SPJIMR Startup Talent Hunt is a national, multi-round talent and venture competition run by SPJIMR's WISE Tech studio, designed to identify undergraduate students across India with the aptitude to build and operate in high-growth startups.
About the Organiser
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is one of India's premier management institutions, consistently ranked among the top business schools globally for pedagogical innovation, executive education, and social impact. WISE Tech (Wise Innovation Studio for Emerging Technologies) is SPJIMR's venture intelligence, technology, and ecosystem studio based in Mumbai, working closely with high-growth startup founders, venture capital funds, and emerging technology innovators. The competition feeds into SPJIMR's Post Graduate Programme in Startup Management (PGPSM), an 11-month full-time programme combining management foundations, venture building, founder-led learning, AI and emerging technologies, and a four-month full-time startup residency.
Who It's For
Open to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in recognised Indian colleges and universities, across two cohorts:
- Class of 2027 - final-year undergraduates graduating in 2027
- Class of 2028 - pre-final year undergraduates graduating in 2028
Eligible disciplinary tracks include Engineering & Technology (B.E./B.Tech, all branches), Management & Commerce (BBA, BMS, B.Com and allied programmes), and Applied Sciences & Computing (BCA, B.Sc in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computing, IT and basic sciences).
Format and Team Rules
- Participate individually or in teams of up to 3 members
- All team members must be enrolled at the same college or university; cross-year and inter-departmental teams are welcome
- One student registers as Team Leader and adds members using their registered email/mobile details; added members must verify and confirm on the Unstop platform
- Team rounds are accessed and submitted through the Team Leader's account; individual assessment rounds are taken independently by each registered member
- No cap on the number of teams from a single institution
- Team rosters are locked once the registration deadline passes
Prizes and Rewards
Over ₹35 Lakhs+ in tuition scholarships, venture residencies, and ecosystem immersions are on offer:
- National Winner (Rank 1) - 100% tuition fee scholarship for PGPSM (Class of 2027-28), a "Diplomat for a Week" residency inside a foreign embassy commercial and trade mission in New Delhi, a 1.5-day fully funded Innovation Expedition in Mumbai with incubator visits, a Breakfast with SPJIMR Leadership, a CXO Lunch Roundtable and 1-on-1 venture mentorship, plus the National Champion Trophy
- Podium Laureates (Ranks 2 & 3) - 50% tuition scholarships, funded Innovation Expedition, Venture Residency Track priority allocation, and trophies
- The Elite Vanguard (Ranks 4-10) - 10% to 25% tuition scholarships, funded Innovation Expedition, and a 6-to-8-week curated venture residency with VC funds or funded startups
- The Operator Fellowship (Ranks 11-20) - 6-to-8-week venture residency, Founder Room All-Access Pass, and fast-track PGPSM admissions routing
- Ecosystem Network Laureates (Ranks 21-30) - 1-year sponsored membership to AIMA Young Leaders Council or TiE Network, Founder Room All-Access Pass, and citation in the SPJIMR National Operator Talent Registry
- Early-Bird Advantage (Top 100 registrations) - VIP delegate passes to the SPJIMR WISE Tech India Pitchathon Grand Finale in Mumbai
- Institutional Honours - "SPJIMR WISE College Champion" digital credential for the top-scoring team from every college generating 15-20 completed assessments
Scholarships apply strictly to the tuition component of PGPSM for the 2027-28 batch; non-tuition fees remain payable. Awards are subject to standard PGPSM admission eligibility and final institutional selection. Residencies are project-driven opportunities matched by candidate track and partner requirements.
The competition is held online, with the Innovation Expedition residencies hosted on campus in Mumbai.
