Applications for the Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge (YEC) 2027 close on 15 October 2026 — founders have just over a week left to apply. The flagship national startup challenge runs under the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders' Dialogue 2027, supported by Startup India/DPIIT and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Eligibility is broad: startup founders and working professionals aged 18–35, applying as individuals or teams of up to three, with free participation at every stage. Startups must meet DPIIT Startup India criteria or be a registered MSME with an industry-ready product built for a social cause. Applications go through the MY Bharat Portal (VBYLD 2027 → Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge).
The competition runs as a four-stage funnel — IDEA → BUILD → PITCH → IMPACT — a national stage for technology-driven solutions to real-life social challenges, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond the competition itself, the real prize is national visibility and a direct line into the government's startup apparatus.
Why it matters for founders
Free to enter, DPIIT-backed, and ending in a national pitch stage — YEC 2027 is one of the cheapest visibility plays available to early-stage founders this month. Even making the shortlist puts your startup in front of policymakers and ecosystem players you'd otherwise never reach. If you're eligible, apply before 15 October 2026.