are closing within the next two weeks. The TiE Women Program 2026, SLINGSHOT 2026, and iDEX Open Challenge all have deadlines between June 25 and June 30, 2026. These competitions cover women entrepreneurship, deep tech, and defence innovation, with total prize pools exceeding ₹35 crore.
At a Glance
| Competition | Status | Deadline | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiE Women Program 2026 | Closing soon | 25 June 2026 | ₹4.2 crore |
| SLINGSHOT 2026 | Closing soon | 30 June 2026 | ₹16.34 crore |
| iDEX Open Challenge | Closing soon | 30 June 2026 | ₹15 crore |
TiE Women Program 2026 (TiE Pune)
Applications for the TiE Women Program 2026 close on 25 June 2026. Run by TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), this global pitch competition is open to women founders across all industries and stages — from early-stage to scaling businesses. The program offers equity-free prizes worth $100,000+ (₹4.2 crore), including a $50,000 Global Winner Prize. Selected participants receive mentorship from TiE's Charter Member network and introductions to investors. There are no sector restrictions, but applicants must be women entrepreneurs.
SLINGSHOT 2026 (Enterprise Singapore)
SLINGSHOT 2026 is the 10th edition of Asia's leading deep tech startup pitching competition, organised by Enterprise Singapore and held as part of SWITCH 2026. Applications close on 30 June 2026. The competition awards Startup SG Grant prizes: Grand Winner gets S$400,000 (₹2.97 crore), 1st Runner-Up S$300,000 (₹2.23 crore), 2nd Runner-Up S$200,000 (₹1.49 crore), and Top 10 global startups receive S$80,000 each (₹59.4 lakh). The total prize pool exceeds S$2.2 million (₹16.34 crore). Five categories apply: Advanced Computing & Intelligence; Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Systems; Digital Technologies & Security; Environment, Energy & Sustainability; and Health & Biomedical. Startups from any country may apply, but only deep tech ventures are eligible.
iDEX Open Challenge (Defence Innovation Organisation)
The iDEX Open Challenge is a flagship initiative under Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), implemented by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). Applications close on 30 June 2026. The challenge invites startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators to propose technologies in aerospace, autonomous systems, AI, quantum technologies, advanced materials, and related defence applications. The prize is ₹15 crore. Unlike problem-specific challenges, this open category allows broad innovation. Eligibility is open to Indian startups and innovators; foreign entities are not eligible.
Before Applying
Two competitions have eligibility constraints based on founder demographics or sector. The TiE Women Program is open only to women entrepreneurs. SLINGSHOT restricts entries to deep tech ventures. The iDEX Open Challenge is limited to Indian startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators. Timing-wise, TiE Women closes earliest on 25 June, so applicants have two days. SLINGSHOT and iDEX both close on 30 June. All three are annual competitions; missing the deadline means waiting a year for the next cycle. SLINGSHOT requires a trip to Singapore for finalists, so consider logistics.
