Deadline: September 15, 2025
The AWS and Campus Fund Grand Challenge 2025 invites ambitious student entrepreneurs to showcase their startups on India’s biggest stage for student-led innovation.
The focus of this Grand Challenge includes India’s most promising student-led startups, national recognition, funding opportunities, mentorship from top industry leaders, rigorous evaluation by an elite jury of investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders, and the celebration of groundbreaking student innovations year after year.
Launched in 2020, the Grand Challenge has quickly grown into a nationwide platform that has already propelled 57 exceptional ventures into the spotlight, with 23 raising over $90 million in follow-on funding. The initiative continues to drive India’s next generation of tech founders, blending vision, grit, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Winners of the Grand Challenge will receive $10,000 in non-dilutive grants, ensuring startups can access funding without giving up equity. In addition, the top three winners gain fast-track access to the Campus Fund Investment Committee, where they stand a chance to secure up to INR 8 crores in potential funding to accelerate their ventures. Participants will also benefit from up to $25,000 in AWS credits to support their technology infrastructure, exclusive perks and software credits valued at nearly $800,000 from global platforms like Notion, Freshworks, and Typeform, as well as incubation opportunities at partner accelerators across India. Further, selected startups will receive mentorship support, including specialized guidance for ventures building in the Onchain ecosystem, providing both financial and strategic resources to fuel their growth journey.
Eligibility for participation includes current students enrolled in universities or colleges, graduates or dropouts from 2022 onwards who are fully committed to their startup journeys, and founders holding at least 25% equity in their ventures. Applications close on September 15, 2025, followed by the announcement of the top 15 startups in November. These finalists will pitch live at the Grand Finale on December 10, 2025, where winners will be crowned.
The challenge has a rich legacy of past winners from prestigious institutions such as IIT Bombay, AIIMS Delhi, VIT, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IISc, with student entrepreneurs turning bold ideas into impactful realities. Backed by Campus Fund, India’s first SEBI-registered Category II fund dedicated to student founders, and supported by AWS and leading industry figures, the Grand Challenge remains a cornerstone for student-led innovation in India.
For more information, visit Campus Fund.
