Startup Stairs has announced the launch of Startup League 2026, a national-level hackathon and funding platform focused on early-stage innovation, to address gaps in India’s deep technology ecosystem. The event is scheduled to be held on June 11, 2026.
A media statement said that the initiative aims to support start-ups working in sectors such as artificial intelligence, drone technology, robotics, electric vehicles, semiconductors and defence technologies.
Three-stage process
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.
Startup League 2026 is open to early-stage founders, innovators and start-ups working in deep tech domains. The platform is also expected to bring together investors, incubators, corporates, academic institutions and government stakeholders.
Quoting Preet Sandhu, Co-founder AVPL International and Promoter of Startup Stairs, the statement said 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 commercialisation and access to structured support.
“India has a strong talent pool, but deep tech start-ups often struggle with access to capital, mentorship and market linkages. This creates a gap between innovation and deployment,” Sandhu said.
Organisers said participating start-ups 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, the statement added.
Published on April 23, 2026