Funding In 7 Days: Raise ₹20 Lakhs For Your Startup.

This 7-day offline bootcamp in Bangalore + 3 months of 1:1 mentorship is designed for you to transform their ideas into venture investable MVP (Minimum Viable Product).

Bootcamp Dates: 8th Sept - 14th Sept
Location:
Draper Startup House, Koramangala, Bangalore
Note: We only accept 30 startups.

Our entrepreneurs come from

Meet the Incubator

18startup is running this fellowship program in collaboration with SONA Incubation Foundation, Selam — an organization deeply committed to supporting early-stage startups like yours.

Sona Incubation Foundation (SIF) is a non-profit incubator supporting startups in deep tech, Industry 4.0, and more. Based in Salem, it offers mentoring, funding, and a 15,000 sq. ft. facility. SIF empowers innovators through competitions, camps, and industry support.

SONA also has a hardware facility which include a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, CNC turning machine, hardness testing machine, lighting testing lab, and a nano calibration ultrasonic cleaner. Know more...

Benefits of the program

Access to Funds of up to ₹20 Lakhs

Receive a soft commitment within just 7 days, subject to the terms of the funding source. This funding can come from private investments, debt funds, or even grants from SISF or DST-Nidhi-iTBI.

Access up to ₹1 Crore+ Worth of Technical Credits

Access technical credits from AWS Activate, Notion, Zoho Suite, Webflow, providing the tools you need to build and scale your startup while minimizing initial expenses.

Access to 50+ Mentors and Domain Experts

Receive personalized guidance and insights from seasoned mentors and industry leaders, ensuring you make informed decisions and accelerate your entrepreneurial journey.

Access to the Alumni of 18startup

Gain access to the extensive 18startup Innercircle, comprising over 150 startup founders with diverse backgrounds who are eager to share insights, and help you unlock new market opportunities.

Access 14 months of incubation support

If your startup is selected during the Demo Day on the 7th day of the bootcamp, you will be incubated with SONA Incubator in Salem for 14 months, subject to SONA's terms.

Access to SONA's incubator facilities

If you are incubated with SONA, you will gain access to their facilities, which include a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, CNC turning machine, hardness testing machine, lighting testing lab, and a nano calibration ultrasonic cleaner.

The Demo Day

On the 7th day of the bootcamp, an offline Demo Day will be held in front of a panel of investors and mentors. All startups participating in the program will get a chance to pitch their ideas and receive soft commitments of up to ₹20 lakhs in funding. Additionally, up to 10 startups will be selected for incubation by SONA.

If you don’t make it through the first Demo Day, don’t worry — you’ll have another opportunity. After completing 3 months of mentorship, you can pitch again during an online Demo Day and still stand a chance to raise funds and secure incubation support from SONA.

Meet your Mentor

With over 15 years of extensive experience in the tech industry, Ajay Rungta is a seasoned professional with a remarkable track record. As the founding engineer at Practo, he dedicated over 11 years to driving its growth and success.

In his current role as a solopreneur, Ajay wears multiple hats as a startup advisor, mentor, angel investor, and super connector. He passionately collaborates with founders, offering invaluable guidance and support throughout their startup journey. Ajay's expertise extends to mentorship roles at various incubators and accelerators, where he provides anchor mentoring, conducts pitch reviews, evaluates cohorts, serves on grants juries, and delivers enriching masterclasses.

He is proud to be an alumnus of BITS Pilani.

Know more:

Ajay Rungta
ex-Founding Engineer, Practo

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MVPs Launched

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Founders Funded

Who is this
program for?

If you’re an early-stage startup founder who has taken the initiative to pursue your startup idea but feel stuck due to a lack of guidance and mentorship, then you are welcome to 18startup.

Note: The program fee is ₹21,000 (+ gst) and is kicking off with a 7 day offline bootcamp on 8th Sept 2025 in Bengaluru.

Listen To Our Community

Vamika Singhal

Founder: Founderly

Before this bootcamp, I was constantly second-guessing my idea. In just 4 days, I walked out with clarity, a clear MVP plan, and connections with founders who truly get the journey.

Jayesh Jain

Founder: Avatron

I didn’t just meet mentors, I met future collaborators. The bootcamp helped me structure my startup, validate my direction, and build momentum with a real support system.

Misba Shah

Founder: MeetGoals

This wasn’t a lecture, it was hands-on. I got expert feedback, bonded with fellow founders, and finally understood how to build something that investors will take seriously.

Shwetha Rajendran

Founder: Virago

From mentorship to networking, everything felt relevant. I finally got clear on my next steps, and connected with people I still work with today.

Karthikeya

Founder: Hasol Energy

The team-building and MVP sessions were game-changing. I walked in with questions and left with a roadmap, new allies, and a mindset shift.

Srijan Gangavarapu

Founder: Redstring

I’ve attended startup events before, but this was different. No fluff, just real conversations, strategic frameworks, and a tight-knit group of founders who actually showed up to build.

Know who’ll help you on your journey

Prakash Balasubramanian
CEO - 18startup
Vivek Manoharan
CEO - 221B Biomedical
Rudrajeet Desai
CEO VideoCX.io
CEO - FieldAssist
CEO - Risaa IVF
CEO - Picxele
Business Coach
Founder - YellowBag Foundation
CEO - Simple AI
Serial Entrepreneur & Investor
Founder - Revolut

What our alumni have built?

Avatron
At Avatron, we offer a comprehensive range of smart home products, including lighting, audio systems, automation solutions, and security devices.
Redstring
Redstring connects startups with top-tier talent, streamlining recruitment. They foster meaningful relationships to fuel innovation and growth.
Meet Goals
MeetGoals helps individuals align their subconscious with their goals and take consistent action toward a life of purpose and fulfillment.
Azoodo
Azeedo is a sustainable agritech startup creating organic crop protection solutions. It helps farmers reduce chemical use and boost soil and crop health.
Hasol Energy
Hasol Energy builds innovative solutions to boost renewable energy efficiency. We drive sustainable energy production across sectors.
Zoovit
​At Zoovit Health Care (OPC) Private Limited, we curate stylish and functional home decor and wellness products to enhance everyday living.
Creatiz
We’re a platform designed for content writers, simplifying their creation process and helping them craft more effective content.
Founderly
Founderly helps purpose-driven students turn their startup ideas into reality in 6 weeks, with expert mentorship and community support.

Our partners & collaborators

Listen to our community

Journey ahead

Submit your registration form

Click the link to submit your registration for the program. Pay the token amount of ₹2000/- to reserve your spot, and our team will contact you within a week with the next steps (the remaining amt. will be adjusted in the final amt.)

Discuss your goals and expectations with our team to better understand the program.

When our team contacts you, they will learn about your startup, its current stage, and your expectations for joining the program. They will then guide you accordingly.

Confirm your spot by paying the remaining fee.

Once you understand the expectations and the value you will gain from the program, you can proceed to pay the remaining fee to secure your enrollment.

Join the vibrant 18startup <> SONA community.

After confirming your seat for the program, you will receive a welcome email from 18startup detailing the next steps and updates about the program.

FAQs

Register here
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