Launchpad is India's student startup accelerator selecting 20 collegiate founders per cohort for fully online building with operators and investors, ending in Demo Day. 2% equity taken in selected ventures. Four cohorts every year.
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The Accelerator Agreement · Cohort 01
The ₹999 fee filters for serious candidates and funds individualized written feedback. We take 2% equity in the 20 selected cohort ventures. Not selected for the cohort? You still receive personalized written feedback and full access to all virtual leader and mentor sessions throughout the cohort. (Founder pods, 1:1 mentor office hours, investor intros, and Demo Day pitch slots remain exclusive to the 20 selected founders.)
| Term | Details |
|---|---|
| Cohort Size | 20 founders per cohort, strictly selected. |
| Application Fee | ₹999, one time, paid at application, non-refundable. Covers detailed written evaluation and actionable feedback from our review team. |
| Commitment Filter | The ₹999 fee ensures high-intent applicants, prevents spam or fake submissions, and guarantees serious peer cohorts. |
| Selection Basis | Selected entirely on the problem, your progress and your team. Never your college name or pedigree. |
| Equity Taken | 2% equity in the 20 selected cohort ventures under a standard founder agreement. |
| Success Fee | None. 0% success fee on capital raised. |
| If Not Selected | Full access to all virtual leader & mentor sessions throughout the cohort + individualized written feedback on your application. (Founder pods, 1:1 office hours, investor intros & Demo Day remain exclusive to the 20 selected founders.) |
| Format & Time | Fully online, 4 cohorts every year, pods of 4–5 founders, weekly Sunday Live Labs, 1:1 mentor office hours, ending in Demo Day. Commitment: 6–8 hours/week. |
| Cohort 01 Dates | Final deadline: Oct 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST (strictly no further extensions). Kickoff Nov 1, 2026. |
The Accelerator Journey
From your initial submission to pitching vetted angel investors at Demo Day.
Fill out our short, straightforward application. Tell us what problem you're solving, who you've talked to, and your progress. ₹999 one-time application fee.
We review every application thoroughly. Twenty founders are admitted to Cohort 01. Every applicant not selected receives personalized written feedback and full access to attend all virtual leader and mentor sessions.
Fully online. You are placed in a pod of 4–5 peer founders. Attend weekly Sunday Live Labs, iterate on customer feedback, and meet 1:1 with operators who have scaled companies.
Run simulated investor pitch sessions with TFC partners and visiting angels. Dial in your unit economics, deck clarity, and 2-minute pitch before live investors.
Present your 2-minute pitch and live product demo to angel investors and early-stage funds. Connect directly for follow-up diligence and fundraising.
Core Program Components
No generic video lectures. Everything in Launchpad is focused on customer traction, product iteration, and investor readiness.
You are matched into a private pod of 4–5 student founders at a similar build stage. Weekly check-ins keep you shipping on schedule.
Hands-on work sessions tackling user discovery, distribution playbooks, pricing psychology, and college startup policy navigation.
Book 1:1 time with founders and operators who give sharp, no-bullshit feedback on your product, marketing, and metrics.
A focused, invite-only pitch showcase where you present your traction to angels, scout funds, and early-stage investors looking for student builders.
We match you directly with angels who invest in your specific sector (B2B SaaS, consumer, dev tools, AI, hardware, fintech).
Direct access to our national network of 90+ campus chapters and fellow founders across India.
Guaranteed Return on Your Time
We believe applying should make your startup stronger, even if you don't get in.
Every applicant receives a dedicated evaluation. If you don't make the 20-founder cohort, you still get individualized written critique and full access to all virtual leader and mentor sessions throughout the cohort. (Pods, 1:1 office hours, investor intros, and Demo Day remain exclusive to the 20 selected founders.)
Frequently Asked Questions