COEP Technological University to Host Eighth Edition of Pune Startup Fest, Strengthening Student Driven Entrepreneurship
COEP Technological University is set to host the eighth edition of the Pune Startup Fest (PSF), reaffirming its position as a leading student-driven platform for entrepreneurship, innovation, and startup engagement. The upcoming edition with Vivicta as the title sponsor and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) as the power sponsor builds on a strong legacy of fostering early-stage innovation and strengthening Pune’s startup ecosystem.
One of the major highlights of Pune Startup Fest is Pitchers Valley, a structured startup pitching platform that enables founders to present their ideas directly to investors and mentors. Complementing this is Lightning Pitch, a fast-paced pitching format that emphasizes clarity of thought, market understanding, and concise communication. These sessions will be led by a distinguished panel comprising Mr. Sanjay Mehta, Founder and Partner at 100X.vc; Mr. Mohit Gulati, CIO and Managing Partner at ITI Growth Opportunities Fund; Mr. Anil Joshi, Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures; and Mr. Sushanto Mitra, Founder and CEO at LeadInvest.
The fest will be inaugurated by eminent guests Dr. Parul Patel, Former Group Director at ISRO, and Mr. Vyankatesh Kulkarni, Executive Director at Mercedes-Benz, underscoring the importance of collaboration between academia, industry and the startup ecosystem.
Further strengthening the strategic depth of the event, SRGF joins Pune Startup Fest 2026 as the Defence Strategic Technologies Partner, reinforcing the fest’s focus on innovation in critical and emerging technology domains.
A key feature of this year’s edition is the CXO Summit, a leadership-focused platform where India’s most influential decision-makers will deliberate on building, scaling, securing and future-proofing enterprises in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Adding to the distinguished lineup of experts, Mr. Chirag Tanna, Founder and Director of INK IDEÉ, will attend Pune Startup Fest 2026 on January 17–18 to mentor entrepreneurs on intellectual property strategy and navigating complex legal landscapes.
As it enters its eighth edition, Pune Startup Fest at COEP Technological University continues to stand as a testament to student initiative, sustained growth and entrepreneurial excellence, playing a vital role in shaping the future of India’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
