Campus Tank: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Campus Tank is a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2025 as India’s first university-led startup launchpad designed to empower young entrepreneurs under the age of 30. Spearheaded by Chandigarh University in collaboration with Apna (India’s largest early talent platform) and Venture Catalysts (a leading early-stage investment firm and incubator), Campus Tank offers a unique platform for students and young innovators to pitch their startup ideas, seek funding, and receive mentorship. It stands out as a significant step in nurturing India’s vibrant startup ecosystem, providing access not only to a funding pool of $1 million but also to expert guidance and incubation facilities. This initiative encapsulates the synergy between academia, industry, and investment with the goal of transforming student ideas into successful startups. Here, we explore ten crucial aspects of Campus Tank that highlight its importance, features, and potential impact on India’s entrepreneurial future.

1. The Genesis of Campus Tank

Launched in 2025, Campus Tank emerged from a collaboration between Chandigarh University, Apna, and Venture Catalysts. The initiative was publicly unveiled in Chandigarh with key dignitaries like Rajya Sabha MP and Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu. The motivation behind the launch centered on empowering India’s next generation of entrepreneurs by providing a university-based platform akin to the popular TV show Shark Tank but focused on student innovators. Campus Tank serves as a launchpad where young founders can bring fresh ideas from college campuses directly to investors, combining education, funding, and mentorship.

2. Who Can Participate?

Campus Tank is exclusively targeted at young founders and co-founders who are under the age of 30. This focus on youth allows the program to tap into innovative ideas emerging from students currently enrolled in academic institutions or recent graduates. Participants can register for the competition through the dedicated online portal up until August 14, 2025, submitting business plans or startup ideas. This age and academic linkage ensure that the platform truly nurtures early-stage entrepreneurship, giving young dreamers a chance to transition into job providers rather than job seekers.

3. The $1 Million Funding Pool

One of the most attractive features of Campus Tank is its pledged funding pool of $1 million (approximately ₹8.5 crore) dedicated to supporting select startups. Founders compete for a share of this investment by presenting compelling business models to a panel of investors from Venture Catalysts. The availability of this sizable fund reflects confidence in India’s startup ecosystem and provides tangible financial impetus to help fledgling ventures scale operations and grow.

4. Incubation and Mentorship Support

Selected startups do not just receive funding but also benefit from incubation support provided through Chandigarh University’s Cube Founders Space. This includes immersive startup incubation, expert venture guidance, strategic ecosystem alliances, and opportunities to learn through training sessions and master classes. The holistic support system is designed to help startups refine products, strategy, and market penetration, thereby increasing their chances of success.

5. Alignment with National Startup Goals

Campus Tank strongly aligns with the Indian government’s 'Startup India' initiative launched in 2016. Rajya Sabha MP and Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu emphasized that Campus Tank aims to nurture the growth of startups, thereby supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into the world’s second-largest startup ecosystem by 2047. By focusing on youth entrepreneurship, this initiative complements nationwide efforts to create employment and foster innovation across India.

6. Chandigarh University’s Contribution

Since its inception in 2012, Chandigarh University has been a hub for student innovation, having fostered over 150 startups across multiple sectors including agriculture, Edutech, Medtech, Fintech, Blockchain, and Waste Management. The university’s Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI) ranks first nationally in patent filings, underscoring its commitment to research and innovation. Campus Tank builds on this strong foundation by providing another robust avenue for entrepreneurial growth directly through university support.

7. The Role of Apna and Venture Catalysts

Apna, India’s largest platform for job seekers, brings its vast talent network and opportunity creation expertise to Campus Tank. Apna’s Vice President Dr. Preet Deep Singh highlighted that the platform is about creating livelihoods and nation-building by supporting young innovators. Venture Catalysts contributes significant early-stage mentorship and investment expertise, positioning themselves as key ecosystem enablers to find and back promising startups early. Their combined efforts enhance the chances of startup success significantly.

8. The Pitch and Demo Day Event

Campus Tank culminates in a high-profile Demo Day, held at Chandigarh University, where selected startups pitch live to a panel of investors and industry experts from Venture Catalysts. This event offers startups exposure to key stakeholders, including potential funding announcements and live evaluations. Demo Day serves as a pivotal platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase their solutions and receive real-time feedback, networking opportunities, and possibly secure final investments.

9. Impact on India's Startup Ecosystem

India’s startup landscape has grown exponentially over the last decade, becoming the world’s third-largest ecosystem with over 176,000 startups and 118 unicorns as of 2025. Campus Tank contributes to this momentum by focusing on younger innovators and smaller cities, where over 51% of startups have emerged. Each supported startup has the potential to create significant direct and indirect employment, with each venture creating an average of 11 direct jobs. This initiative embodies a catalytic force that could empower numerous future job creators.

10. Future Prospects and Vision

Campus Tank is designed not just as a one-off contest but as a sustained ecosystem for fostering student entrepreneurship. With continuous partnerships, mentorship, and investment, the program aims to nurture hundreds of startups, potentially creating a new generation of unicorns by 2047, aligned with government ambitions. By empowering students to take early bold steps into entrepreneurship, Campus Tank sets the stage for long-term innovation, economic growth, and transformation in India’s startup narrative.

Conclusion

Campus Tank represents a pioneering advancement in India’s startup ecosystem, uniquely merging academic institutions, investment firms, and professional networks to ignite entrepreneurial spirit among youth. With its dedicated funding, expert mentorship, and structured support, it offers an unparalleled platform for campus-born startups to flourish. As India strides toward becoming a global startup powerhouse, initiatives like Campus Tank underscore the importance of empowering the youngest innovators who will shape the country's economic future. Will Campus Tank become the birthplace of India’s next wave of unicorns? Only time will tell, but its foundation looks promising.