THE ECONOMIC TIMES STARTUP AWARDS

The Economic Times Startup Awards have been instituted to celebrate the finest and the bravest who risked everything to launch a new enterprise. It is a recognition of the sweat and tears that went into shaping what will drive the nation’s economic engines tomorrow. The awards salute the entrepreneurs and also seek to inspire the dreamers and daredevils in all of us.

Through the Startup Awards, we strive to engage with startups and investors, identify the deserving startups and celebrate the vaulting ambition and skills of some of India’s best-known entrepreneurs and investors who have built and mentored the country’s fastest growing startups. We recognize excellence in nine categories Startup of the Year, Woman Ahead, Top Innovator, Bootstrap Champ, Midas Touch (Best Investor), Social Enterprise, Best on Campus, Comeback Kid and CEO of the Year.

AWARD CATEGORIES

SYear

STARTUP OF THE YEAR

The startup that has displayed the greatest growth over the last year and has the potential to become a blue-chip corporation.
innova

TOP INNOVATOR

This award will recognize innovations that have the potential to launch a business or give it a big boost. It should be an original idea that is core to the business.
BES

BEST ON CAMPUS

This award will recognize a startup founded by a student while studying, that should now be shaping up as a commercial enterprise.
WMR

ET-FACEBOOK
WOMAN AHEAD

A startup launched and led by a woman that demonstrates superior performance in its competitive space.
BSR

BOOTSTRAP CHAMP

The startup that has shown great growth without external funding of any sort (excluding family and friends) and has the potential to scale up into a large enterprise.
kidd

COMEBACK KID

This award will be bestowed upon that extraordinary entrepreneur who grew stronger from his or her failure and bounced back with a successful subsequent business.
sac

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

This award seeks to recognize the best startup that offers a product or service as a solution to society’s most pressing problems.
mti

MIDAS TOUCH - BEST INVESTOR

This one’s reserved for an investor who displayed the best investment acumen over the last year defined as an exit, early investment in a notable startup, or realization of an earlier investment.

TIMELINE

Phase 1

APRIL  2018

Inviting nominations from the startup community

Phase 2

MAY-JUNE  2018

Shortlisting of the nominations by ET Editors and Knowledge Partners

Phase 3

23 JULY  2018

Jury Meet − review of the shortlisted nominations by a closed-door jury, which will decide the winner for each of the 8 categories

Phase 4

17 AUGUST  2018

Award Ceremony