New Delhi [India], April 24: In an effort to address gaps in India’s deep technology ecosystem, Startup Stairs has announced the launch of Startup League 2026, a national-level hackathon and funding platform focused on early-stage innovation. The event is scheduled to be held on June 11, 2026.
The initiative aims to support startups working in sectors such as artificial intelligence, drone technology, robotics, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and defence technologies—areas that industry experts say have not scaled at the same pace as consumer-facing startups in India.
According to Dr. Preet Sandhu, Co-founder AVPL International and Promoter of Startup Stairs, while India has witnessed significant growth in sectors like e-commerce and D2C over the past decade, deep tech ventures continue to face challenges in commercialization and access to structured support.
“India has a strong talent pool, but deep tech startups often struggle with access to capital, mentorship, and market linkages. This creates a gap between innovation and deployment,” Sandhu said.
The event will follow a three-stage process, beginning with idea screening and pitch refinement, followed by product demonstrations before investors and domain experts, and culminating in funding opportunities and scaling support.
Organisers said participating startups may get access to a funding pool of up to ₹4 crore, along with mentorship, investor connections, and go-to-market support. However, the actual investment outcomes will depend on investor interest and evaluation during the event.
Startup League 2026 is open to early-stage founders, innovators, and startups working in deep tech domains. The platform is also expected to bring together investors, incubators, corporates, academic institutions, and government stakeholders.
The announcement comes at a time when India is increasingly focusing on building indigenous capabilities in critical technologies amid global supply chain disruptions and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Industry observers note that strengthening the domestic deep tech ecosystem will be crucial for long-term technological competitiveness.
Startup Stairs, which describes itself as an incubator and entrepreneurship development organisation, is an investee of NSDC International and is recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. The organisation works across areas such as deep tech, rural entrepreneurship, and skill development.
It is also associated with government-led initiatives, including the Startup Haryana and the UP CM Yuva Udyami Yojana.
According to the organisation, it has supported over 50 startups and facilitated seed funding of more than ₹20 crore to date.
Applications for Startup League 2026 are currently open for a limited number of startups. Interested participants can apply through the official website.
