Shark Tank is an entrepreneurship-based pitch competition hosted at SRM IST, Ramapuram, Chennai, where participants present innovative startup ideas before a panel of judges acting as investors
("Sharks"). Teams are expected to identify a real-world problem, propose an innovative solution, articulate their business model, and convince the judges of the idea's market potential. The event is designed to foster innovation, business strategy, creativity, and executive presentation skills. Who Should Apply Open to student teams and individual participants with an original startup idea. Teams may consist of 1 to 4 members, and solo participants are welcome. Ideas may belong to any domain, including technology, healthcare, education, fintech, environment, and social impact. Format & Timeline The competition runs across two rounds. Round 1 is an Idea Screening round, where each team delivers a 3 to 5 minute elevator pitch covering the problem statement, proposed solution, target audience, and unique value proposition. The top-performing teams are shortlisted for the finals. Round 2 is the Shark Tank Pitch, in which shortlisted teams deliver a detailed business pitch followed by a rigorous Q&A session with the Sharks covering business viability, revenue model, and market scalability. The event takes place on 07.10.2026 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM IST at the BMS 7th Floor Lab, SRM IST, Ramapuram, Chennai. Rules & Regulations Each team may present only one original startup idea. Plagiarism, or presenting an existing commercial business as one's own, results in disqualification. Presentations must be prepared in advance using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or PDF format. Teams must answer judges' questions confidently during the Q&A session and should arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before their scheduled slot. The judges' decision is final and binding. Prizes The competition carries a total cash prize pool of ₹3,000, awarded to the top-performing teams as determined by the judging panel. Eligibility Open to participants with original startup ideas. Team size is 1 to 4 members. A registration fee of ₹200 per team applies. About the Organiser The event is organised by SRM University, Ramapuram, Chennai, as part of its Cyber Carnival lineup of student competitions. How to Apply Registration closes on 2026-10-03. Teams can register through the official Unstop listing linked above and must pay the ₹200 per-team registration fee to confirm participation.
Eligibility
Open to participants with original startup ideas; teams of 1–4 members. Registration fee of ₹200 per team.
