Young Innovators Launchpad: Eastern UP (10 Cities) - DIC IIT BHU
Institutional Alignment: Organized under the premier innovation ecosystem of the Design Innovation Centre (DIC), IIT BHU & Banaras Hindu University.
Structure: 5 Days Online Core Innovation Bootcamp + Championship, from 9th June to 13th June 2026.
One Day Offline Grand Finale: at IIT BHU campus, on 28th June 2026. For the top selected innovators from each school.
Daily Timings:11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Live, Interactive Sessions).
Day 5 Timings: Slot-wise schedule for the live pitching championship will be unlocked and shared on Day 4.
Mode: Online (Accessible via smartphone, laptop, or tablet) + Offline Grand Finale.
Eligibility: Open to students of Classes 8 to 12 across all academic streams (Science, Commerce, & Arts).
Team Dynamics: Participate completely Solo or as a Team of Max 2 Members (from the same school and city).
Program Overview
Duration
5 days
Starts On
9 June 2026
Ends On
13 June 2026
About This Program
Institutional Alignment: Organized under the premier innovation ecosystem of the Design Innovation Centre (DIC), IIT BHU & Banaras Hindu University.
Structure: 5 Days Online Core Innovation Bootcamp + Championship, from 9th June to 13th June 2026.
One Day Offline Grand Finale: at IIT BHU campus, on 28th June 2026. For the top selected innovators from each school.
Daily Timings:11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Live, Interactive Sessions).
Day 5 Timings: Slot-wise schedule for the live pitching championship will be unlocked and shared on Day 4.
Mode: Online (Accessible via smartphone, laptop, or tablet) + Offline Grand Finale.
Eligibility: Open to students of Classes 8 to 12 across all academic streams (Science, Commerce, & Arts).
Team Dynamics: Participate completely Solo or as a Team of Max 2 Members (from the same school and city).
The 5-day arc is: Discover → Define → Design → Develop → Deliver
Day 1: DISCOVER (Problem Discovery & Design Thinking) | 11 AM - 2 PM Learn to spot real gaps using our 50 Curated Problem Statement Bank.
Deliverable: Finalize your target problem statement and user group.
Day 2: DEFINE (Idea Validation & Customer Research) | 11 AM - 2 PM Test if your solution works using target audience research frameworks.
Deliverable: Create an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) backed by raw validation data.
Day 3: DESIGN (MVP Building Sprint) | 11 AM - 2 PM Turn abstract thoughts into a interactive prototype using our AI Venture Studio tools.
Deliverable: Submit a digital prototype or wireframe layout.
Day 4: DEVELOP (Business Model & Pitch Prep) | 11 AM - 2 PM Structure your revenue streams and build a professional 4-minute investor pitch deck.
Deliverable: Final upload of your 4-minute startup pitch deck.
Day 5: DELIVER (Grand Pitch Day & Ceremony) | Timings shared on Day 4 Pitch live to an expert jury panel from the IIT and IIM networks. Unlock national exposure and fellowships.
Student: Rewards & Recognition
"Innovation First" Academic Label: Earn a national certificate co-branded by the Design Innovation Centre (DIC), IIT BHU and Know Your Careers to massively boost your college application CV & Future.
Premium Global Mentorship: Direct, hands-on training from senior GenZ founders and alumni of IIT, IIM, SRCC, DTU, NYU, or Ivy Leagues.
Personalized AI based Innovation & Career Dashboard: All the participants gets lifetime access to a private, AI-driven dashboard to track championship scores, access toolkits, and map future career milestones.
₹1.5 Lakh Student Fellowships: Top ideas win direct enrollment into the 24-week KYC's Young Innovators' Cohort with financial support.
₹34,000 Legal Patent Pathways: Shortlisted designs receive professional legal assistance to draft and file official patents before finishing school.
₹2 Lakh Prototype Grants: Access equity-free development grants through the Ministry of Education Innovation Cell ecosystem.
School: Rewards & Recognition
Institutional Entry Requirement: A minimum of 5 registrations (individual/team) from a school is required for the institution to be officially considered a participating partner and unlocked for school-level entries and tracking.
"Future-Ready Academic Institution" Citation: An elite national honor awarded by DIC IIT BHU directly to schools whose student teams qualify for the Top 10 Zonal Finals.
Maximum Regional Innovators Hub Certificate: Crowned as the leading innovation center in your entire district for driving massive ecosystem engagement on campus with 20+ student registrations.
Certificate of Merit for Fostering Grassroots Innovation: Deployed by DIC IIT BHU to all schools achieving the baseline milestone of 5+ registrations (Solo/Team) to honor their role as active startup pipeline partners.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the updated dates and timings of the bootcamp?
The bootcamp runs from 9nd June to 13th June. Live interactive sessions will be held daily from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. (The last day timings will shared a day prior)
Which classes is this program designed for, and can students from any stream join?
This bootcamp is exclusively curated for school students from Classes 8 to 12. Whether you are in Science, Commerce, or Arts, you can participate.
Is this bootcamp online or offline?
It is an intensive online virtual launchpad. Students can easily attend from home using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. 1 Day Offline Grand Finale on 28th June 2026.
Do I need to have a startup idea before joining?
No. If you don't have an idea, we will provide you with 50 curated real-life problem statements on Day 1. You can pick one that excites you and build your venture around it.
I received details about this program through social media, a friend, or an external source, not directly from my school. Can I still register independently?
Yes, absolutely! You do not need to wait for your school to officially invite you. Any ambitious student can register independently right now. Just select your option (Solo or Team), fill in your school's official name during registration, and your startup journey begins!
Which cities in Eastern Uttar Pradesh is this program open to?
This launchpad is specifically curated for bright minds across key student hubs in Eastern UP. Students from the following cities are highly encouraged to participate:
Varanasi
Prayagraj
Gorakhpur
Ayodhya
Azamgarh
Jaunpur
Mirzapur
Sultanpur
Mau
Mughalsarai
How will participating in this bootcamp enhance my CV or profile for future college applications?
Building a startup or filing a patent during school days dramatically sets you apart from your peers. This program builds core credentials for your profile:
National-Level Credential: Shows premium co-branding from the Design Innovation Centre, IIT BHU and Know Your Careers on your academic record.
NEP Day Showcase: Shortlisted candidates get a chance to present on National NEP Day, an elite honor to list on engineering, management, or liberal arts college applications.
Venture Building Evidence: Rather than just a passive certificate, you can proudly list yourself as a "Founder/Co-Founder" of a validated startup framework, proving leadership, critical thinking, and design execution to top universities.
What massive financial and legal perks do top performers unlock?
Finalists selected by our expert jury on Day 5 (Grand Pitch Day) unlock a powerful government-supported startup track:
₹1.5 Lakh Fellowship: Direct financial support under the Young Innovators’ Cohort to sustain your entrepreneurial goals.
Up to ₹2 Lakh Government Grants: Direct access pathways for product and prototype development funding through the Ministry of Education Innovation Cell ecosystem.
Professional Patent Support: Legal assistance to draft and file intellectual property patents for your unique student models before you even finish school.
I have paid the registration fee. What are the immediate next steps to join the batch?
Once your payment is successful, you don't have to wait for anyone to add you. Follow these simple steps:
Check Your Inbox: Within 2 minutes of payment, an automated confirmation email will be sent to your registered email ID containing the official cohort WhatsApp Group Link.
Access Your Dashboard: Log into your KYC Student Dashboard, go to "My Programs", and you will see a prominent "Join Official WhatsApp Group" button right on top.
Download Material: Your 5-day bootcamp orientation guide and schedule PDF will be available for download directly on your dashboard.
How do I join the live classes every day from 2nd June?
You can access the daily live session link in two secure ways:
Via Dashboard: Simply log into your dashboard 15 minutes before the session (10:45 AM). The live Zoom/Google Meet "Join Class" button will become active.
Via WhatsApp Group: As a backup, the daily joining link will also be pinned in the official cohort WhatsApp group every morning at 10:00 AM.
What if I miss a live session due to internet issues or an emergency?
Don't worry. Recorded backups of the core training modules will be shared with registered students. However, since this is a hands-on startup building sprint, 100% live attendance is highly recommended to work with your mentors.
Who will be guiding us through the bootcamp?
You will be mentored by a powerhouse team of Senior GenZ Founders and Industry Experts who have recently graduated from top-tier global institutions like IIT, IIM, FMS, DTU, NYU, and Kingston University.
What makes these mentors different from school teachers?
They don't give textbook lectures. Being part of the senior GenZ bracket, they speak your language and share raw, experiential knowledge on how to build and launch ideas from the ground up.
What practical skills will they help us master?
They will guide you through the real-world startup journey—showing you exactly how to validate a raw idea, build a product prototype, and launch a real venture during your school days.
If we register as a team of 2 for ₹1500, do both of us get certificates?
Yes. Both team members receive individual certificates co-branded by the Design Innovation Centre, IIT BHU and Know Your Careers, explicitly mentioning their respective names and schools.
Can teammates be from different schools or different cities?
No. To ensure smooth collaboration and institutional tracking, both teammates must belong to the same school and the same city. However, cross-class teams are highly encouraged! For example, a student from Class 9 can easily team up with a student from Class 11, provided they study in the same school.
What happens if my teammate drops out mid-way?
You can continue the 5-day sprint completely solo and pitch the project on Grand Pitch Day. While partial refunds cannot be processed, your absent partner will get a priority credit seat in our next bootcamp cohort.
What certificates and national honors does our school unlock by participating?
The Design Innovation Centre (DIC), IIT BHU provides highly prestigious institutional recognitions based on student engagement milestones:
Milestone 1: Minimum 5 Registrations (Solo or Team) The school will be awarded an official "Certificate of Merit for Fostering Grassroots Innovation" by DIC IIT BHU, recognizing the school as a primary ecosystem driver for student entrepreneurship in Eastern UP.
Milestone 2: 20+ Registrations (The Elite Tier) The school will be honored with the national-level "Maximum Regional Innovators Hub Certificate" by DIC IIT BHU. This crowns your institution as the leading innovation center in your entire district.
Special Category: The "Future-Ready Academic Institution" Citation Awarded to schools whose students make it to the Top 10 Finalist pitches on Grand Pitch Day, highlighting your faculty’s support in producing national-level student talent.
Our school wants to coordinate a large batch of students. How should we proceed with registrations?
For official school partnerships, managing large student cohorts, or claiming your institutional certificates, please have your school coordinator or principal connect directly with our Program Head at +91 7080497990 . We will set up a seamless, single-window registration process for your entire school.
Our school has a large pool of talented students and we want to deploy the complete Young Innovators Infrastructure on our campus. Is that possible?
Yes, absolutely! If your school is looking to establish a long-term, personalized startup culture, we can help you build and deploy a dedicated School-to-Startup Pipeline on your campus. This includes bringing our customized innovation bootcamps, mentor networks, and AI-driven venture-building infrastructure directly to your institution.
To discuss a tailored roadmap and institutional integration for your school, please have your Principal or Management Head connect directly with our Program Head at +91 7080497990.
Is there a minimum registration requirement for our school to be recognized as an official partner?
Yes. To officially unlock school-level tracking, district leaderboards, and institutional awards, a school must have a minimum of 5 registrations (either Solo or Teams). Once this baseline milestone is met, your institution is formally registered as a participating pipeline partner with the Design Innovation Centre (DIC), IIT BHU and Know Your Careers, unlocking your eligibility for the Certificate of Merit and higher national honors.
