Two summits. One continuous national stage.
Both programmes follow the same architecture. Performance in Pune determines who advances. Delhi is where it is decided.
The national qualifying round. Eighty student teams build against industry-defined problem statements; shortlisted startups pitch to curated investors. Every participant is evaluated. The strongest advance.
The Grand Finale, held in the capital for the first time. Thirty finalist teams present product-grade outcomes; the top startups pitch to angel investors, VC funds and family offices with active mandates.
One problem. Two rounds. Two months to prove it.
This is a single continuous competition, not two separate events. Teams form an idea in Pune and, over two months of refinement, mature it into a product-grade outcome presented in Delhi. The same problem statement carries across both rounds - so the finale measures depth of execution, not a fresh idea.
IRS 2026 convenes industry leadership, institutional excellence, entrepreneurship, capital and future talent, each vertical designed to drive real outcomes.
Solving industry-defined challenges · Building future talent through innovation
Open registration ↓Where startups meet the right capital · Stage-aligned investor matchmaking
Open registration ↓A distinguished forum convening CHROs, CXOs, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape of work, artificial intelligence, and human capital. The summit includes expert panel discussions alongside the HR Leadership Awards, honouring outstanding contributions across 40+ jury-selected categories.
Exclusive, invitation-only closed-door sessions among senior leaders from industry and academia, candid dialogue built for actionable outcomes: partnerships, MoUs, internships and training programmes.
Reconnecting the network that built the legacy, approximately 400 alumni across two days. 21 August for alumni who graduated before 2019; 22 August for 2019 onwards. Invitations are extended through respective institutions; participation is confirmed on verified registration.
| Pune · Round 1 | Delhi · Round 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 21–22 Aug 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 |
| Host summit | IRS 2026 | IES 2026 |
| Teams | 80 | 30 finalists |
| Duration | 2 days · 16 hrs | 1 day · 8 hrs |
| Judges | 40 | 8 |
| Evaluation | 4 rubric-based phases | 2 rubric-based phases |
| Prize pool | ₹2,41,000 | ₹2,80,000+ incl. certifications |
Open to students of Management, Design, Engineering and Science streams from colleges and universities across India. Participation is in compulsory teams of four.
| Round | Problem Sectors |
|---|---|
| Pune | Defense · Healthcare · Government · Social · Technical & Industrial |
| Delhi | Government · Social · Technical & Industrial |
Form a team of four and register through the MIT India IRS 2026 website. Choose your registration tier, with or without food and accommodation.
Industry-curated problem statements are released at the Pune round across all five sectors. Teams select and commit,the same statement carries through to Delhi.
Two days, sixteen hours of development under the guidance of mentors and technical experts, evaluated across four rubric-based phases by forty industry judges. Prizes are awarded at Pune.
The top thirty teams qualify for Delhi and complete a second registration. Over the following two months, they refine their Pune concept into a product-grade build.
One day, eight hours. Finalists demonstrate depth of execution before a national jury. Prizes, certifications and national visibility follow evaluation.
Where vision meets capital.
A curated, stage-aligned matchmaking platform where founders who are ready meet investors who are listening. Every startup earns its slot. Every investor pairing is deliberate. No noise. No mismatched meetings. The Pune edition serves as the Pre-Qualifier Round for the Grand Finale in New Delhi.
Outcomes from the Investor Arena at IFS 2026, Mumbai, June 2026. The format works. IRS 2026 brings it back, with a direct path to Delhi.
Open to founders across all sectors , SaaS, FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, D2C, AgriTech, DeepTech & AI/ML, CleanTech, Manufacturing, EV & Mobility, and more. Investor groups are mapped to stage, so the right founders meet the right capital.
| Stage | Ticket Range | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Idea / Pre-Revenue | ₹5L - ₹50L | Strong concept, validated team, MVP in progress |
| Seed / Early Revenue | ₹25L - ₹2 Cr | Product-market fit; early traction; seeking scale capital |
| Series A / Growth | ₹2 Cr - ₹15 Cr+ | Consistent revenue; expanding team; national focus |
Open registrations are invited from founders across India via the MIT India IRS 2026 website. Separate registration fees apply for the Pune and Delhi editions; fees cover hospitality, logistics, mentorship and participant support.
A jury panel of five to six domain experts evaluates every application on team quality, traction, clarity of problem statement and scalability potential. Every startup earns its slot.
Shortlisted startups receive a personalised confirmation with their pitch slot details.
Personalised sessions on investor readiness, pitch refinement, business validation and growth strategy — delivered by industry alumni, experienced founders and ecosystem experts.
Three parallel rooms, stage-mapped investor groups. A fifteen-minute pitch with five minutes of Q&A, followed by pre-scheduled 1:1 investor meetings based on mutual interest, a deal lounge and ecosystem panels. Top 3 receive funding from Edugild on the spot.
Approximately 25-30 startups advance to the Grand Finale — larger investor networks, expanded capital access, national visibility. Startups advancing may be required to pay an additional fee, shared upon selection.
| Event | Investor Arena · Part of IRS 2026 |
| Dates | 21–22 August 2026 · Pune |
| Timings | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM · By invitation only |
| Format | Curated pitch sessions · 1:1 investor meetings · Mentorship · Panels · Deal lounge |
| Next | Top 25-30 startups advance to the Delhi Grand Finale |
"The organisations and ecosystems that will lead the future are those that collaborate, co-create, and evolve together. The Investor Arena is where that journey begins." MIT India · IRS 2026
The pathway to Delhi begins here.
Register your interest below. Our team will respond with the registration process, fee structure and timelines for your chosen track.
Hackathon registration opens 06 July 2026. Investor Arena applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until slots are filled.