Learn more about empresario

Info

Structure

01
Online Form Submission

Register for Empresario 2025 and complete the initial questionnaire to begin Round 1 of the competition.

02
Early Bird Registration

Early applicants receive exclusive benefits like extended online mentorship, giving them a head start in refining their startup business models.

03
Regular Registration

Teams registering after the early bird deadline can still participate and access all key phases of Empresario’s startup competition.

04
Mentorship

Shortlisted startups will receive personalized mentorship from industry experts to help enhance and polish their business ideas.

05
Final Submission

After the mentorship phase, teams must submit their final pitch decks, reflecting the improved and validated business model.

06
Grand Finale

Top teams will pitch their startups live to a panel of VCs, angel investors, and business leaders at the finale in Kolkata.

Structure

Timeline

21/07/25
Empresario launches

The official launch of Empresario. A significant milestone marking the beginning of the journey for aspiring entrepreneurs.

14/09/25
Early Bird Deadline

The last date for early bird registrations. Participants who register by this deadline benefit from early exposure and additional opportunities.

30/9/25
Early Bird Result Declaration

Announcement of the semi-finalists from the early bird registrations. These selected teams will move forward in the competition, refining their ideas for the next rounds.

19/10/25
Regular Deadline

Mentoring sessions for early bird semi-finalists commence, providing valuable guidance from experienced mentors. This stage helps participants enhance their business models and pitch presentations.

05/11/25
Regular Result Declaration

The final deadline for regular registrations. This marks the last chance for teams to enter the competition and strive for a spot in the semi-finals.

20/12/25
Final submission

The deadline for final submissions. All teams must submit their refined business models and presentations for evaluation to determine the finalists.

10/01/26
Finalists announcement

The finalists are announced, giving the selected teams the opportunity to pitch their business models in the grand finale and compete for top prizes.

7/02/25
Grand Finale

The grand finals will be held in Kolkata. Finalists will present their business models to a panel of judges.

Timeline

Rules

  1. A team may consist of a minimum of 1 or a maximum of 5 members.
  2. Ventures must not involve a buyout, an expansion of an existing company, a real estate syndication, a tax shelter, a franchise, a licensing agreement for distribution in a different geographical area, or a spin-out from an existing corporation.
  3. There is no restriction on any individual's participation. Anyone, from students to working professionals across the world with an idea, a product or service, or even an operating startup, can participate.

Terms and conditions

By registering for this competition, it shall be deemed that each individual of the participating team has agreed to be bound by the following terms and conditions:

  1. By registering to participate in Empresario, each participating team agrees to allow Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur to use their names, images and information regarding the team's business, and prize information for publicity and marketing efforts throughout the world. Each participating team must agree to accept that their registration form and other entries will not be returned to them, and accept that their personal data will be available for information and statistical purposes.

  2. The participating team represents that Intellectual Property in the Business Plan does not infringe upon the intellectual property or any other legal or moral right of any person or entity.

  3. Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur reserves the right to disqualify or prohibit from participating in Empresario any team that makes a submission that, in the sole discretion of Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur does not confirm with the Eligibility Criteria or does not comply with these Terms & Conditions and/ or the Competition Rules.

  4. By entering the Competition, each team and its individual members agree to accept as final any decisions of The Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur including determination of the winners of Empresario.

  5. Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur shall have the discretion to initiate appropriate action against participating teams including individuals of such participating teams in case of any losses or damages arising from violation of the Eligibility Criteria, Competition Rules and the Terms & Conditions.

Empresario is a premier business model competition that provides a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas. It is designed to help participants refine their business concepts, receive mentorship from industry experts, and compete for top prizes.

Anyone with an innovative idea, product, service, or even an operating startup can participate. The competition is open to students, working professionals, and entrepreneurs from across the globe.

No, there is no fee for registration. Participation in Empresario is completely free.

You can register for Empresario through our official website. Simply fill out the registration form with the required details, and you'll be entered into the competition.

Yes, you can participate as part of a team. A team can consist of a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 members.

Participants gain exposure to potential investors, mentorship from industry experts, and the opportunity to refine their business models. Finalists have the chance to present their ideas in front of a prestigious panel of judges and compete for top prizes.

You can submit any innovative idea, product, or service across various domains. However, ventures cannot be a buyout, an expansion of an existing company, a real estate syndication, a tax shelter, a franchise, a licensing agreement for distribution in a different geographical area, or a spin-out from an existing corporation.

Submissions will be evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, feasibility, market potential, and overall impact. The evaluation process includes preliminary rounds, followed by mentoring and final presentations for those who advance to the later stages.

If your team is selected as a semi-finalist, you will receive mentorship from industry experts to help you refine your business model and prepare for the next stage of the competition.

The grand finale will take place in Kolkata on 1th February 2023 (tentative). Finalists will present their business models to a panel of judges and an audience.

To prepare for the competition, we recommend thoroughly developing your business model, conducting market research, and being ready to articulate your idea clearly. Take advantage of the mentoring sessions provided to semi-finalists to refine your concept further.

The judges and mentors for Empresario are esteemed industry professionals, successful entrepreneurs, and investors who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the competition.

Participants will be informed about their progress via email and updates on the official website. Semi-finalists and finalists will receive specific instructions and notifications regarding the next steps.

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