ideaForge, IIT Bombay Launch 6-Month Deep-Tech Founder Programme
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With the aim of identifying and nurturing early-stage deep-tech entrepreneurs, ideaForge Technology Limited has launched an innovative programme, “Who Are the Next Idiots?”, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Both organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage future tech leaders to develop ideas that solve real-world problems while demonstrating strong technical depth and entrepreneurial intent.
The six-month programme, launched on National Science Day, is designed to attract participants working on concept-stage or early prototype ideas rooted in deep technology.
The initiative focuses on domains such as robotics, energy systems, advanced materials, and autonomous technologies. It aims to drive structured idea discovery and promote engineering-led entrepreneurship.
The programme invites undergraduate and postgraduate students, recent graduates, and early-stage founders to participate individually or in teams of up to three to four members. Participants are encouraged to submit original deep-tech ideas where technical risk is central to the solution, along with a clear articulation of the problem, proposed approach, and development stage. The emphasis remains on technically grounded innovations with the potential to scale.
Registrations opened on 28 February and will remain open until 30 April 2026. Submissions will be evaluated in multiple stages based on technical depth, originality, feasibility, and entrepreneurial intent. Shortlisted teams will present before a jury comprising ideaForge leadership and external advisors. In the final stage, participants will demonstrate feasibility through a 3D model, digital twin, or working prototype, depending on idea maturity.
Selected teams will receive recognition, mentorship, and exposure to a diverse ecosystem of investors, academia, and industry leaders. The top three teams will be publicly recognised, with winners receiving prize money and potential early-stage investment opportunities. Participants will retain full ownership of their intellectual property in line with institutional policies, reinforcing the programme’s commitment to independent innovation.
IIT Bombay will support outreach through its innovation ecosystem and institutional networks, assist in the evaluation process, and enable in-person interactions with shortlisted participants. The institute will also explore incubation opportunities through its technology business incubator and establish support mechanisms for participant queries.
ideaForge will lead programme execution, including management, evaluation, and the final showcase. It will also provide industry exposure, mentorship, and potential internship or project opportunities, along with supporting outreach efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rahul Singh, Co-founder and Vice President – Engineering, ideaForge Technology Ltd., said: “India’s deep-tech leadership will be defined by entrepreneurs willing to take on complex engineering challenges early on. Many transformative technologies begin as ideas that seem unconventional. Through ‘Who Are the Next Idiots?’, we aim to identify and support founders building technically ambitious solutions across robotics, energy systems, advanced materials, and autonomous technologies. This initiative reflects our commitment to engineering-led entrepreneurship and strengthening indigenous capability.”
Prof Upendra Bhandarkar, Dean, Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT Bombay said,
“This collaboration aims to create a structured platform to identify and nurture early-stage deep-tech ideas with strong technical foundations and real-world relevance. By combining academic expertise with industry experience, we seek to support participants through evaluation, mentorship, and potential incubation pathways, while fostering a culture of innovation.”
The initiative draws inspiration from ideaForge’s journey of building advanced unmanned systems in India by tackling complex engineering challenges early. Through “Who Are the Next Idiots?”, the collaboration aims to encourage similar bold thinking backing unconventional ideas with the potential to evolve into impactful deep-tech businesses.
