Startup funding and entrepreneurship platform Ideabaaz has announced the launch of the Ideabaaz Startup Fest 2026, a five-day event aimed at connecting entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and industry leaders. Scheduled to be held from August 26 to 30, 2026 in New Delhi, the festival is expected to bring together more than 300 startups and over 150 investors from India and abroad.

The event builds on the visibility generated by Ideabaaz’s inaugural television season, which aired on Zee TV and streamed on ZEE5. Organisers say the festival will serve as a comprehensive platform for startup discovery, funding opportunities, mentorship and networking.

Centred around the theme ‘Idea Aapka. Paisa Humara.’, the initiative seeks to help founders bridge the gap between innovation and capital by providing direct access to investors, business mentors and ecosystem enablers. The event will feature a large-scale startup exhibition, live pitching sessions, networking opportunities, workshops and startup awards.

A key highlight of the festival will be the Ideabaaz Cohort and Demo Day programme. Applications for the programme opened on June 1, 2026, and 50 startups from across the country will be selected for six weeks of mentorship, business coaching and investor-readiness training. At the end of the programme, the top 10 startups will present their business ideas live before an audience of more than 150 investors, including venture capital firms, angel investors, family offices and investment syndicates.

The organisers expect the Ideabaaz Demo Day to emerge as one of the largest startup funding platforms in India this year. The event is also expected to attract prominent business personalities and celebrity investors alongside leading venture capitalists looking to identify promising ventures.

To further enhance visibility for participating entrepreneurs, the Demo Day and Startup Awards Grand Finale will be streamed on a national OTT platform, allowing founders to showcase their innovations to audiences beyond the event venue.

Speaking about the initiative, Jeet Wagh, Founder and CEO of Ideabaaz, said that despite the rapid growth of India’s startup ecosystem, many entrepreneurs continue to face challenges in accessing the right networks, mentorship and funding opportunities.

He said the festival has been designed to bring together founders, investors and ecosystem stakeholders on a single platform, creating meaningful opportunities for growth and collaboration. Wagh added that the initiative is intended to evolve into a long-term ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs through strategic partnerships, dedicated programmes and year-round engagement.

Apart from investment opportunities, the event will also host 50 startup awards recognising achievements across categories such as innovation, business growth, resilience and social impact. Participants will have access to specialised workshops, mentoring sessions and networking opportunities across sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech, climate technology, healthcare, manufacturing and direct-to-consumer businesses.