Startup Ideathon 3.O

Objective: The Startup Ideathon 2.0 is a unique platform designed to encourage innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking among college students. This event provides an excellent opportunity for students to develop and pitch their startup ideas in front of experienced mentors and industry leaders. The goal is not only to motivate students to think beyond academics but also to help them transform their ideas into potentially scalable ventures. By participating in the Ideathon, students can gain critical insights into business development, investor pitching, market validation, and startup strategy formulation. Scope: Foster an innovation-driven mindset among students Encourage entrepreneurial problem-solving and real-world impact Provide structured guidance through expert mentoring and feedback Facilitate networking opportunities with peers, faculty, professionals, and investors Enable participants to fine-tune and validate their business ideas Promote inter-collegiate and interdisciplinary collaboration Eligibility Criteria: Open to all undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students from any college or discipline Inter-college teams are allowed, encouraging diverse thought and collaboration Inter-specialization teams are allowed, bringing cross-domain skills together Team Size: 1 to 3 members Event Format & Rounds: Round 1: Idea Submission Participants must register and submit their startup idea abstract Deadline: 21st September 2026 (Monday) Abstracts will be evaluated on parameters like Creativity, Feasibility, and Originality No entry fee is required for Round 1 Results will be announced on 24th September 2026 (Thursday) The final pitch will take place offline at the CIT campus A nominal registration fee of ₹500/team will be applicable only for shortlisted teams The Document Should Contain: Title: Clear and concise, reflecting your idea. Problem: Short description of the issue your idea addresses. Solution: Brief explanation of your proposed approach. Impact: Potential benefits of your idea. Originality: Unique aspects of your idea. Feasibility: Practicality and implementation potential. Format: Font Size-12 and Use only Roman Numbers. Submission: Upload via the portal before the deadline. Round 2: Final Pitch (Offline at CIT) Shortlisted teams will advance to the final round, held on 01st October 2026 Teams will present an 8–10 slide business pitch deck including: Business Model Fund Requirements Revenue Projections Target Customers Marketing Strategy Presentation time limit: 15 minutes per team The final round will be conducted in two sub-rounds: a preliminary pitch followed by an in-depth presentation for the top contenders Rules and Guidelines: Each team must consist of 1 to 3 members Interdisciplinary and inter-college collaboration is encouraged All participants must bring fully charged laptops and necessary presentation materials Teams should carry any props or tools needed for their demonstration Abstract submission is mandatory at the time of initial registration Teams must be available for both rounds of the event on the final day The decision of the panel of judges will be final and non-negotiable Shortlisted teams will be notified via email The entry fee of ₹500 is applicable only to shortlisted teams Awards and Recognition: Total Cash Prize Pool: ₹10,000 Winners and runners-up will receive cash prizes along with certificates of recognition, sponsored by Plateau Corp E-certificates will be awarded to all participants as a token of appreciation for their contribution and participation