GITAM × Bower Innovation Challenge
VDC
📌 About the Event
The GITAM × Bower Innovation Challenge 2026 is a national-level student innovation and venture-pitching competition organised by the Venture Development Centre (VDC), GITAM, with Bower School of Entrepreneurship as the title sponsor. The challenge invites undergraduate students and eligible recent graduates from across India to present innovative business ideas, prototypes, or minimum viable products (MVPs). Participants can receive mentorship, venture coaching, and opportunities to connect with the startup ecosystem while competing for cash prizes and incubation support.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Competition Name: GITAM × Bower Innovation Challenge 2026
- Organizer: Venture Development Centre (VDC), GITAM
- Mode of Conduct: Hybrid — online screening and mentoring rounds followed by an offline grand finale at GITAM Hyderabad campus
- Team Size: 2–6 members, including a team lead and co-lead
- Registration Fee: ₹699 per team
- Innovation Themes: Planet & Sustainability; Bio Economy & Agriculture; DeepTech & Manufacturing; Sports & Fitness; D2C & Consumer Brands
📅 Important Dates
- Registration Opens: 5 August 2026
- Registration Deadline: 31 October 2026, 11:59 PM IST
- Main Track Semi-finalists Announcement: 12 November 2026
- Online Semi-finals: 25–26 November 2026
- Grand Finale: 11 December 2026
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Open to undergraduate students and graduates from 2025 onwards enrolled in any Indian university.
- Teams may submit ideas at the concept, prototype, or MVP stage.
- A pitch deck in PDF, PPT, or PPTX format (up to 10 MB) must be submitted.
- Teams must submit a one-minute pitch video through a link or file upload, subject to the portal’s file-size limit.
- A student ID or bonafide certificate is required at the shortlisting stage.
- Participants must complete team registration, payment, and idea submission through the official portal.
🏆 Benefits for Participants
- ₹2,00,000 cash prize for the Main Track winner.
- ₹1,00,000 cash prize for the runner-up.
- ₹50,000 cash prize for the second runner-up.
- Free six-month incubation at GITAM i-TBI for the top three teams, subject to the published award terms.
- One year of personalised venture coaching for GITAM Innovation Challenge finalists.
- Certificates and trophies for designated award winners.
- Direct nomination for the SIA Award 2027 for eligible award-winning teams, as specified by the organiser.