MAM
Startups take centre stage as UpStart 2025 gives ideas a lift-off
MUMBAI: Bengaluru didn’t just host a startup event, it felt like India’s entrepreneurial pulse kicked into overdrive. UpStart 2025, the flagship national pitching competition by Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kanpur, touched down in the city with its biggest-ever edition, turning the Davanam Sarovar Hotel into a buzzing arena of ideas, ambition and unapologetic hustle. With 20 plus dignitaries, including global VCs from South Korea and Singapore, the atmosphere crackled with the energy only a startup capital can conjure.
The event showcased 24 plus early-stage startups spanning technology, healthcare, defence, ed-tech, fashion, sustainability and F&B. In a Shark Tank-style live arena, founders had 7 minutes to pitch and 5 minutes for grilling, facing sharp questions from investors who came armed with appetite and scrutiny.
The competition reached viewers beyond Bengaluru too, it was telecast live with StartupTV and iQue Ventures, pushing early-stage innovation straight onto national screens.
These selected startups will now progress through multiple screening rounds and in-person mentoring sessions before heading to the grand finals at the IIT Kanpur campus on January 25, 2026, part of E-Summit’25.
And Bengaluru wasn’t the only pit stop: editions in Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad have already seen 23 plus startups pitch across fintech, health tech, deep tech, Web3, cybersecurity and more. The circuit now rolls into Mumbai on December 6, before finalists emerge.
The organising team from Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kanpur summed up the day with characteristic clarity, “Bengaluru represents the heartbeat of the Indian startup ecosystem. Today’s event showcased highly innovative founders building for the future. We remain committed to helping them reach the pinnacle of success.”
Heavy-hitters from across the venture landscape turned up, including:
• Unicorn Incubator South Korea
• Emphasis Investments
• Ankur Capital
• Thaksil Ventures
• IAN Ventures
…along with several others evaluating the country’s next breakthrough ventures.
Delhi-NCR’s earlier edition featured VCs from GMR Group, Inflection Point Ventures, Finvolve, GrowX Ventures, and more signalling the rising investor appetite for UpStart’s national pipeline.
Across its editions, UpStart has transformed into a rare confluence where founders gain:
• network access
• industry-veteran feedback
• storytelling refinement
• visibility across cities
• cross-sector insight
For many, it’s not just a business competition, it’s a career-shaping accelerator, and a rare chance to pressure-test ideas under the brightest lights.
With Bengaluru wrapped, Hyderabad buzzing, Delhi-NCR completed and Mumbai next in line, UpStart 2025 is rolling across India with the force of a nationwide innovation tour.
If early signs are anything to go by, the finals at IIT Kanpur may just witness India’s next big headline-maker, one pitch at a time.
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
