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Campus Fund, Investing in Student-led Startups, Unveils the 3rd Edition of Its Report – State of Student Entrepreneurship in India

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#CampusFund--Campus Fund, an entrepreneurial take to venture capital, focused on investing in student-led startups in India, today released the 3rd Edition of its Flagship Report on the State of Student Entrepreneurship in India. The report draws insights from interactions with over 4,800 student-led startups in India in 2023.


Founded in late 2020 by Goodera’s Founder Richa Bajpai, Campus Fund invests in current students, or graduates/dropouts in previous three years. With 27 portfolio companies under its hood, ranging from SpaceTech to BioTech, GenAI, SaaS amongst others, the fund is in search of Alpha's building out of their dorm rooms. “It is the belief in the youth that has manifested in the form of Campus Fund. We are extremely grateful to have this brilliant opportunity which comes with an equally huge responsibility,” said Bajpai.

Key Insights from the Report:

  • Top 5 sectors where students like to build are Services (12%), Consumer Products & Brands (9.8%) followed by Edtech (9.3%), HealthTech (7.68%) and DeepTech (6.05%).
  • Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani remains the top university for student startups, followed by Delhi University and all the National Institutes of Technology put together. The predominant educational background of student founders is B.Tech, followed by MBA and MSc./M.Tech degrees
  • 48% of startups were launched while their founders were still in their dorm rooms, while 52% were initiated by young professionals within three years of graduation

According to the Report:

  • 33% (35 out of 108) of Indian unicorns are Student-Led as per Campus Fund's criteria
  • There are 460 State Universities, 128 Deemed to be Universities, 56 Central Universities, 430 Private Universities and 167 Institutes of National Importance. Other institutions include 55,092 colleges as government degree colleges, private colleges, and standalone institutes in India

"The venture capital landscape is undergoing a seismic shift in India, and Campus Fund stands at the forefront of this transformation. Their unwavering commitment to nurturing student-driven startups is not just a business model; it's a testament to the power of disruption," said Desh Deshpande, Board of Trustees of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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