- IIT Bombay opens Eureka! business model contest to school students for the first time, aiming to spark entrepreneurial thinking from Class 10 onwards.
- Asia’s largest business model competition now engages over 12,500 students, offering zonal rounds, mentorship, investor exposure, and prize opportunities.
- Initiative promotes early innovation and inclusive access, as part of IIT Bombay's broader mission to build a vibrant, youth-led startup ecosystem.
IIT Bombay has opened its flagship business model competition, Eureka!, to students of schools, asking them to join in what is being referred to as Asia's largest such contest. Conducted by the Entrepreneurship Cell (E‑Cell) of the institute, the contest seeks to develop entrepreneurial skills from an early age by providing a platform for innovative business ideas and strategic thinking.
Eureka! has continued to build up since its launch in 1998 and currently engages more than 12,500 students from all over Asia. Historically restricted to college-level participants, the addition of school students is a deliberate attempt on the part of IIT Bombay to incubate nascent innovation and stimulate students as early as class 10 to structure ideas in feasible business models. The event is completely free, guaranteeing access for every qualifying student.
Organized in several stages, Eureka! starts with zonal rounds in which students pitch first drafts of their business ideas. Successful participants move on to the business model round and finally to the final pitch round, where finalists pitch to reputed panels of industry leaders and investors ([acr.iitbombay.org][2]). In addition, participants are also able to avail themselves of mentoring sessions, networking activities, and the potential for securing funds. Additionally, winners from previous editions have received substantial prizes, such as cash awards, incubation funding, and even sponsored international trips
On top of their contests, E‑Cell also organizes the yearly E‑Summit during January, gathering students, mentors, investors, corporates, and successful entrepreneurs. This activity, likewise, enrolls tens of thousands of people yearly, highlighting IIT Bombay's dedication to creating a robust startup environment By making Eureka! available to students, IIT Bombay hopes to democratize the access to entrepreneurial spaces and encourage a new generation of innovators. The step is likely to have a ripple effect through early involvement, eventually building the entrepreneurial community as a whole. Students interested in participating can check out details and registration links on the E‑Cell's official web page.
