The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur has joined forces with z21 Ventures, an early-stage, operator-led venture capital firm founded by esteemed IIT Kharagpur alumni. This partnership heralds the launch of a ground-breaking startups accelerator programme tailored for final-year students, setting the stage for a new era of entrepreneurial excellence.
Designed to harness the immense talent at KGP and transform bold ideas into market-ready ventures, the accelerator will offer participants access to mentorship, funding, and top-tier resources. With a focus on building technical and scalable solutions to tackle global challenges, this programme aims to blend IIT Kharagpur’s research with z21 Ventures’ proven investment expertise, empowering student entrepreneurs to create world-changing impact.
The accelerator will welcome up to 10 teams in its inaugural cohort, equipping them with year-round mentorship, strategic guidance, and seed funding to bring their concepts to life. Participants will benefit from z21 Ventures’ network of industry operators, successful founders, and seasoned advisors, all dedicated to steering them toward market success. Additionally, IIT Kharagpur will offer crucial infrastructure support post-graduation, ensuring that the journey from ideation to implementation continues seamlessly.
IIT Kharagpur alumni can also engage in this transformative program, provided they collaborate with current KGP students on their founding teams. The accelerator is open to BTech, MTech, and PhD students in their final year, underscoring a commitment to inclusivity and interdisciplinary innovation.
The MoU was signed today in the presence of Prof V K Tewari, Director; Prof Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director; Prof Krishna Kumar, Dean FoS; Prof. P K Dutta, Dean BTBS; Prof Karabi Das, Dean Outreach; Prof Rabibrata Mukherjee, Dean International Relations; Prof Debashish Chakravarty, Dean Alumni Affairs; Prof Basab Chakravarti, Head, Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship from IIT Kharagpur. Raj Singh, General Partner at z21 Ventures along with Jyotika Gupta and Sudarshan Ravi Jha, Partners at z21 Ventures participated from z21 Ventures.
