Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ (IIT Madras) Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) is collaborating with IDEABAAZ, a National entrepreneurship discovery platform, to organize a Start-up Pitch Arena during Entrepreneurship Summit (E-Summit) 2026. This flagship event is scheduled to be held from 6th to 8th February 2026 at the campus.

The strategic partnership brings together IIT Madras’ academic excellence and deep-tech innovation strengths with IDEABAAZ’s nationwide entrepreneurial reach and real-world startup exposure. It aims to jointly accelerate India’s next wave of startup founders through the flagship.

IDEABAAZ is India’s pioneering media-integrated startup ecosystem – a bold blend of platform, grassroots innovation and television designed to empower entrepreneurs across the nation. It seeks to democratize access to funding, mentorship, and visibility, nurturing the next wave of breakthrough companies from every corner of India.

Highlighting the need for such innovative initiatives, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “The future of India will be written by those who dare to build early and build boldly. The IDEABAAZ–E-Cell IIT Madras collaboration is about igniting that courage—empowering young innovators to transform knowledge into enterprises that serve the nation and the world.”

Aligned with E-Cell IIT Madras’ vision of producing more than 1,000 impact startup stories by 2030, several high-potential ventures will be showcased at E-Summit 2026, providing founders with national visibility, mentorship, and investor access.

Further, Mr. Mudit Kumar, Co-founder & COO, IDEABAAZ, said, “This is not just a collaboration but it is a catalyst for real on-ground execution. Together with E-Cell, IIT Madras, we are building a movement that celebrates risk-takers, dreamers and doers shaping Bharat’s startup future, and embedding entrepreneurship into our culture and behaviour.”

E-Summit 2026 will feature high-energy pitch arenas, startup spotlights, mentorship-led masterclasses, and immersive ecosystem engagements designed to help early-stage ideas transition into scalable, investible ventures. The summit is positioned as a national platform reflecting Bharat’s entrepreneurial capabilities to a global audience.

Prof. Richa Agrawal, Faculty Advisor, E-Cell, IIT Madras, added, “By combining IIT Madras’ deep-tech, research, and academic firepower with IDEABAAZ’s founder-first storytelling and startup validation engine, this alliance creates a launchpad where ideas meet execution, talent meets opportunity, and passion meets purpose.”

Mr. Kushagra Kapoor, Student Executive Head, E-Cell, IIT Madras, said, “This collaboration enables startups to transition onto a national platform, helping them raise capital, gain visibility, and scale with intent.”

Mr. Vatsal Gosalia, also a Student Executive Head, E-Cell, IIT Madras, added, “With this partnership, IDEABAAZ and E-Summit 2026 at IIT Madras aim to redefine how entrepreneurship is discovered, celebrated, and scaled—further fuelling India’s rise as a global innovation powerhouse.”

E-SUMMIT 2026 IMPACT:

O 10,000+ students & founders expected to engage across sessions and showcases

O 500+ startups to gain national visibility and expert feedback

O 100+ investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders participating

O 5 top startup ideations to be featured in IDEABAAZ Season 2

O Pan-India reach across Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities

O One shared mission: converting ideas into investible, scalable ventures