Innopreneurs winners with a cheque at the Viksit Bharat Start-up Conclave

01 · Contest

Test the idea. Build the confidence.

High-energy platforms for founders, students and schools to present ideas, learn from feedback and earn national visibility.

Who they serve

Startups and early-stage founders, school students from Grade 6 to 12, and schools that want to bring innovation into the classroom.

What you gain

Mentor feedback, jury exposure, national visibility, prizes and a direct path into cohorts, community and the Super Founders network.

How to choose

Founders → Innopreneurs. Students → Innopreneurs Junior or the Olympiad. Schools → What An Idea or a school partnership.

Our contests

Four platforms. One stage for ideas.

01

Innopreneurs

India’s startup contest since 2014, now in its 12th season, with founders from India and neighbouring countries including Bhutan and Nepal.

Audience
Startups & early-stage founders
Format
National contest · regional rounds + grand finale
Status
Season 12 completed · next season to be announced
Key benefit
Pitch to investors and mentors, earn national visibility and join the Super Founders network.

02

Innopreneurs Junior

A school entrepreneurship platform: a guided journey from idea discovery and training to pitching and national recognition.

Audience
Students, Grades 6–12
Format
Guided journey · training → pitching → finale
Status
Registrations open through schools
Key benefit
Students discover problems, build ideas and pitch on a national stage.

03

Bharat Innovation Olympiad

A national future-skills Olympiad that assesses innovation, entrepreneurship, problem-solving, digital literacy and real-world application.

Audience
School students
Format
Online Olympiad examination
Status
Olympiad on 15 October 2026 · registrations open
Key benefit
Future-skills assessment across innovation, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and problem solving.

04

What An Idea

A compact school contest where students identify real problems, think creatively and present practical solutions with confidence.

Audience
Schools & school teams
Format
School-level idea contest · in person
Status
Open to partner schools
Key benefit
Makes creativity, problem solving and entrepreneurship visible and rewarding inside the school.

Common process

From registration to the big stage.

  1. 01

    Register

    Choose the right contest and register as a founder, student or school.

  2. 02

    Learn

    Orientation, workshops and mentor inputs sharpen the idea.

  3. 03

    Pitch

    Present to jury panels in regional or school rounds.

  4. 04

    Showcase

    Top entries reach the finale in front of investors, leaders and media.

  5. 05

    Grow

    Winners and finalists continue into cohorts, community and the Super Founders network.

Eligibility

  • Innopreneurs: startups and early-stage founders from India and abroad
  • Innopreneurs Junior: students of Grades 6–12, individually or in teams
  • Bharat Innovation Olympiad: school students; registration online
  • What An Idea: student teams inside a partner school

Benefits

  • Structured feedback from mentors and jury
  • Visibility with investors, industry and media
  • Certificates, awards and prizes
  • A pathway into Lemon Ideas cohorts and community

Current opportunities

Open and coming up.

15October · 2026
School programmeOnlineRegistrations open

Bharat Innovation Olympiad

A future-skills Olympiad designed to assess innovation, entrepreneurship, problem-solving, digital literacy and real-world application.

When
15 October 2026
Online examination
Where
innovationolympiad.in
Register Now
31January · 2027
ContestIn personRegistration opening soon

Innopreneurs Next-Gen

A high-energy showcase of student innovation, entrepreneurship and ideas, bringing together top team presentations, workshops, exhibitions and project displays.

When
31 January 2027
2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where
Chitnavis Centre, Nagpur
Register Now
TBASchool programme
School programmeIn personOpen to partner schools

What An Idea Contest

A school-based idea contest that encourages students to identify real problems, think creatively and present practical solutions with confidence.

When
Schedule to be announced
School hours
Where
Partner schools
Organise at Your School

Past highlights

Moments from the stage.

FAQs

Questions about contests.

Which contest is right for me?

Founders and early-stage startups should enter Innopreneurs. School students take part through Innopreneurs Junior, the Bharat Innovation Olympiad or What An Idea, usually through their school.

Who can take part?

Innopreneurs is open to startups and early-stage founders. Innopreneurs Junior is for Grades 6–12. The Olympiad is for school students, and What An Idea is run for teams inside a partner school.

Is there a fee?

Fees differ by contest and season and are shown on each contest’s registration page. Innopreneurs Next-Gen, for example, is ₹999 per team.

How can my school host a contest?

Choose Register Your School on the enquiry form. The Lemon Ideas school team will share a proposal and calendar.

Ready to compete?

Put your idea on the stage.