IIT Kharagpur has partnered with z21 Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm founded by its alumni, to launch a startup accelerator program specifically designed for final-year students. The initiative aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by equipping students with mentorship, funding, and resources to transform their ideas into viable ventures.

As part of this partnership, z21 Ventures will invest ?2.5 crore, with an initial investment of ?25 lakh per team. The program will support up to 10 teams in its first cohort, offering year-round mentorship, strategic guidance, and seed funding. Participants will gain access to z21 Ventures’ extensive network of industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and advisors, while IIT Kharagpur will provide infrastructure support even after students graduate.

This accelerator program is open to final-year BTech, MTech, and PhD students, and also welcomes alumni who collaborate with current students as co-founders. The program blends IIT Kharagpur’s research capabilities with z21 Ventures’ investment expertise, focusing on creating scalable solutions to global challenges.

IIT Kharagpur has a legacy of promoting entrepreneurship, having established the Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship (RMSoEE) in 2010 to offer structured training in innovation and business creation.

"Innovation at KGP has always been extraordinary, and this partnership with z21 Ventures will ignite even greater possibilities," said Prof. Tewari, Director of IIT Kharagpur. "By providing a strong community and the vital capital boost, we are empowering our students to dream bigger, build boldly, and transform the world with their ideas."

This initiative underscores IIT Kharagpur's commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem.