DYP Ventura 2026: 100 Startups, ₹2 Lakh and a Stage for Your Big Idea

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What if your startup could move from a pitch deck to a room full of investors, mentors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders?

This September, DYP Ventura 2026 is bringing together ambitious founders and emerging ventures at D. Y. Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi, Pune, from 26–28 September 2026.

Hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC), D. Y. Patil College of Engineering, Ventura is returning for its second edition with a bigger platform, a larger startup community and an opportunity for 100 startups to showcase what they are building.

And importantly, Ventura isn't limited to student startups. Whether you're a student founder, an early stage entrepreneur, an established startup or a team working towards turning an idea into a business, Ventura is a platform to put your venture in front of the right audience.

₹2,00,000 Prize Pool. 100 Startups. One Stage.

At the centre of DYP Ventura 2026 is a ₹2,00,000 prize pool.

But the opportunity goes beyond the prize money.

Participating startups get the chance to pitch their venture, receive feedback, interact with investors and industry experts, build connections and gain visibility within a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For a founder, one conversation can lead to a mentor.

One introduction can lead to a partnership.

And one pitch can open a completely new door.

That's what Ventura is designed to create.

Last Year's Ventura Set the Stage

The first edition of DYP Ventura demonstrated the scale of interest in the startup ecosystem.

The 2025 edition received 700+ registrations, with 100 startups shortlisted and 20 finalists making it to the final stage. The competition eventually saw MemoTag, PROTI-ON ENERGY and A minute man Technologies emerge as the top three ventures.

Their journeys demonstrated exactly what Ventura aims to create: a platform where emerging ventures can move beyond simply having an idea and get the opportunity to present, compete, connect and grow.

Now, Ventura 2026 is opening the platform to 100 startups.

The question is: will yours be one of them?

More Than Just a Pitch Competition

A startup competition is ultimately about more than standing on stage for a few minutes.

It's about being able to clearly answer:

What problem are you solving?

Why does your solution matter?

Who needs it?

And why is your team the one to build itDYP Ventura gives founders an environment to answer those questions, test their ideas, hear perspectives from experienced professionals and understand how their venture can move forward.

With investors, mentors, entrepreneurs and industry experts coming together, participants will also have opportunities to build meaningful connections beyond the competition.

Meet the Startup Ecosystem

Ventura 2026 brings together experienced professionals who understand different sides of building a business.

The expert panel includes Neelam Pandey Pathak, Founder & CEO of Rozgar Dhaba, with experience across WIMA, NSRCEL and Stanford Seed Spark; Mrudangg Shukla, CEO of DPU Foundation for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship, Startup Ecosystem Enabler, Mentor and Strategic Advisor; and Ansh Kyal, Founder of Mentor Me and former leader at Axxela, with expertise in Product, Strategy and Growth.

For participating founders, these interactions can mean valuable feedback, new perspectives, potential collaborations and a better understanding of what it takes to turn a venture into a sustainable business.

From startup pitching and networking to showcases and interactive experiences, Ventura is designed to bring the entrepreneurial ecosystem together under one roof.