IIT Kharagpur, z21 Ventures Launch Start-up Accelerator Program
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Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur has collaborated with the early-stage venture capital firm z21 Ventures, founded by alumni of IIT Kharagpur, to launch a fresh start-up accelerator programme. Under this initiative, innovation and entrepreneurship among final-year students will be motivated through mentorship, seed funding, and other top-tier resources meant to convert their ideas into successful market ventures.
The accelerator program will invest in up to 10 teams for its first cohort, providing year-round guidance and strategic mentorship from industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and seasoned investors. In addition to seed funding, the participants will enjoy unique access to z21 Ventures’ expansive network of experienced operators and founders across multiple industries.
The primary objective of the programme is to help the students develop technical solutions and scalable solutions for addressing global challenges, integrating cutting-edge research of IIT Kharagpur with investment acumen of z21 Ventures. The students will also receive crucial infrastructure support post-graduation, ensuring the transition from concept to market-ready product is smooth.
IIT Kharagpur alumni are invited to participate in the program, but they are to be active founding team members with current students. The accelerator program welcomes students in BTech, MTech, and PhD final year. Thus, it encompasses various disciplines, encouraging interdisciplinary innovation.
IIT Kharagpur officials, including Director Prof. V K Tewari; Deputy Director Prof. Rintu Banerjee; and other esteemed faculty members, were present alongside Raj Singh, General Partner at z21 Ventures, and Partners Jyotika Gupta and Sudarshan Ravi Jha, in this signing ceremony. It certainly looks like this collaboration is going to be a game-changer that promises to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs from IIT Kharagpur and prepare them for success globally.
