Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026
India's founder-first startup festival + Zee TV pitch show is back. Founders from any city, any stage, any sector pitch to a panel of investor "Titans" for a ₹25 Lakh per-startup cohort guarantee, live Demo Day at Bharat Mandapam (Aug 26–28, 2026) and Zee TV / Zee5 broadcast.
- Funding amount
- ₹25L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Ideabaaz Tech (Platform)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Ideabaaz — Season 2 combines a national broadcast pitch show on Zee TV and Zee5 with a 3-day live startup festival at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 26 to 28 August 2026. Organised by Ideabaaz Tech Pvt Ltd, the platform is designed for founders from any Indian city, especially Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions, to pitch in Hindi or English to a panel of investor-operators known as Titans. Season 1 reportedly facilitated ₹41 Crore in deals, with the largest single cheque being ₹8.5 Crore, and reached over 30 million viewers across Zee TV, Zee5, and YouTube.
The program accepts startups at any stage — from idea to scale-up — and across all sectors including SaaS, D2C, FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, DeepTech, Climate, AgriTech, and Creator Economy. The top 10 startups receive a ₹25 Lakh per-startup cohort guarantee, along with a 6-week structured mentorship, a live Demo Day pitch at Bharat Mandapam in front of 150+ investors and 10,000+ attendees, and national media exposure across Zee TV, Zee5, YouTube, and 8 regional languages.
The Titans panel includes active investor-operators such as Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures), Rishabh Mariwala (Sharp Ventures), Archana Jahagirdar (Rukam Capital), Sandesh Sharda (Gro More), Shaili Chopra (SheThePeople.TV), Anupam Bansal (Liberty Shoes), Jimmy Mistry, Priyanka Salot, Pawan Jaggi, Simron Mhapatra, and Ravi Reddy (Sunera Group). The show is hosted by Pratik Gandhi. Partners include IIT Madras, NSE, House of IP, Wizcraft, IDFC, and Razorpay.
The application process opens in May 2026. After an online submission, a panel review in late June 2026 selects 50 startups for a 6-week cohort from July to August 2026. The cohort culminates in a live Demo Day on 28 August 2026 at Bharat Mandapam.
Highlights
- Season 2 + Startup Festival at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (26–28 Aug 2026)
- ₹25 Lakh per-startup cohort guarantee for top 10 + Demo Day in front of 150+ investors
- Broadcast on Zee TV, Zee5 and YouTube across 8 regional languages — Tier-2/Tier-3 friendly
- Season 1 closed ₹41 Cr in deals; hosted by Pratik Gandhi with Titans incl. Arjun Vaidya, Rishabh Mariwala, Archana Jahagirdar
Who can apply
Any founder from any city in India — including Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 — can apply. Startups at any stage (idea, MVP, early revenue, scale-up) and from any sector (SaaS, D2C, FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, DeepTech, Climate, AgriTech, Creator Economy, etc.) are welcome. Founders must be comfortable pitching in Hindi or English; regional language broadcasts are also available. There is no requirement for DPIIT or MSME registration, and any entity type is accepted.
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.
What the funding covers
- Top 10 startups receive a ₹25 Lakh per-startup cohort guarantee.
- 6-week structured mentorship from active operators and investors.
- Live Demo Day pitch at Bharat Mandapam in front of 150+ investors and 10,000+ attendees.
- National media exposure across Zee TV, Zee5, YouTube, and 8 regional languages.
About the provider
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 is offered by Ideabaaz Tech, a startup platform. It is delivered directly by Ideabaaz Tech as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the official portal. Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
- Online application (May 2026) — Founders submit startup details through the Ideabaaz website.
- Panel review (late June 2026) — A panel of Titans reviews applications and selects 50 startups for the cohort.
- 6-week cohort (July–August 2026) — Selected startups undergo structured mentorship and pitch preparation.
- Demo Day (28 August 2026) — Finalists pitch live at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in front of investors and attendees.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026, 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.
Who this is best for
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹25L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Ideabaaz Season 2 offer?
The top 10 startups receive a ₹25 Lakh per-startup cohort guarantee. The total funding amount for each startup is ₹25 Lakh.
What is the application deadline for Ideabaaz Season 2?
The application deadline has not been specified. The online application opens in May 2026.
Which startups are eligible to apply?
Startups from any city in India (Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3) at any stage — idea, MVP, early revenue, or scale-up — and from any sector can apply. Founders must be comfortable pitching in Hindi or English.
Is DPIIT or MSME registration required?
No, DPIIT or MSME registration is not required to apply for Ideabaaz Season 2.
Does Ideabaaz take equity?
Ideabaaz is a competition and does not take equity. The ₹25 Lakh per-startup guarantee is a cohort benefit, not an equity investment.
What documents are needed to apply?
The application process requires submitting startup details online. Specific document requirements have not been listed, but typical pitch competition applications ask for a pitch deck, business summary, and founder information. Check the official website for exact requirements.
How do I apply for Ideabaaz Season 2?
You can apply through the official Ideabaaz website at ideabaaz.co.in. The application portal opens in May 2026.
What is the selection process?
After submitting an online application in May 2026, a panel review in late June 2026 selects 50 startups for a 6-week cohort (July–August 2026) with mentorship. The cohort culminates in a live Demo Day on 28 August 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Can founders from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities apply?
Yes, founders from any Indian city, including Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, are explicitly encouraged to apply.
Who offers Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026?
Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 is offered by Ideabaaz Tech, a startup platform. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
Alternatives to Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026
Not sure Ideabaaz — Season 2 & Startup Festival 2026 is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
Questions from founders
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