Newton School of Technology, a neo-university focused on empowering the next generation of tech leaders and entrepreneurs, has unveiled “StartX,” an innovative seed fund programme, designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to go beyond the regular course curriculum and develop impactful solutions during college years. The fund was officially announced by two successful leaders and visionaries, Pratik Poddar, Partner, Nexus Venture Partners and entrepreneur Varun Mayya, at NST’s Pune campus in Ajeenkya DY Patil University.
In a one-of-a-kind seed fund, StartX will provide funding, mentorship, and resources to help students develop tech-driven products tackling real-world problems, fostering a culture of bold ideas and transformative innovation. The programme, which has a funding amount of one crore, will allow students to pitch their startup ideas to industry experts, venture capitalists, angel investors, and other industry stakeholders to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. It aims to assist students in bringing great ideas to life and producing creative solutions to drive India’s tech future by cultivating an entrepreneurial and innovative culture on campus.
The funding programme will provide 360-degree support to students throughout the development of solutions, from creation to revenue generation. Beginning with training with industry professionals on lean models and product development and fireside chats with established startups, each student can raise up to ten lakhs from the fund to help launch their idea.
Speaking at the launch, Siddharth Maheshwari, Co-founder of Newton School, said:
Young Indians are bursting with energy and ideas to shape the future but lack guidance and resources. At NST, our curriculum fosters and nurtures innovation and creative thinking to thrive, experiment, experience and lead. Technology remains the core of everything we do at NST, and therefore, with the launch of our seed fund programme “StartX”, we want to empower students to turn their ideas into user-focused, scalable and impactful solutions. With our robust network of VCs and entrepreneurs, students will receive top-notch guidance throughout the programme.
Even before the launch of “Newton StartX,” students at Newton School of Technology have showcased their entrepreneurial spirit. In their first year, they pitched ideas to leading VCs and developed innovative solutions, including hydroponics systems, AI-powered study companions, and SaaS tools. From the outset, students have connected with industry leaders, such as [insert names from orientation], gaining invaluable insights and mentorship. This foundation of hands-on experience and industry exposure sets the stage for “StartX” to accelerate its journey of innovation and impact.
Pratik Poddar, Partner at Nexus Venture Partners, one of the leading global VC firms and an investor in Newton School, added:
Entrepreneurship isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment; it’s about taking bold steps and executing relentlessly. The most important thing to do is listen to your users, understand their pain points, and build solutions that truly address them. Programmes like StartX provide an invaluable platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life from day zero.
Founded by Nishant Chandra and Siddharth Maheshwari, Newton School has been at the forefront of higher education curricula, focusing on innovation, research, and preparing students for a change with technological excellence and driving economic growth. The company aims to transform India into a hotbed of world-changing ideas by investing in young Indians and empowering them to make a difference, fostering tech innovation and positioning India globally. With the launch of StartX, the platform reaffirms its role as a catalyst for entrepreneurial success, empowering students to transform ideas into impactful businesses by bridging the gap between academia and the practical application of knowledge.
