New Delhi, Delhi, India | 10th September 2025: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, launched Campus Tank — India’s first university-led startup launchpad — at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The initiative, hosted by Chandigarh University in collaboration with Apna (India’s largest job portal) and Venture Catalysts (leading venture capital fund), aims to empower student innovators and transform India into a hub of global entrepreneurship.
With a dedicated $6 million funding pool, Campus Tank is designed to support young innovators under 30 years of age, providing them with funding opportunities, expert mentorship, ecosystem alliances, and incubation support to launch their ventures.
Empowering Youth for Viksit Bharat
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that India’s youth are the true architects of Viksit Bharat. He highlighted that North India needs to accelerate its startup journey, moving beyond the obsession with government jobs.
“We must maximize our human resources and private sector participation. Campus Tank, with its $6 million funding, will give a special push to North India’s entrepreneurship movement,” he said.
He further revealed:
- India has witnessed a 900% increase in the science and technology budget.
- India ranks 39th among 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024.
- 1.8 lakh startups have emerged, with 60% led by women entrepreneurs.
- India is now the 6th largest patent filer globally, with over 64,000 patents filed in six years, 66% by Indian residents.
Dr. Singh also urged startups to venture into agriculture, space, and Himalayan innovation, citing the success of India’s Aroma Mission, which has led to 3,000+ profitable startups.
Chandigarh University’s Role in Driving Student Startups
Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, praised PM Modi’s Startup India initiative for creating the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with 1.89 lakh startups and 119 unicorns.
Sandhu added:
- CU students have already created 150+ startups across 27 domains.
- The university’s Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI) filed 1,126 patents in 2023-24, the highest among Indian R&D institutions.
- CU ranks among the top 5 institutions in India for patent filings in the last five years.
He stressed that Campus Tank will help India move towards the ambitious goal of 5,000 unicorns by turning student ideas into billion-dollar enterprises, as seen with global giants like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft, which began as university startups.
Industry Leaders Back Campus Tank
The launch event was attended by AICTE Chairman Prof. TG Sitharam, industry veterans, startup founders, and venture capital leaders, including:
- Padmaja Ruparel (Co-Founder, IAN Group)
- L. Venkata Subramaniam (IBM Quantum India Leader)
- Dr. Apoorv Ranjan Sharma (Co-Founder, Venture Catalysts)
- Siddharth Anand (Associate Director, Apna)
- Amit Singhal (General Partner, Fluid Ventures)
- Vineet Sagar (Managing Partner, Venture Garage)
Prof. TG Sitharam called Campus Tank “a platform that bridges academia with industry, innovation with investment, and ideas with impact.”
Campus Tank – A Nationwide Student Movement
So far, Campus Tank has attracted 20,000+ young founders from 28 states and 6 UTs, with 500+ startup submissions, of which 35% are women-led.
Showcasing diversity, startups from real estate, HealthTech, AI DeepTech, and more pitched their ideas at the event, including Nesthome, Tranquil AI, Doctorlab, 256 Bits Studio, and Chem0.
Key Highlights of Campus Tank
- $6 Million Fund for innovators under 30.
- Focus on student-led startups from universities and colleges.
- Nationwide coverage with 20,000+ registered young founders.
- Backed by Apna, Venture Catalysts, and Chandigarh University.
- Strong support from government, industry leaders, and investors.
Conclusion
The Campus Tank launch marks a turning point for India’s startup ecosystem, especially in harnessing student talent from universities across the country. With strong government support, industry partnerships, and a dedicated funding pool, it has the potential to transform India’s aspiring youth into global entrepreneurs and accelerate the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
