5 Days. Multiple Events. One Big Experience.
58
Sessions across the week
100+
Speakers, founders & investors
6
Investor & market panels
₹5Cr
Live investor ask on Demo Day
HALL 3
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
Grand Opening
The festival opens with ceremony, addresses from founders, government and industry voices, and the first Demo Day panels of the week, closing with fire-side conversations after dark.
Doors open at Bharat Mandapam, Hall 3. Badge pickup and the first coffee of the week.
The exhibition floor and Film India Expo open for the full run of the fest.
Jeet Wagh, Founder & CEO of Ideabaaz, opens the 2026 edition of the fest.
On stage
Jeet WaghFounder & CEO, IdeabaazCo-founder Mudit Kumar continues the opening ceremony.
On stage
Mudit KumarCo-founder, IdeabaazA keynote address from Kiran Chopra of Punjab Kesari.
On stage
Kiran ChopraPunjab KesariAn opening-day address from Swati Munjal.
On stage
A partner address from GAIL.
A partner address from Chitkara University.
A partner address from TRIGEN WEALTH.
A partner address from MentorX.
A partner address from JIIF.
A panel on building and scaling women-led ventures, presented with BML and Aspire For Her.
Five partner universities compare notes on campus entrepreneurship.
The Women Accelerator track is formally inaugurated ahead of its Demo Day panel.
On stage
Padmja RuparelThe week's first round of live pitches, judged in real time by the jury and the room.
Climate-forward founders and investors debate where sustainability and returns actually meet.
On stage
Dia MirzaActor, Producer & Eco Investor
Dr. Lalit SinghHumans of EV
Chhaya JoshiModeratorIdeabaaz's founders sit down with Jivraj Singh Sachar to close out Day 1.
On stage
Mudit KumarCo-founder, IdeabaazJeet WaghFounder & CEO, Ideabaaz
Jivraj Singh SacharIndian Silicon Valley CapitalSeason 2 Auditions Begin
Season 2 Auditions begin alongside the Build Bharat Hackathon, with panels on compliance, storytelling and dealmaking running through the afternoon.
Founders take the mic for the first day of live Season 2 auditions.
Builders sprint through a day-long hackathon, mentored live on the floor.
A fireside conversation on what it takes to scale a company under public-market scrutiny.
On stage
Dinesh AroraFounder, Finnulate AI
Kamala KantharajChief Regulatory Officer, BSEConsumption, technology, manufacturing, financial inclusion and India's growing global influence.
On stage
A hands-on workshop session led by Kamala Kantharaj.
On stage
Kamala KantharajChief Regulatory Officer, BSEHow AI is reshaping regulatory and compliance workflows for growing companies.
Leveraging content, media and reality TV to build a founder brand that compounds.
On stage
Raj NayakMD, Yaap
Ranveer AllahbadiaDigital Entrepreneur
Piyush JainCEO, Skin Inspired
Anisha SinghSheCapitalChhaya JoshiModeratorAmit Singal of Indicorn Angels on how early-stage dealmaking has actually changed.
On stage
Amit SingalIndicorn AngelsA dedicated session on opportunities for founders building out of Assam.
On stage
Amit SingalIndicorn AngelsLegal essentials every early-stage founder should have covered.
On stage
Himanshu GuptaAuditions Final + Pickleball Day
A one-day Pickleball Cup shares the calendar with IIT Madras's Bharat Ascend mission, inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, plus D2C and product-launch sessions.
IIT Madras launches its national Bharat Ascend mission, inaugurated by the Union Minister.
On stage
Shri Jayant ChaudharyMinister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of IndiaInside the session
- 9:30 AMWelcome & OpeningWelcome by the CEO & Director, IITM Global.
- Vision from IIT MadrasSpecial message from the Director, IIT Madras.
- BHARAT ASCEND: The MissionIntroduction to the mission's national ambition and objectives, by the Senior General Manager & Business Head, IITM Global.
- BHARAT ASCEND: Mission InaugurationFormal launch of the Bharat Ascend Mission by the Hon'ble Minister.
- Address by the Hon'ble MinisterKeynote by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India.
- Felicitation & Vote of ThanksBrief recognition and vote of thanks.
- 12:00 PMGoing Global: From Bharat to the WorldA panel with global investors, corporates and founders.
The mission's first cohort takes the stage for its grand finale.
Inside the session
- 12:15 PMBHARAT ASCEND Grand FinaleShowcase of startups, winner announcements and awards.
- Networking LunchCurated networking and investor–founder interactions.
- Deep Tech Innovation: From Lab to Global ScaleA panel on deep tech, IP, capital and global market access.
- Fireside ChatA conversation with the CEO & Director, IITM Global.
- 3:00 PMBHARAT ASCEND Pavilion WalkA guided showcase of startups, deep-tech innovations, IITM technologies, partners and global opportunities.
What it actually takes to win commerce beyond India's metros.
On stage
Arjun VaidyaV3 Ventures
Kuldeep MiraniBeyondSeed, Moderator
Bhumi PednekarActor & Entrepreneur
Maneesh KapoorTRIGEN WEALTHBlack Carrot brings a new product to the Ideabaaz stage.
E-Works launches its skill-development platform to the fest floor.
A closing conversation to wrap Day 3.
On stage
Mudit KumarCo-founder, IdeabaazJeet WaghFounder & CEO, IdeabaazDemo Day Build-Up
Karnataka's deep-tech ecosystem takes the main stage, followed by market-readiness, investor and AI-funding panels as the week builds toward Demo Day.
A full day of activities across the exhibition floor and Film India Expo.
A half-day showcase of Karnataka's deep-tech founders, investors and institutions.
On stage
Shri Sanjeev Kumar GuptaCEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)Inside the session
- 10:15 – 10:30Welcome & Context SettingKDEM, Startups & Innovation.
- 10:30 – 11:00Keynote AddressShri Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM).
- 11:00 – 11:45Panel: DeepTech from First PrinciplesInvited investors: Celesta Capital; BlueHill Capital; KAMCO–KITVEN; Seafund; Speciale Invest. Moderator: Omar Saud, Program Manager – Startups & Innovation, KDEM.
- 11:45 – 12:30Panel: Karnataka's Acceleration Ecosystem - Beyond InnovationSuman Dash, COO, ACSEL Technology Forum – AI CoE; Girish Hiremath, COO, GINSERV; Johnson Tellis, CEO, SHINE Foundation; Nayaz Ahmed, CEO, Jain Launchpad. Moderator: Suvin Narayan, Program Lead – Karnataka Acceleration Network, KDEM.
- 12:30 – 1:00Special Address: Voice of the EcosystemKiran Marathe, Founder, Deshila Technology Research Institute (DTRI).
- 1:00 – 1:05Closing Remarks & Vote of ThanksKDEM, Startups & Innovation.
What a company actually needs to get right on the road to listing.
On stage
Pratik GandhiActor & EntrepreneurDinesh AroraFounder, Finnulate AI
Kritika RupdaSocradamus Capital
Anjan GuptaMorgan StanleyAmit SingalIndicorn Angels, ModeratorA dedicated founder-investor engagement session with the World Hindu Economic Forum.
On stage
Mahavir Pratap SharmaSwishin Ventures
Kapil AgarwalTreefe Technologies
Prahlad TripathiKuberans CapitalA candid read on whether India's AI funding surge is structural or speculative.
A cross-section of India's active early-stage investors compare notes.
On stage
Mahavir Pratap SharmaSwishin Ventures
Sahil MakkarPunjab Angels
Naviin GoyalCEO, ZikZuk
Rhythm AgarwalNanda Capital
Ruchir LahotyMegaDelta CapitalA dedicated showcase for drone-tech founders and applications.
On stage
Anupam BansalExecutive Director, Liberty Shoes Ltd.Big Demo Day & Grand Finale
Investor juries walk in, pitches run back to back, and ₹25 Lakhs in guaranteed investment is on the line before the closing ceremony and anthem moment.
The investor jury takes its seats as the final Demo Day of the fest opens.
A last-minute sharpening session for founders about to walk on stage.
On stage
Chhaya JoshiFounder, ChhapacA keynote sets the tone for the day's pitches and awards.
Three founders pitch live, with the opportunity to raise ₹50L–₹5 Cr from investors in the room.
The next round of live pitches and awards.
A short break before the afternoon rounds resume.
Pitches continue into the afternoon.
The final round of live pitches for the fest.
The week's startup awards are presented.
The fest closes with its grand finale ceremony and anthem moment.
A final stretch of open networking between founders and investors before the fest wraps.
50+ Voices Take the Stage
Founders, investors, ministers and media — a small sample of who you'll hear from across the five days.
Season 1 Highlights
A glimpse of the stage, the panels and the crowd that make Ideabaaz what it is — before Season 2 takes it to Bharat Mandapam.
Judges take their seats
Ringing in a milestone
On the Ideabaaz stage
The judges panel
The crowd on their feet
Pitching live to the panel
A candid jury moment
A partner moment backstage
Founders take the spotlightDon't just watch the future.Build it with us.
Limited slots remaining for the 2026 Cohort, Exhibition, and Awards. Secure your presence at Bharat Mandapam.
Demo Day Cohort
Pitch live to 150+ investors on the main stage at Bharat Mandapam.
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