Airtel iCreate 2026 — ₹8L MBA Case Challenge for 2nd-Year Students

Airtel iCreate 2026 is Bharti Airtel's flagship innovation challenge, and this edition carries a track designed specifically for second-year MBA students. Teams that sign up are handed a live business case from Airtel and then taken through a chain of elimination rounds, beginning with a short concept brief and finishing at a national final hosted at the company's Gurgaon headquarters.

It is run less like a conventional case contest and more like an extended audition. Participants have to think commercially, defend their calls in an online business simulation, and then present a full solution supported by competitive analysis — first in a written deck, then in a short video.

The stakes are concrete. The cash pool reaches up to ₹8 lakh, the top ten squads are mentored by an Airtel leader, and finalists get face time with Airtel's senior leadership alongside PPI/PPO opportunities, subject to eligibility. For a second-year MBA student deciding how to spend the last stretch of the programme, it is a chance to work on an operator-scale problem and be seen doing it.

Registration happens on Unstop, and the window closes on 17 July 2026. Teams that register are the only ones who receive the case study, so signing up early is the practical first step.

• Prize pool of up to ₹8 lakh — ₹5,00,000 for the winner and ₹3,00,000 for the first runners-up
• Open to full-time second-year MBA students at eligible B-schools, in teams of exactly three with at least one male and one female member
• Five-stage journey: brief submission, online business simulation, detailed deck plus a two-minute video, mentorship, then the national finale
• Top 10 teams mentored by an Airtel leader; finalist teams in the running for PPI/PPO opportunities subject to eligibility
• Finale held at Airtel HQ in Gurgaon, with travel and accommodation provided
• Registrations close on 17 July 2026 — only registered teams receive the case study

Entry is limited to students in the second year of a full-time flagship MBA programme at a B-school that qualifies for the challenge. Airtel does not accept part-time, distance-learning or executive MBA candidates.

The team rules are strict and worth reading twice:

• Team size is fixed at exactly three members.
• Every team must include at least one male and one female participant.
• Members may come from different specialisations — cross-specialisation teams are allowed.
• No individual can be part of more than one team.
• There is no cap on how many teams a single institute can send.

Registration is done at team level, and only registered teams are given access to the case study.

Airtel iCreate 2026 — ₹8L MBA Case Challenge for 2nd-Year Students is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Airtel iCreate 2026 — ₹8L MBA Case Challenge for 2nd-Year Students closed on 17 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

This is a prize competition rather than an investment programme, so the money on offer arrives as cash awards and career openings — not as capital handed over in return for a stake.

• Winner: ₹5,00,000
• First runners-up: ₹3,00,000
• Taken together, the pool reaches up to ₹8 lakh.

Beyond the cash, the top 10 finalist teams are paired with a mentor from Airtel's leadership. Finalist teams are also considered for PPI/PPO opportunities, subject to eligibility.

National finalists get to present their work to Airtel leadership at the company's headquarters in Gurgaon, with travel and accommodation covered, and to network with Airtel's senior team during the visit.

Airtel iCreate 2026 — ₹8L MBA Case Challenge for 2nd-Year Students is offered by Airtel. It is delivered directly by Airtel as a competition.

Teams move forward round by round, with elimination at each stage:

• Case release and brief submission — registered teams receive the case study and must send in a two-slider or two-pager PDF covering their interpretation of the problem, their approach and their proposed solution.
• Simulation round — shortlisted teams take part in an online business simulation, making strategic decisions to work through the challenge and maximise their return on investment.
• Detailed submission — teams then submit a longer deck of six to eight sliders or pages plus a two-minute video, laying out their full solution, how it compares with the competition and the impact it would create.
• Mentorship phase — the top 10 finalist teams each receive guidance from an Airtel leader ahead of the finale.
• Grand finale — the national finalists present to Airtel's leadership at Airtel HQ in Gurgaon, with travel and stay arranged for them.

Before you apply to Airtel iCreate 2026 — ₹8L MBA Case Challenge for 2nd-Year Students, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Airtel iCreate 2026 — ₹8L MBA Case Challenge for 2nd-Year Students is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹8L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.