In a powerful move to spark innovation and drive entrepreneurship among the brightest minds in India, Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship, IIT Kharagpur has joined forces with z21 Ventures, an early-stage, operator-led venture capital firm founded by esteemed IIT Kharagpur alumni. This partnership heralds the launch of a ground-breaking startups accelerator program tailored for final-year students, setting the stage for a new era of entrepreneurial excellence.
The MoU was signed today in the presence of Prof. V K Tewari, Director; Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director; Prof. Krishna Kumar, Dean FoS; Prof. P K Dutta, Dean BTBS; Prof. Karabi Das, Dean Outreach; Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee, Dean International Relations; Prof. Debashish Chakravarty, Dean Alumni Affairs; Prof. Basab Chakravarti, Head, Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship from IIT Kharagpur. Mr. Raj Singh, General Partner at z21 Ventures along with Ms. Jyotika Gupta and Mr. Sudarshan Ravi Jha, Partners at z21 Ventures participated from z21 Ventures.
Designed to harness the immense talent at KGP and transform bold ideas into market-ready ventures, the accelerator will offer participants unparalleled access to mentorship, funding, and top-tier resources. With a focus on building technical and scalable solutions to tackle global challenges, this program aims to blend IIT Kharagpur’s cutting-edge research with z21 Ventures’ proven investment expertise, empowering student entrepreneurs to create world-changing impact.
The accelerator will welcome up to 10 dynamic teams in its inaugural cohort, equipping them with year-round mentorship, strategic guidance, and seed funding to bring their concepts to life. Participants will benefit from z21 Ventures’ vibrant network of industry operators, successful founders, and seasoned advisors, all dedicated to steering them toward market success. Additionally, IIT Kharagpur will offer crucial infrastructure support post-graduation, ensuring that the journey from ideation to implementation continues seamlessly.
Excitingly, KGP alumni can also engage in this transformative program, provided they collaborate with current KGP students on their founding teams. The accelerator is open to B.Tech, M.Tech, and PhD students in their final year, underscoring a commitment to inclusivity and interdisciplinary innovation.
“Start-up Accelerator Program with z21 Ventures, founded by our esteemed IIT alumni, to launch the ‘KGP Forge Entrepreneur’ is a structured accelerator program created to teach the students about company building, basic company finance and company law, fundraising etc. It is a significant step towards empowering our B.Tech, M.Tech, and PhD students. This collaboration aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the mentorship, resources, financial support and professional networks necessary to transform their ideas into successful startups. IIT KGP can significantly contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem of India to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will drive India’s entrepreneurial future and create jobs,” said Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur
The Agri Business Incubation Foundation IIT Kharagpur has also formed a strategic partnership with z21 Ventures, which marks a significant step in expanding funding opportunities for startups incubated at ABIF IIT Kharagpur, strengthening the institute’s venture capital network and ecosystem for agricultural innovation.
Mr. Raj Shekhar Singh, Ms. Jyotika Gupta, and Mr. Sudarshan Ravi Jha from z21 Ventures met with Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Manoj Kumar Mondal; Prof. Ram Babu Roy and Prof. Mrigank Sharad. Mr. Manu Prem Nair, CEO, ABIF IIT Kharagpur, represented the incubation foundation in the discussions elaborating on ABIF IIT Kharagpur’s comprehensive approach to nurturing start-ups through their incubation-acceleration program, highlighting the foundation’s role in providing mentorship, technical support, and networking opportunities emphasizing the importance of exploring diverse funding avenues for their incubated startups.
“We are deeply honored to partner with our alma mater, IIT Kharagpur, to prioritize entrepreneurship and propel it to the forefront of the student experience,” added Raj Singh, General Partner at z21 Ventures. “Currently, there are fewer than 20 unicorns with roots at IIT KGP, including Persistent Systems, Rubrik, Innovaccer, and Swiggy. Our goal is to supercharge that number to 100 in the coming years.”
Mr. Raj Shekhar Singh expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and appreciated the professional approach being taken by ABIF. This collaboration is expected to create various new opportunities for start-ups incubated at ABIF IIT Kharagpur to secure venture capital funding, he added.
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