Campus Tank: Apna, VCats, CU Launch $1M Fund for Young Startup Creators
Empowering the next generation of startup creators, Apna, VCats, and Chandigarh University have joined forces to launch Campus Tank, a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering innovation and design among young entrepreneurs in India. This collaborative effort, inspired by the Startup India initiative introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, provides a platform for budding innovators to pitch their ideas, secure funding, and receive expert support for launching their startups.
Championing this initiative, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, highlighted the significance of supporting startups in their growth journey. He emphasized how initiatives like Campus Tank not only promote innovation but also empower the youth to become the driving force behind India’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Apna, a notable Indian Unicorn renowned for its networking platform catering to blue- and grey-collar employees, has teamed up with Venture Catalysts (VCats), a leading early-stage investment firm and integrated incubator in India, to make this collaborative effort a reality. By leveraging Chandigarh University’s expertise and resources, the trio has introduced School Tank, the country’s premier university-led startup launch-pad.
School Tank offers young innovators a unique opportunity to access funding, expert mentorship, strategic industry connections, and immersive incubation support. This comprehensive ecosystem is designed to nurture and accelerate the growth of emerging startups, aligning with the broader vision of fostering a robust entrepreneurial culture in the country.
Speaking about the impact of such initiatives, Sandhu underlined the remarkable progress of India’s startup ecosystem, citing a significant rise in the number of startups and unicorns over the past decade. With India solidifying its position as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, boasting over 1,760 startups and 118 unicorns with billion-dollar valuations, the entrepreneurial landscape is ripe for further growth and innovation.
Furthermore, Chandigarh University’s Innovation Service Incubator (CU-TBI) has been at the forefront of driving innovation and research in the country. Securing the top rank among all research and development entities in India by filing a record 1,126 patent applications in 2023-24, CU is committing Rs 5 crores to fuel the growth of the startup community within its ecosystem, reinforcing its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement.
