Founder’s Grant
Challenge 2027

• The Founder’s Grant Challenge 2027 is organised by Skill Grimoire Private Limited, Bengaluru (“Skill Grimoire”, “we”, “us”). This is the first edition.
• Teams identify a real problem in Indian society or in their own community and propose a practical, original way to solve it.
• You don’t need a finished product, funding or experience.

• Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate (UG) or postgraduate (PG) programme at a university or college in India, in any stream.
• Team of 2–4 members. Solo entries are not accepted.
• All members of a team should study at the same university or college.
• Each team names one faculty member from their institution as mentor. A faculty member may mentor more than one team.
• A student can be a member of only one team.
• There is no limit on the number of teams from one college.
• We may ask for a college ID card or a letter from your institution at any stage to confirm eligibility.

• Registration is free. There is no fee at any stage.
• Registration opens on 8 November 2026 and closes on 31 January 2027 at 11:59 pm IST. Late entries are not accepted.
• The team lead registers once for the whole team, on this page only.
• After submitting, you get a Registration ID. Quote it in every message to us.
• All details must be true and complete. To correct anything after submitting, email foundersgrant@skillgrimoire.com from the team lead’s email with your Registration ID before registration closes. Please don’t register again.

• One idea proposal as a PDF, up to 10 MB. We suggest no more than 10 pages, covering the problem, evidence, your solution, what it needs, expected impact and your team.
• Optional: a short video pitch, ideally under 3 minutes, as a YouTube (Unlisted) or Google Drive link that anyone with the link can open.
• Choose the one sector, out of ten, that best fits your idea.

• Any data, figures or statistics in your entry must come from official Government of India or State Government websites, with the source link cited.
• Data from other sources, such as news sites, blogs, private reports or AI tools, will not be accepted as evidence.
• You may use AI tools for research and writing. The idea and the plan must be your own, and AI is never a source of data.

• Your entry must be your team’s own original work.
• Copied or plagiarised entries are disqualified at any stage, including after results are announced.
• If your idea builds on someone else’s work, say so clearly in your proposal.

• Registration (8 Nov 2026 – 31 Jan 2027) → Preliminary Screening → Sector Semi-finals → Grand Finals (7–9 May 2027, Bengaluru).
• Teams compete within their sector until the semi-finals. One finalist team comes from each sector, making 10 finalists.
• At the Grand Finals, prizes are decided on the strength of the idea and its innovation, not on sector.
• Entries are judged on Problem Clarity, Solution & Innovation, Feasibility, Impact, and Team & Presentation.
• Dates and format for screening and semi-finals are shared with shortlisted teams by email.
• The jury’s decision at every stage is final.

• The minimum prize pool is ₹3,00,000, and it may grow. All 10 finalist teams receive cash prizes and gifts, and the winners receive Founder’s Grant support to take their idea forward.
• Prize amounts for each position will be announced before the Grand Finals.
• Prize money is paid to the team through the process we share with winners, and is subject to applicable tax laws.

• By registering, you allow Skill Grimoire to use the details and materials you submit to run the challenge, to contact you about it and about Skill Grimoire’s programmes, and to showcase participants and finalists (names, institution, photos and idea summaries).
• We do not sell your personal data.
• Your entry is shared with the jury and the organising team.
• Skill Grimoire may develop submitted ideas in the future, either together with the team or on its own.

• Be honest and respectful with other teams, the jury and the organisers.
• False information, misconduct or any attempt to influence the jury leads to disqualification.

• We may update these rules, dates or the format if needed. Changes are posted on this page and sent to registered teams by email.

No. You need a clear understanding of the problem, a workable idea and a realistic plan.

Yes. There is no fee at any stage of the challenge.

No. All members of a team should study at the same university or college, and your faculty mentor should be from that institution.

Yes, for research and writing. The idea and plan must be your own, and any data must come from official government websites, not from AI.

Compress it using any free “compress PDF” tool, or lower the image quality before exporting. Large photos are usually the cause.

Email foundersgrant@skillgrimoire.com from the team lead’s email with your Registration ID before 31 January 2027. Please don’t register a second time.

We contact the team lead by email. Keep an eye on your inbox, and check the spam folder too.

Email foundersgrant@skillgrimoire.com, or call or WhatsApp +91 63006 90221.