AWS and Campus Fund Announce Sixth Edition of Grand Challenge: The Largest National Platform to Recognize Best Student Led Startup of the Year 2025

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India – Business Wire India Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Campus Fund today announced the sixth edition of Grand Challenge, a flagship nationwide initiative that continues to recognize and support India’s most innovative student-led startups. This edition is powered once again by 360 ONE and now features a dedicated onchain track sponsored by Base, the Ethereum layer 2 incubating at Coinbase.

Building on the momentum of previous editions, Grand Challenge 2025 invites student entrepreneurs from across the country to apply by September 15, 2025. The challenge is open to current students, recent graduates, and even dropouts (from 2022 onwards), across all sectors.

Since its inception in 2020, Grand Challenge has evolved into a movement, celebrating the entrepreneurial potential of India’s youth. Over the last five editions, 57 standout student-led startups have emerged as winners, with 23 ventures raising over $90 million (Rs Rs. 750 Crores) in follow-on capital for reputed global investors.

"The Grand Challenge is no longer just a stage for startups – it’s a national movement driving India’s emergence as the startup hub of the world," said Richa Bajpai.

About Grand Challenge 2025 The mission is clear - Empowering India’s Student Innovators and bringing them to fore. With a robust format that combines mentorship, national exposure, direct access to investors and Who’s Who of India Inc, Grand Challenge offers a unique platform for young founders to scale. This is also the first time Base has sponsored a dedicated onchain track of the Grand Challenge, which will reward teams with a prize pool of up to 10k USD.

The jury this year comprises of veterans and stalwarts of the India Inc: Akshat Seth: MD & CEO, Birla Nu Alok Kshirsagar: Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co Amitabh Nagpal: Head of Startup Ecosystem, AWS India Ashwini Tewari: MD, State Bank of India Bharat Shah: Co-Founder, HDFC Bank Phanindra Sama: Founder, redBus Ramakant Sharma: Founder & CEO, Livspace Roopa Kudva: Former Managing Partner, Omidyar Network India; Former CEO, CRISIL Sasha Mirchandani: Founder & Managing Partner, Kae Capital Shashwat Goenka: Vice Chairman, RP Sanjiv Goenka Group Shruti Shibulal: CEO & Director, Tamara Leisure Experiences Ullas Kamath: Former Joint MD, Jyothi Labs Limited, and Yatin Shah: Co-Founder & CEO, 360 ONE and some more industry leaders.

Timelines: • Deadline for Applications - September 15, 2025 • Top 15 Startups Announced: November 2025 • Grand Finale: December 10, 2025 (Mumbai) Eligibility: • Open to all sectors • Current university students, recent graduates, and dropouts (2022 and after) Format & Journey: • Online Application • Shortlisting & Elimination Rounds • Mentorship with Industry Experts • Grand Finale in Mumbai: Top 15 present live to the Grand Jury Benefits & Support: • $10,000 in non dilutive grants for winners • Up to Rs. 8 Crores (Rs USD 1M) in potential funding for winners • Up to USD 25,000 in AWS Activate Credits • Access to top tools: Notion, DocSend, ClickUp, Freshworks, WebFlow, Typeform • Special mentorship to top startups building onchain by the Base India team Past editions of the Grand Challenge have produced notable winners, including Paradyes - a hair-color startup (University of Arts, London) and Digantara - the space-cartography startup from Lovely Professional University & RV College of Engineering.

To View the Image, Click on the Link Below: Grand Jury - AWS | Campus Fund Grand Challenge 2025 (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)