Corporate Partnership · 2026
Partner with India's next generation of founders
Where school innovators and campus founders turn bold ideas into ventures worth building.
Grand Finale
Dec 2026 · GITAM Hyderabad Campus
Why partner with GITAM Innovation Challenge
India's next founders start their pitch here.
GITAM's flagship national student innovation and pitching competition — connecting partners with emerging talent, sector-specific ideas and young founders.
Discover Talent
Meet ambitious innovators and early-stage founders.
Access Ideas
Discover ideas across five high-opportunity sectors.
Shape Founders
Mentor, evaluate, teach or co-create challenges.
Build Brand Relevance
Build relevance with youth, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Partners do more than fund the stage. They help move young founders from raw idea to a sharper pitch.
Through the years
A national innovation platform built over multiple editions
Cumulative programme performance across previous editions.
7,500+
Startup ideas received
- Cash & grants
- ₹80L+
- Teams pitched
- 350+
- Jury & experts
- 190+
- Partners
- 60+
Cash & grants
Teams pitched
Jury & experts
Partners
Backed by the scale of GITAM
- 25,000+
- students
- 90,000+
- alumni
- 105+
- countries
Historical figures supplied by the organisers.
2026 projected programme reach
3,000+
idea submissions expected across both tracks
- 20+
- States
- 3
- Campuses
- 64
- Semi-finalists
- 16
- Finalists
- Junior Track
School innovators
Creative thinking · prototype concepts · teamwork · first pitch
Partner relevance
School visibility · future talent · innovation engagement
- Main Track
Campus founders
Startup ideas · prototypes · market opportunity · early traction
Partner relevance
Talent engagement · mentoring · sector idea discovery
2026 figures are organiser projections until achieved.
2026 innovation themes
Five innovation spaces your organisation can help shape
Partners can own a theme through naming, challenges, mentors, jury roles and awards.
- 01
Planet & Sustainability
Climate Tech, Circular Economy & Sustainable Futures
Partner fit
Energy · mobility · infrastructure
- 02
Bio Economy & Agriculture
Agri, Food, HealthTech & Biotech
Partner fit
Food · pharma · agribusiness
- 03
DeepTech & Manufacturing
Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
Partner fit
Manufacturing · engineering · enterprise tech
- 04
Sports & Fitness
Active Lifestyle
Partner fit
Sports · healthcare · fitness platforms
- 05
D2C & Consumer Brands
Creator Economy
Partner fit
FMCG · retail · e-commerce · logistics
Theme partner: own a sector conversation all season
The selection journey
From national applications to the Grand Finale
A five-stage founder journey — with meaningful partner touchpoints throughout.
R0
Register
1-min pitch + deck
Campaign + challenge
R1
Screen
Quality + relevance
Expert reviewers
R2
Refine
Bootcamp + mentoring
Workshops + office hours
R3
Pitch
Semi-finals + regionals
Jury + campus activation
R4
Finale
Live stage + awards
Stage + booth + networking
Grand Finale · 11 December 2026
One stage. 16 finalists.
A full day of live pitches, industry conversations, awards and networking at GITAM Hyderabad.
Partner presence on the day
- Exhibition
- Jury
- Keynote
- Awards
- Demo
- Talent
- Media
- Networking
A sponsor experience designed around founder access, thought leadership and visible participation.
Event-day flow
- 8:30Registration + exhibition
- 9:30Networking breakfast
- 10:30Inaugural ceremony
- 11:00Industry keynote
- 11:45Innovation panel
- 12:30Junior Track finals
- 1:30Networking lunch
- 2:15Main Track finals
- 4:30People's Choice
- 5:00Awards ceremony
- 6:30Media + networking
What your organisation gains
A partnership built around access, engagement and measurable value
Innovation Access
Selected teams · sector ideas · emerging trends
Talent Engagement
Mentoring · jury roles · internships
Thought Leadership
Theme ownership · keynote · workshops
Brand Visibility
Campaign · campus · stage · exhibition
Every major partner receives an impact report
- Applications
- States
- Institutions
- Theme mix
- Digital reach
- Attendance
- Founder interactions
- Media
Measurement scope varies by tier and available programme data.
Partnership opportunities
Choose the level of ownership that fits your ambition
Custom partnership structures are available for strategic requirements.
Title Partner
₹25L
Programme
Event naming · exclusivity · keynote
Platinum
₹15L
Stage
Main stage · 2 seats · activation
Gold
₹7.5L
Theme
Booth · jury · campus visibility
Theme
₹4L
Theme
Theme naming · mentor · award
Ecosystem
Custom
Ecosystem
Mentors · tools · credits · services
Limited opportunities: 1 Title Partner · 5 Theme Partners · category exclusivity subject to agreement
Benefits at a glance
Clear deliverables at every partnership level
| Benefit | Title | Plat. | Gold | Theme | Eco. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event naming | |||||
| Category exclusivity | Theme | ||||
| Keynote / opening | |||||
| Main-stage branding | |||||
| Jury / mentor seats | 2+ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Theme / award naming | |||||
| Exhibition space | Premium | Premium | Std. | ||
| Masterclass / workshop | Theme | ||||
| Digital campaign | Premium | Premium | Std. | Theme | Ack. |
| Founder engagement | Limited | Theme | |||
| Impact report | Detailed | Detailed | Std. | Std. | Ack. |
Build a partnership around your objective
Sector Challenge
Bring a real industry problem
Bootcamp Masterclass
Teach founders what matters
Internships
Create opt-in talent pathways
Regional Round
Own a campus activation
Special Award
Women-led · Tier 2/3 · People's Choice
Tools & Credits
Support teams with real resources
All deliverables are subject to schedule, branding deadlines, participant consent, jury independence and a written partnership agreement.
Partnership conversations are open
Let's shape the next generation of founders together.
Theme ownership, category exclusivity and premium stage rights are limited.
Reserve your partnership category
Corporate Partnerships
Venture Development Centre, GITAM
Outreach contacts
Madhav
President, E-Club (GITAM), Hyderabad
Rishabh
Vice President - Outreach
