Objective: The Grand Pitch, the flagship fundraising event of the Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) at Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune (SIBM Pune), provides ambitious startups with a platform to raise capital, gain strategic insights, and accelerate their growth. Modelled on the high-stakes format of leading investor pitch platforms, The Grand Pitch brings together promising entrepreneurs and a distinguished panel of venture capitalists, angel investors, micro-VCs, industry leaders, and high-net-worth individuals, collectively contributing to an investment pool of up to INR 75 Crores for this edition. The Grand Pitch aims to create a platform where entrepreneurial vision meets investment opportunity, enabling founders to validate their businesses, strengthen their strategies, and transform potential into scalable success. Eligibility Criteria
Operational Ventures: The startup must be an active, operational venture with a demonstrated business model and, where applicable, revenue traction.
Registration: The startup must be officially registered as a legal business entity.
Authenticity: All information and documents submitted by the startup must be accurate, authentic, and verifiable. Any misrepresentation of information may result in disqualification.
Founder Participation: At least one founder or authorised representative of the venture must be available to participate in the prescribed pitching rounds.
Investment Readiness: Startups should have a clearly defined funding requirement and be prepared to discuss their proposed investment terms with prospective investors. Event Stages Screening
Round Dates: 17th September 2026 - 24th September 2026 Participants will submit a comprehensive pitch deck highlighting their venture, problem statement, solution, market opportunity, business model, traction, financials, and founding team. The pitch deck should clearly communicate the startup’s value proposition, competitive advantage, growth potential, and funding requirements. Submissions will be evaluated based on predefined criteria including market opportunity, innovation, business viability, traction, scalability, financial potential, and strength of the founding team. Any misrepresentation or falsification of information may result in immediate disqualification. Preliminary Round – Online Pitch
Presentation Dates: 28th September 2026 - 03rd October 2026 Shortlisted startups from the Screening Round will present their ventures before the evaluation panel. Founders will be expected to demonstrate their startup’s scalability, differentiation, market potential, traction, and financial viability. The round will enable the evaluation panel to conduct an in-depth assessment of the venture and its potential for investment. Selected startups will advance to the Mentoring Phase and subsequently to the Grand Finale. Mentorship Phase –
Venue
SIBM Pune, Lavale Hilltop Campus
Pune Division, India
Online Dates: 04th October 2026 - 09th October 2026 Finalist startups will undergo a focused mentoring phase with experienced industry experts, entrepreneurs, and investors. Mentors will provide strategic guidance to help founders identify gaps and strengthen their business models. The phase will focus on refining business strategy, financial projections, market positioning, scalability, and investment readiness. Founders will also have the opportunity to incorporate relevant feedback and polish their final pitch ahead of the Grand Finale.
Grand Finale - Offline Date: 13th October 2026
Venue: SIBM Pune The finalist startups will pitch their ventures before a distinguished panel of investors at the Grand Finale of The Grand Pitch Season 5. Founders will present their final investment propositions and engage directly with investors through a high-stakes pitch and interaction. The Grand Finale will serve as the defining stage of the competition, providing selected ventures with the opportunity to secure funding, strategic partnerships, mentorship, and visibility.