BITS Pilahhhjni’s Startup Accelerator Conquest Offers Mentorship and Funding to Early-Stage Startups
Geared towards nurturing the growth of early-stage startups, BITS Pilani’s accelerator program, Conquest, has announced its 20th edition, promising a blend of equity-free grants, mentorship, and significant industry exposure over a well-structured seven-week-long program.
A unique feature of Conquest is its management team, entirely composed of 25 dedicated students, showcasing the drive and enthusiasm of the youth in fostering entrepreneurial success. The program bifurcates its approach into an online mentorship phase followed by a one-week intensive offline interaction, ensuring comprehensive guidance and support for the up-and-coming startups.
The mentoring framework is meticulously designed to tackle critical challenges faced by startups, including achieving product-market fit and streamlining customer acquisition strategies. Moreover, Conquest paves the way for startups to immerse into a thriving community fostering resource-sharing and collaborative growth.
In the spotlight of its 20th iteration, Conquest kick-started with an engaging launch event held on April 13, 2024, in Gurugram. The window for registrations was opened from April 15 through May 31, inviting a wave of innovative startups to join this journey.
The online mentorship phase is scheduled from June 10 to July 25, 2024, wherein each participating founder is matched with a dedicated coach. This phase enables personalized mentorship sessions, augmented by fireside chats with founders who have previously charted successful entrepreneurial journeys, including notable names like NoBroker’s Amit Agarwal and Postman’s Abhijeet Kane.
Graduating from the online phase, selected startups journey to Bengaluru from July 29 to August 3, 2024, for a week of immersive offline experiences. This phase is tailormade to ensure startups have unique networking opportunities, engaging in knowledge sessions and investment workshops led by the luminaries of investment firms such as Accel and WestBridge Capital. The inclusion of office visits and networking mixers adds invaluable practical exposure.
The program reaches its climax during the ‘Demo Day’, a platform where startups showcase their innovations in hopes of securing grants and further recognition. The most recent edition witnessed startups Glovatrix and Verdant emerge as winners, each securing grants exceeding INR 10 Lakh. Additionally, the event featured keynote addresses from industry stalwarts like PeepalCo group CEO Ashish Singhal, 3one4 Capital’s Pranave Pai, and Vishesh Khurana, co-founder of Shiprocket.
Conquest boasts an impressive alumni network including startups like Thinkerbell, BiteSpeed, and Atlan, the latter now valued at about $500 million. By adhering to a ‘zero-cost zero-equity’ model, the program has consistently attracted a diverse pool of startups, offering them not just funding opportunities but also a robust support framework for mentorship and networking. This comprehensive guidance aids founders in navigating the early stages of their business, preparing them for both the successes and challenges that lie ahead in their entrepreneurial journey.
As BITS Pilani’s Conquest continues to pave the way for early-stage startups, it reinforces the importance of mentorship and community support in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing a steadfast foundation for the next generation of innovators.
