📌About the Event

The Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge (YEC) 2027 is a national-level innovation and entrepreneurship competition organized under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027, an initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The challenge encourages young startup founders and working professionals to develop innovative, technology-driven solutions to real-world social and economic problems. Participants can present their ideas, receive mentorship from IIT Kanpur, compete at regional levels, and showcase their innovations nationally, with cash prizes of up to ₹1.5 lakh. The initiative supports India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Event Type: National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition
• Mode of Conduct: Hybrid (Online and Offline)
• Location: Pan-India, with regional competitions and a national showcase in New Delhi.
• Registration Platform: MY Bharat Portal
• Knowledge Partner: IIT Kanpur
• Focus Areas: Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Environment, Women Empowerment, Governance, Accessibility, Disaster Management, AI Solutions and other social-impact innovations.

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📅 Important Dates

• Regional Competition and Pitch: November 2026
• Online Mentorship and Refinement: December 2026
• Offline Mentoring at IIT Kanpur: 11–12 December 2026
• National Showcase and Awards: 10–12 January 2027

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Open to Indian startup founders and working professionals aged 18–35 years.
• Individuals or teams of up to three members can participate.
• Startup founders must have a DPIIT-recognized startup or registered MSME with an industry-ready, innovative solution addressing a social challenge.
• Working professionals employed in government organizations, private companies, NGOs or academia can apply with an innovative, scalable solution.
• Startup founders must provide a startup registration certificate, pitch deck and idea summary.

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Cash Prizes
• First Prize: ₹1,50,000
• Second Prize: ₹1,00,000
• Third Prize: ₹75,000
• Fourth Prize: ₹50,000
• Fifth Prize: ₹30,000
  Additional Benefits
• Mentorship: Expert guidance from IIT Kanpur, including online sessions and a two-day offline programme.
• Prototype Support: ₹5,000 per national finalist team for posters and prototype preparation.
• Travel Assistance: Up to ₹10,000 per team for eligible interstate travel to Regional Nodal Institutes.
• National Exposure: Opportunity to showcase innovations at VBYLD 2027.
• Networking: Interaction with investors, policymakers, industry experts and entrepreneurship ecosystem leaders.