Y Combinator hosted its first Startup School India in Bengaluru, marking an engagement with the startup ecosystem.
The response included over 25,000 applications received within 48 hours, with approximately 2,500 participants shortlisted and 2,250+ founders, builders, and operators attending the one-day program.
The event brought together 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 with the audience on building and scaling companies.
The agenda focused on insights regarding building from zero, navigating scale, fundraising, product-market fit, and global expansion, combined with networking and founder interactions.
Emphasis was placed on the next wave of AI-led innovation, with founders exploring how India can build technology-first companies.
The event was delivered in collaboration with SKIL Events, who partnered with Y Combinator to execute the experience 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,” Singh added.
Startup School India signals a step forward in connecting Indian founders with the startup ecosystem.
