IGNOU Best Startup Award-2025: The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is
actively engaged in fostering its Students and Alumni towards Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat
through promoting, supporting and nurturing the Innovator Students and Alumni of IGNOU
interested in setting up their own Startups.
As a part of the IIC Calendar Activity, the IIC-IGNOU is organizing a Startup Competition-2025
for IGNOU Students and Alumni.
All the Students and Alumni of IGNOU who have set up a Startup or Business Venture are invited
to submit the details of their Startup or Business Venture for the Startup Competition-2025.
The Startup Competition-2025 will be held in Two Rounds.

• In the First Round, details about the Startup/Business Venture are to be submitted
  through the Google Form. The submitted entries will be screened and shortlisted, by
  an Expert Committee for the Second Round.
• In the Second Round, the shortlisted Students/Alumni will be required to pitch their
  Startup/Business as per the template provided after completion of the First Round.
  Finally, the Best Startup Award-2025 will be given to the Startups/Business Venture selected
  after the pitching.
  The entries for the First Round of the Startup Competition-2025 can be submitted
  through the Link : https://forms.gle/VUmLw9sj2tidb7MY6 latest by August 10, 2025.
  For any clarification, the interested Students and Alumni may contact at email
  ncide@ignou.ac.in.
  This is issued with the approval of the competent authority.

Download Notification: https://www.ignou.ac.in/viewFile/NCIDE/notification/Notification-Startup-Competition-2025.pdf

Guidelines

The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
is actively engaged in fostering its students and alumni towards an Atmanirbhar and a
Viksit Bharat through promoting, supporting and nurturing the Innovator Students and
Alumni of IGNOU interested in setting up their own Startups. In this context, the IICIGNOU is organising a Startup Competition-2025 to select the candidates for the Best
Startup Award-2025 from among the IGNOU students and alumni.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
All the Students and Alumni of IGNOU, who have either set up their Startup/Business
Venture or are at an advanced stage of setting-up their Startup/ Business Venture, are
eligible to participate in the Startup Competition-2025.

Why Should You Participate?

• The top three Startups/ Business Ventures/ to be Startups/ Business Ventures
  will be given the Best Startup Award-2025.
• The winners of First, Second and Third Prizes will be awarded a Cash Prize of
  Rs. 10000/-, Rs. 7000/-, and Rs. 5000/-, respectively.
• All the shortlisted participants will be provided the required support, training
  and guidance for scaling up their Startup/Business Venture initiatives.
• You will be provided a national platform for showcasing your Startup or
  Business Venture.
• Certificate of Participation will be provided to all the shortlisted students and
  alumni.
• You will get the opportunity to interact with other innovators and
  entrepreneurs.
• You will be guided and facilitated in getting financial support from various
  funding agencies.

What are Different Stages?

• Interested students and alumni are required to submit the details about their
  Startup/ Business Venture/ to be a Startup/ Business Venture through the
  Google Form for the First Round.
• The entries received by the last date will be screened by an Expert Committee
  to shortlist the Startups/ Business Ventures/ to be a Startup/Business Ventures.
• The shortlisted students and alumni will be eligible to participate in the Second
  Round of the Startup Competition-2025.
• The shortlisted students and alumni will be required to present their Startup/
  Business Venture/ to be a Startup/ Business Venture before the Expert
  Committee to select the best three Startup/ Business Venture/ to be a Startup/
  Business Venture. This will be held tentatively during the first week of August.
• The shortlisted candidates will be provided a Template for presentation during
  the Second Round of the Startup Competition-2025.
• The selected Startup/Business Venture/to be a Startup/Business Venture may
  get an opportunity to present during the event on celebrating World
  Entrepreneurship Day to be held tentatively on August 21, 2025.

What are the Suggested Theme Areas?

• Food, Agriculture and Rural Development
• Clean Energy and Alternate Fuel
• Clean Water and Water Management
• Environmental Issues and Waste Management
• Swacchhata Initiatives, Health Care, Hygiene, Lifestyle and Sports
• Smart Transportation and Traffic Management
• Smart City and Urban Development
• Social Issues and Security System
• Scientific and Technological Developments
• Education and Online Teaching-learning System
• Hospitality, Travel and Tourism
• E-Governance, E-Commerce and Digital Marketing
• Robotics and Drones
• ICT, Cyber Security Systems, Blockchain, Cognitive Computing, AI and ML
• IoT based technologies
• Any other Area like Fashion, Art, Entertainment, Retails and Banking, etc.
  (Please specify)

Will I Get a Certificate?

Certificate of Participation will be awarded to the shortlisted Students and Alumni who
present their Startups before the Expert Committee. Certificate of Merit along with the
Best Startup Award-2025 will be awarded to the Winners of the First, Second and Third
positions in the Second Round. However, the decision of the University in this regard will
be final and binding.

How to Apply?

Interested Students and Alumni of IGNOU who have established a Startup/Business
Venture or are at an advanced stage (at least TRL-4) of setting up their
Startup/Business Venture can submit their detailed entries through Google Form
at the link: https://forms.gle/WvEgMnevMX3JR6iHA latest by July 31, 2025.

Important Dates

1. Submission Deadline: The last date for submitting the entries at the link:
   https://forms.gle/WvEgMnevMX3JR6iHA for the Startup Competition-2025
   is July 31, 2025.
2. Pitching Day: The shortlisted Startup/ Business Venture/ to be a
   Startup/Business Venture will have the opportunity to present their startup in front
   of an Expert Committee. This event is scheduled to be held tentatively
   during the second week of August in Hybrid Mode.
3. Award Function and Presentation by the selected Startup/Business Venture/
   to be a Startup/Business Venture during an event tentatively planned to be held in
   Hybrid Mode.
   Whom to Contact
   For any clarification or more details, you may contact via email at
   directorncide@ignou.ac.in.

Download Guidelines PDF: https://www.ignou.ac.in/viewFile/NCIDE/notification/Guidelines-1.pdf