The Founders Meet - September 2026 Edition

Credit guarantee cover up to Rs 20 crore that lets banks, NBFCs and AIFs lend to DPIIT-recognised startups without collateral. You receive a loan and repay it. CGSS is not a grant.

Collateral-free credit guarantee up to ₹2 crore for micro & small enterprises

Collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh for micro and small non-farm businesses

Below-market soft loans from ₹10 lakh for MSMEs in manufacturing and services

Subordinate debt with 90% CGTMSE guarantee for stressed/NPA-classified MSMEs

Below-market NABARD loans for dairy cooperatives and producer companies for processing infrastructure

A global online hackathon by RevenueCat with a ₹3.95 crore prize pool — open to developers building mobile apps and games.

The Young Inventors Prize by EPO recognizes young innovators worldwide developing technology-driven solutions for global sustainability challenges, offering cash prizes up to €20,000 and global visibility.

A global online hackathon focused on water health and sustainability, with a ₹2.79 lakh prize pool.

A global online hackathon for software and AI builders, with a $11,685 prize pool and a beginner-friendly, social-good focus.

A fully-online Finance × Trading hackathon by TechZap — ₹75,000 prize pool, Azure credits, and direct hiring rounds for top teams.

India's biggest competition for student startups, helping student founders get noticed, meet investors, and grow their ventures.

MeitY Startup Hub invites tech startups from Tier II and Tier III cities for a 1:1 matching equity investment up to ₹50 lakh to fuel growth and scale impact.

The MIDC Innovation Grand Challenge 2026 invites students, startups and innovators to put forward ready-to-implement solutions for pressing sustainability and infrastructure challenges in MIDC's industrial estates.

A 36-hour national-level hackathon in New Delhi for college students — ₹37,000+ prize pool, mentorship, and networking.

Grants of up to ₹50 lakh from C-CAMP and TANUH (IISc) for Indian startups building AI solutions for non-communicable diseases, from idea to deployment.

The iDEX Open Challenge invites Indian startups, innovators, and MSMEs to propose cutting-edge technologies and products for the defence and aerospace sectors, offering grants up to ₹1.5 crore and direct engagement with the military.

A global online hackathon by RevenueCat with a ₹3.95 crore prize pool — open to developers building mobile apps and games.