Chandigarh University launches $15M Campus Tank Season 2 for Indian startups
Chandigarh University has launched the second season of its Campus Tank program, offering a $15 million funding pool to help student and alumni entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses. The initiative builds on last year’s version, which provided seed capital, mentorship, and market access to early-stage startups across India.
The program arrives as India’s startup funding in Q3 2026 rose 5% year-over-year to $2.2 billion, but the increase came from fewer deals, per Inc42. Growth-stage investments also surpassed late-stage ones for the first time in two years, a shift we noted earlier. Campus Tank’s focus on untested ideas stands apart from that pattern.
The announcement doesn’t share details on how startups will be chosen, how much each might receive, or what happened with Season 1’s participants. That leaves open questions about whether the program can help founders move from early concepts to scalable ventures. India’s deep-tech startups, for example, often look outside the country for funding and growth, as we covered in September.
For founders, the $15 million pool is an alternative to traditional accelerators or venture capital. Whether it can offer more than money—like follow-on funding or industry connections—will shape its impact. Applications are now open.
Sources: prnewswire.com
“A $15M university-backed funding pool shows one way institutions are stepping in to support early-stage Indian founders, even as investors elsewhere focus on fewer, more established companies.”
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