Kanpur, October 19 (INB) IIT Kanpur has invited applications from startup founders and working professionals aged 18-35 years for the Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge (YEC) 2027, aimed at promoting technology-driven solutions to social challenges, it said on Monday. The challenge is being organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) 2027, with IIT Kanpur serving as the knowledge partner, the institute said in a LinkedIn post. Through its Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), the institute will help identify and mentor promising ideas, supporting innovators in developing practical and scalable solutions, it added. Applicants can submit ideas across themes such as healthcare, education, agriculture, environment, women’s empowerment, governance, accessibility, disaster management and artificial intelligence. Selected national finalist teams will receive online mentoring and in-person mentorship at IIT Kanpur on December 8 and 9, 2026. The programme will include support for prototype development, business guidance and pitch preparation. The challenge will culminate at VBYLD 2027, scheduled to be held from January 10 to 12, where the top five teams will receive cash awards. The last date to register and submit ideas through the MY Bharat portal is October 22, 2026. Applications can be submitted at lnkd.in/d5amVVQE.
