IIT Kharagpur and z21 Ventures Launch ‘KGP Forge Entrepreneur’ to Empower Start-Up Ecosystem

IIT Kharagpur has partnered with z21 Ventures to launch an innovative startup accelerator program for final-year students, marking a new era of entrepreneurial excellence.

IIT Kharagpur has partnered with z21 Ventures, an early-stage, operator-led venture capital firm founded by IIT Kharagpur alumni, to launch a pioneering startup accelerator program for final-year students. This collaboration aims to foster a new era of entrepreneurial excellence. The MoU was signed today in the presence of key IIT Kharagpur officials, including Prof. V K Tewari (Director), Prof. Rintu Banerjee (Deputy Director), Prof. Krishna Kumar (Dean FoS), Prof. P K Dutta (Dean BTBS), Prof. Karabi Das (Dean Outreach), Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee (Dean International Relations), Prof. Debashish Chakravarty (Dean Alumni Affairs), and Prof. Basab Chakravarti (Head, Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship). Raj Singh (General Partner), Jyotika Gupta, and Sudarshan Ravi Jha (Partners) represented z21 Ventures.

The accelerator is designed to leverage the vast talent at KGP and transform innovative ideas into market-ready ventures. Participants will gain exclusive access to mentorship, funding, and world-class resources. Focusing on developing scalable, tech-driven solutions to address global challenges, the program combines IIT Kharagpur’s cutting-edge research with z21 Ventures’ investment expertise, empowering student entrepreneurs to make a global impact.

The accelerator will welcome up to 10 dynamic teams in its first cohort, providing year-round mentorship, strategic guidance, and seed funding to turn their ideas into reality. Participants will gain access to z21 Ventures’ extensive network of industry experts, successful founders, and experienced advisors, all focused on guiding them to market success. Furthermore, IIT Kharagpur will offer essential infrastructure support after graduation, ensuring a smooth transition from ideation to implementation.

Prof. V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur said, “Start-up Accelerator Program with z21 Ventures, founded by our esteemed IIT alumni, to launch the ‘KGP Forge Entrepreneur’ is a structured accelerator program created to teach the students about company building, basic company finance and company law, fundraising etc. It is a significant step towards empowering our B.Tech, M.Tech, and PhD students. This collaboration aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the mentorship, resources, financial support and professional networks necessary to transform their ideas into successful startups. IIT KGP can significantly contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem of India to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will drive India’s entrepreneurial future and create jobs.”

“We are deeply honoured to partner with our alma mater, IIT Kharagpur, to prioritize entrepreneurship and propel it to the forefront of the student experience,” added Raj Singh, General Partner at z21 Ventures.

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