Elevating India’s Startups: The journey from vision to unicorn with Leap to Unicorn Season 2

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian startup landscape is a captivating narrative of ambition and innovation. Fueled by a burgeoning talent pool and a supportive startup ecosystem, the country is witnessing an explosion of young companies eager to disrupt traditional industries and redefine the future.

This dynamism is best seen in the numbers – India boasts the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with over 100,000 recognised startups. Furthermore, the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond major metropolitan cities. Smaller towns and cities are emerging as vibrant startup hubs, fostering a diverse and inclusive innovation landscape. However, navigating the path to success requires more than just a brilliant idea.

This is precisely where Leap to Unicorn, a pioneering initiative by IDFC FIRST Bank in collaboration with Network18 and CNBC-TV18, steps in. Launched in 2023, the program established itself as a cornerstone for nurturing India’s most promising startups. It provided a strong platform for founders to hone their skills, refine their business models, and connect with investors. The first season of Leap to Unicorn saw a remarkable turnout with over 5,000 registrations, culminating in 600 startups participating in intensive boot camps. The program’s success has only served to inspire IDFC FIRST Bank and Network18 to push the envelope with Season 2.

Building on the momentum of Season 1, Leap to Unicorn Season 2 has recently concluded its registration phase, exceeding all expectations. A total of 5,465 applications poured in, reflecting the immense enthusiasm for the program as well as the depth of talent within the Indian startup ecosystem. Of these, 51% entries came from Tier 1 cities like Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and others, while around 49% entries came from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. That’s almost half the participants. Can you imagine the sheer job growth and prosperity these areas will see as these startups grow?

Also noteworthy are the sectors these startups belong to. The biggest number comes from the following 4 sectors which are Consumer Internet, Healthcare, Health Tech and Med Tech. The success of these startups could help power India’s push towards greater access to healthcare for all Indians and go far in cementing India’s leadership position as a global medical tourism destination. The third sector that has seen increasing participation is Agriculture and Agri tech, where we can expect these startups to take on the many challenges Indian farmers face today. Through the use of technology and innovation, these startups are poised to improve agricultural efficiency, sustainability, and resilience, contributing to food security and economic growth in India.

Following a rigorous selection process, the creme de la creme – the top 10% of applicants – have been chosen to participate in a series of exclusive virtual boot camps. Commencing on April 15, 2024, these high-potential startups are participating in a series of 16 exclusive virtual boot camps spread out strategically across four weeks.

The boot camps are off to a promising start in the first week with founders being mentored by a distinguished roster of industry veterans. This group includes visionaries like Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge, who led the “Leadership Utopia” session. Rahul Jain, the entrepreneurial mind behind Epigamia, shared his insights on “Building a Prototype & Testing the Waters,” equipping founders with practical strategies for validating their ideas. In the coming weeks, founders will delve into several topics curated for their success.

Beyond the boot camps, Leap to Unicorn fosters a supportive ecosystem through networking opportunities. Participants will connect with investors, established entrepreneurs, and fellow founders, creating a valuable support network that extends far beyond the program itself. Industry stalwarts like Prem Barthasarthy (Pontaq), Amit Kumar (Ah! Ventures), Mayuresh Raut (Seafund), Rohit M.A. (PeerCapital), and Anand Lunia (India Quotient) have all pledged their expertise and investment capital to the program. This jury highlights Leap to Unicorn’s commitment to fostering a dynamic ecosystem where innovative ideas can flourish and secure the funding they need to thrive.

The impact of Leap to Unicorn transcends the immediate benefits for participating startups. By nurturing promising ventures and fostering a culture of collaboration, the program has the potential to create significant ripple effects. The success stories that emerge from Leap to Unicorn will serve as inspiration for future generations of entrepreneurs, further propelling India’s startup ecosystem to even greater heights. This, in turn, will contribute to economic growth, job creation, and the development of innovative solutions that address the challenges of tomorrow.

Moreover, each season of Leap to Unicorn helps bring to light critical gaps in the ecosystem – most of the intel coming from the participants themselves. Given the reach of the Leap to Unicorn platform, this creates opportunities for support systems to come up with solutions that don’t just benefit the startup ecosystem, but also open up potentially profitable new lines of business for them.

As with its predecessor, Leap to Unicorn Season 2 is poised to be a launchpad for the next wave of India’s unicorns, and you have a front row seat to this exciting transformation.

Learn more about the Leap to Unicorn program and how it is helping propel Indian startups here.

Note: This is a partnered post.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow