Chennai: IIT Madras Global, the strategic international arm of IIT Madras, has joined hands with Ideabaaz, India’s first media-integrated startup platform, to fuel the country’s startup ecosystem by bridging the urban–rural innovation divide. The initiative aims to empower founders from Tier 2 and 3 cities to scale their ideas from seed stage to unicorns and IPOs, providing them with mentorship, visibility, and access to global markets.
As the Knowledge and Research Partner, IIT Madras Global brings deep-tech expertise to Ideabaaz. Thirteen distinguished faculty members from IIT Madras will serve as mentors and jury members, guiding entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Selected top deep-tech startups from IIT Madras will also be spotlighted through a special feature on the platform, showcasing their groundbreaking innovations and entrepreneurial journeys.
“IIT Madras Global, as the Knowledge Partner of IDEABAAZ, is powering a transformative platform designed to foster inclusive innovation and empower grassroots entrepreneurship, bridging local ingenuity with global opportunities that create lasting social and economic impact,” said Thirumalai Madhavnarayan, CEO, IIT Madras Global.
“With Ideabaaz, our aim is to democratize entrepreneurship and show that innovation can come from anywhere – whether it’s a metro, a Tier 2 city, or the smallest town in India. By telling these stories in every Indian language, we want to prove that dreams have no boundaries, and neither should opportunities. With IIT Madras Global joining us, their trust and expertise lend immense credibility to this mission – giving entrepreneurs across Bharat access to cross-border visibility, cutting-edge innovation, world-class mentorship, and global capital,” said Jeet Wagh, Founder & CEO, Ideabaaz.
“Today, technology and innovation are ushering in a new era of inclusivity! And that’s where our vision of inclusivity at Ideabaaz and the deep-tech expertise of IIT Madras Global converge to create an impactful ecosystem to empower our startup community. This partnership, which aims to bring innovation and its high-impact applications rooted in our Bharat realities, has the potential to transform lives and create a huge societal impact,” added Mudit Kumar, Co-founder & COO, Ideabaaz.
The initiative integrates multiple platforms to maximize impact:
- Ideabaaz TV Show – Season 1 features 26 episodes broadcast nationwide on Zee Network and leading OTT platforms, reaching over 200 million households and showcasing 78 startups and grassroots innovators.
- Ideabaaz Expo and Dangal – A grassroots innovation fair and live Demo Day where rural entrepreneurs pitch ideas at village-level forums. The best innovations will be mentored, funded, and showcased nationally, connecting 100 top startups with over 1,000 global investors.
By combining television, digital outreach, and grassroots engagement, the partnership between IIT Madras Global and Ideabaaz seeks to create a sustainable national movement, positioning itself as the “Y Combinator of India” and driving the growth of India’s startup ecosystem from local ingenuity to global success.
