Bengaluru to Host 500+ Founders and Launch Dedicated Startup Fund at India Startup Week 2026

The event was launched at a Curtain Raiser hosted by Official Festival Partner DoubleTree by Hilton, where organizers unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by startups—access to capital, mentorship, governance support and sustainable growth.

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Ujjwal Mukhia, Founder, India Startup Week, said "India Startup Week was born from a simple belief—that every founder deserves access to opportunities, guidance and capital regardless of where they start. We are creating a platform that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and industry leaders to help transform ideas into scalable businesses. Our vision is to make ISW one of India's most influential startup ecosystem platforms and a catalyst for the next generation of entrepreneurs."

One of the key announcements at the launch was the introduction of a 360-Degree Startup Support Platform, unveiled by Ramani Iyer, Partner & Advisor, India Startup Week, Co-Founder of Justdial and Founder of Elephant God Accelerator. The platform will support startups with compliance, governance, financial planning, mentorship, investor readiness and business growth.

ISW26 also announced the launch of the ISW Fund in partnership with World 5 Fund, aimed at facilitating access to Seed, Series A and growth-stage capital through a curated network of investors, venture capital firms, family offices and HNIs.

Commenting on the initiative, Ramani Iyer,  Partner & Advisor, India Startup Week, said "India has no shortage of brilliant entrepreneurs. What many founders need is structured access to capital, mentorship, governance support and the right ecosystem at the right stage of growth. India Startup Week has been designed as a platform that brings all these elements together, helping startups move from idea to scale with confidence and clarity."

The event will also introduce the India Startup Week Club (ISWC), a year-round founder and investor community designed to foster networking, learning, mentorship and business opportunities beyond the festival.

As Official Workspace Partner, BHIVE will host a series of Startup Roadshows across Bengaluru, offering startup audits, mentorship sessions and funding-readiness support in the lead-up to the event.

Speaking about the future vision of the platform, Vikram Shah, Director, India Startup Week, said "India Startup Week is not just another startup conference. We are building a founder-first ecosystem that combines capital access, mentorship, networking and year-round community engagement. Our vision is to grow ISW into a national platform that connects founders, investors and ecosystem leaders across India's leading startup cities. Bengaluru is just the beginning, and we are excited to announce Hyderabad as the next destination in our journey to build a stronger and more connected entrepreneurial ecosystem."

Organizers also announced that following the Bengaluru edition, India Startup Week will expand to Hyderabad later this year, marking the beginning of a multi-city strategy aimed at creating stronger regional startup communities and deeper founder-investor engagement across India.

Unlike traditional startup conferences, ISW26 will feature Founder Mentoring Zones, Investor Connect Sessions, Startup Showcase Areas, Innovation Experiences, Wellness Programs and curated networking opportunities. The three-day festival will include a Startup Networking Summit, Masterclasses, Startup Excellence Awards, Investor Connect Sessions and the India Startup Week Awards.

The launch event was attended by startup founders, investors and ecosystem leaders including Rakesh Meghani, Kashish Mukhia, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami (ISKCON GBCM) and Shyam Kumar, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton.

With Bengaluru already, home to one of the world's most vibrant startup ecosystems, India Startup Week 2026 aims to create a powerful platform that accelerates innovation, investment and entrepreneurial growth across the country. For registrations, partnerships and participation opportunities, visit: indiastartupweek.in