Chandigarh University launches Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh—India’s biggest university-led startup platform offering $6M funding, mentorship, and AI resources for student entrepreneurs.
Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, India’s first AI-augmented multidisciplinary institution, has launched Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh—the country’s largest university-led startup launchpad designed to empower young founders with strong mentorship and a $6 million (approx. ₹50 crore) pledged funding pool.
The initiative was inaugurated by Shri Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI, and Investment Promotion, Government of Uttar Pradesh. Campus Tank aims to accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup creation among students and youth under the age of 30.
A Revolutionary Platform for Young Innovators
Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh has been developed in collaboration with Cube (Founders Space), with strong backing from Apna, Venture Catalysts, and AICTE. This program supports young innovators as they transform bold ideas into scalable ventures.
So far, over 1,000 startups have enrolled, and 10 promising ventures have already secured investor funding, demonstrating high scalability, creativity, and market readiness. The initiative helps startups access mentorship, incubation, networking opportunities, and seed capital—solving one of the biggest challenges for early-stage founders.
Minister Highlights India’s Booming Startup Ecosystem
Speaking at the launch, Shri Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ emphasized that universities play a pivotal role in driving national development, calling them the foundation for creating future nation-builders. He appreciated Chandigarh University’s forward-thinking approach and alignment with global education standards.
The Minister highlighted that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership, India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with annual growth of 12–15%. He also applauded the Chandigarh University TBI (Technology Business Incubation) Center for incubating more than 200 startups, with 11 reaching annual revenue of ₹50 lakh+.
Launch of CU-AI.Space: A Collaborative AI Ecosystem
Following the Campus Tank inauguration, the Minister unveiled CU-AI.Space, a dedicated space equipped with advanced AI tools and tech infrastructure to help students, startups, and industry leaders collaborate on high-impact innovation.
The platform encourages research, product development, and real-world AI applications, enabling youth to build solutions for future global challenges.
A Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047
Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, highlighted Campus Tank’s pivotal role in realizing India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
He stated that universities are no longer only centers of education but engines of economic growth, producing job creators and global innovators. Campus Tank aims to nurture future unicorns that will spotlight India’s talent on the global stage.
Industry Leaders Back the Student Startup Movement
The launch witnessed participation from leading startup ecosystem contributors, including:
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Dr. Preet Deep Singh – Vice President, Apna & Blue Machines AI
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Mr. Ayush Dubey – Incubation Manager, Venture Catalysts
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Shri Anurag Yadav (IAS) – Principal Secretary, IT & Electronics, Govt. of UP
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Dr. Panneerselvam (PS) Madanagopa – CEO, MeitY Startup Hub
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Arush Lakhani – VP Sales & Revenue, Cloudeagle.AI (YC ’21)
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Santhoshi Sushma – Buddhirahu
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Vishal Vivek – Vcat
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Ashish Shrivastava – Financial Software & Systems Pvt. Ltd
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Shivam Verma – Chat360
These leaders praised Campus Tank for establishing a powerful support system to help build the next generation of unicorn startups.
Hackathon to Foster Agentic AI Founders
During the launch, CU-UP also hosted the Agentic AI Founders Hackathon – “0 to 1: Hack with Uttar Pradesh”, providing students hands-on exposure to real-world AI innovation.
The Minister applauded the hackathon as a gateway to talent development, positioning Chandigarh University as a future-ready AI innovation hub.
Conclusion
Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh is set to transform India’s student startup ecosystem by providing young innovators with the capital, mentorship, and infrastructure needed to launch successful ventures. With a powerful $6 million funding pool, industry partnerships, and AI-powered infrastructure, Chandigarh University is emerging as a global gateway for innovation, entrepreneurship, and the AI economy.
