Y Combinator, an influential startup accelerator, hosted its first-ever Startup School India in Bengaluru – marking a landmark moment in its engagement with one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems globally.
The response was overwhelming. Over 25,000 applications were received within 48 hours, with approximately 2,500 participants shortlisted and 2,250+ founders, builders, and operators attending the high-energy, one-day program.
The event brought together some of India’s most prominent startup voices, including Harshil Mathur (Co-founder – Razorpay), Aadit Palicha (Co-founder – Zepto), Vidit Aatrey (Co-founder – Meesho), and Lalit Keshre (Co-founder – Groww), alongside Y Combinator partners who engaged directly with the audience on building and scaling globally relevant companies.
The agenda focused on candid, real-world insights – from building from zero to navigating scale, fundraising, product-market fit, and global expansion – combined with high-impact networking and founder interactions. A strong emphasis was placed on the next wave of AI-led innovation, with founders exploring how India can build globally competitive, technology-first companies.
The event was delivered in collaboration with SKIL Events, who partnered with Y Combinator to execute the experience on-ground in India.
Ramanpreet Singh, Vice President – SKIL Events, said, “The energy in the room was electric – you could literally feel the hunger. Founders wanting to learn, build, collaborate, and be part of something far bigger than themselves. What stood out wasn’t just the scale but also the quality of conversations, the depth of ideas, and the sheer ambition in the room. There’s a clear shift – builders in India are not just participating anymore; they’re thinking global from day one, especially in the AI and deep-tech space.
From an execution standpoint, pulling this together at scale, within compressed timelines, while ensuring every touchpoint – venue, movement, security, F&B, and overall experience – came together seamlessly made this one of the most intense and rewarding projects we’ve delivered.
If this was the first, the next one has to be bigger, bolder, and far more immersive. Because what we witnessed here… is just the beginning.”
Startup School India signals a strong step forward in connecting Indian founders with the global startup ecosystem – and if the response is anything to go by, the appetite for such platforms is only getting stronger.
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