Hon’ble Minister, Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI and Investment, Promotion, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ Launches ‘Campus Tank’

Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh - India’s Biggest University-Led Startup Launchpad for Young Innovators was launched by Shri Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI and Investment Promotion in the Government of Uttar Pradesh at India’s first AI-augmented multidisciplinary university, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, to boost innovation & entrepreneurship. It is a great initiative to provide young entrepreneurs with expert mentorship & financial support to turn their ideas into reality.

Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh is a groundbreaking initiative created in collaboration with Cube (Founders Space), backed by Apna, Venture Catalysts, & AICTE, to provide a platform for young innovators under 30 to showcase bold ideas, build ventures, and compete for opportunities that can transform their dreams into reality with a pledged funding of $6 Million.

Over 1,000 startups have joined under this initiative, out of which 10 promising startups have already presented their ideas to the investors and secured funding. These selected startups impressed investors with their creativity, scalability, and market potential, successfully securing the required funding. This success demonstrates the effectiveness of the Campus Tank model and the entrepreneurial ecosystem nurtured by Chandigarh University, which is why the university has earmarked pledged funding of $6 million (approximately 50 Cr.) for this program to assist young entrepreneurs associated with ‘Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh’ at all the stages of their startup journey - from an idea to the final launch. The initiative’s prime objective is to handle the most critical problem faced by new startups: access to find funders and seed capital. With the help of this easy funding, the startups will be able to connect with mentors, incubation facilities, and networking opportunities.

During the launch of ‘Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh’, Hon’ble Minister, Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI and Investment, Promotion, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ said that a university is a laboratory where “man-making” transforms into “nation-building.” & Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, is working dedicatedly in this direction. The university’s efforts are commendable in modernizing education and aligning it with global standards.

Hon’ble minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji over the past eleven years, India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with the number of startups growing at a rate of 12–15 percent annually. Our double-engine government has taken several important steps to promote innovation in Uttar Pradesh. Chandigarh University’s TBI (Technology Business Incubation) Center has incubated more than 200 startups on campus, out of which 11 startups have achieved an annual turnover exceeding ?50 lakh.

‘Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh’ will take ideas and innovations to new heights. ‘Campus Tank’ has emerged as a unique platform where young innovators can present their ideas before industry experts, mentors, and investors, helping them scale their ventures to new heights.

After the launch of Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh, Shri Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI and Investment Promotion in the Government of Uttar Pradesh, unveiled ‘CU - AI Space’, a dedicated collaborative environment designed for students, startups, and industry professionals to work together in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The ‘CU-AI Space’ has advanced technology and AI-powered tools to inspire young innovators to develop solutions for real-world challenges through research, development, and innovation.

Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu Ji, Chancellor of Chandigarh University and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), talked about the importance of youth in nation-building, and said Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh is a revolutionary initiative and will shape the next generation of India’s entrepreneurs. Moving on, he further added that ‘Our vision is to empower young innovators and founders to become key contributors to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s national mission of building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. College and university campuses are no longer just centers of education - they have become engines of innovation and economic growth. Through Campus Tank, we are committed to nurturing future unicorns that will showcase Indian talent on the global stage.”

The launch of Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh witnessed a gathering of respected founders and guests like Dr. Preet Deep Singh, Vice President, Apna & Blue Machines AI, Mr. Ayush Dubey, Incubation Manager - Venture Catalysts, Shri Anurag Yadav (IAS), Principal Secretary, Information Technology and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Panneerselvam ( PS ) Madanagopa - CEO, MeitY Startup Hub & Director, Digital India, Mr. Arush Lakhani- VP Sales & Revenue, Cloudeagle.AI (YC '21), Ms. Santhoshi Sushma, Buddhirahu - Autocracy Machinery, Mr. Vishal Vivek - Vcat, Ashish Shrivastava - Financial Software & System Private Limited, & Shivam Verma - Chat360, who committed to Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh and praised for its bold vision, real-world support ecosystem, and commitment to building the next generation of unicorns.

Campus Tank Uttar Pradesh, a great & unique ecosystem for young entrepreneurs to connect directly with industry experts, mentors, and venture capital investors to start their entrepreneurial journey. The platform not only provides conceptual and strategic guidance but also offers the incubation support and partnerships required to transform ideas into sustainable, successful businesses.

Along with the launch of Campus Tank and the unveiling of ‘CU AI Space’ at India’s first AI-augmented multidisciplinary university, CU-UP, it was already hosting an ‘Agentic AI Founders’ Hackathon - ‘0 to 1 - Hack with Uttar Pradesh’, to which, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Shri Nand Gopal Gupta Ji said, the resources are important to nurture talent, and tomorrow’s win belongs to today's research and technology. This hackathon is a meaningful initiative in that direction. Such events will help establish Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, as a leading AI hub. It will also serve as a milestone in promoting innovation and startups. Uttar Pradesh has a significant contribution in this endeavor, as the event plays a vital role in exploring and highlighting the innovative ideas of the youth of the state.