Indian Startup Premier League

ABOUT THE LEAGUE

Indian Startup Premier League (ISPL)

The Indian Startup Premier League (ISPL) is a city-led, on-ground cricket league designed exclusively for the startup ecosystem—where founders step onto the field, engage with peers, and participate in structured capital conversations with prominent investors.

ISPL blends competitive cricket, curated networking, and founder pitching into a premium, experience-driven format. It is built to foster genuine relationships within the startup and investor community, in an environment that is energetic yet composed, competitive yet collaborative.

Selected founders participate as city-based teams, play tournament-format matches, and present their ventures to a curated panel of venture investors, with the opportunity to explore funding of up to ₹2 crore.

CITY-WISE TEAMS

ISPL operates through seven city-based teams, each representing a major startup hub and guided by a respected ecosystem leader.

Mumbai Unicorns

Founding Team Mentor: Harsh Lal

Bengaluru Silicon Strikers

Founding Team Mentor: Ankush Talwar

Delhi Disruptors

Founding Team Mentor: Arjun Verma

Hyderabad Hustlers

Founding Team Mentor: Chaithanya Dora Surapureddy

Kolkata Scalers

Founding Team Mentor: Binod Homagai

Ahmedabad Titans

Founding Team Mentor: Kunal Popat

Pune Forge

Founding Team Mentor: Jitendra Chouksey

Collectively, companies represented across the league are valued at ₹12,000+ crore, reflecting the depth and credibility of the participating ecosystem.

THE FORMAT

League Structure

• Founders are grouped city-wise
• 7 teams: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune
• 12 participants per team (10 playing members, 2 substitutes)

Founding Team Mentor

Each team is supported by a Founding Team Mentor—a respected founder and ecosystem leader who:

• Mentors the team on and off the field
• Acts as a brand ambassador for the city
• May or may not invest directly

Founding Team VC

Each team is also associated with a Founding Team VC, a senior venture investor who:

• Participates in the investor pitching panel
• Engages with founders during capital discussions

EVENT FLOW

Day 1 – Cricket League

• Group Stage matches (5 overs per side)
• Group A: Mumbai Unicorns, Bengaluru Silicon Strikers, Kolkata Scalers
• Group B: Delhi Disruptors, Hyderabad Hustlers, Ahmedabad Titans, Pune Forge
• Top teams progress to Semi-Finals and Finals
• ISPL Season Champions crowned

Day 2 – Founder Pitching

• Selected founders pitch in a semi-formal setting
• Each founder/team gets up to 40 minutes
• Pitching to 6–12 curated investors
• Opportunity to raise funding of up to ₹2 crore

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can participate in ISPL matches and pitching?

Participation is open to startup founders only (one founder per startup), meeting at least one of the following criteria:

• Minimum ₹1 crore ARR, or
• 5 lakh+ app downloads
• The league is sector-agnostic.

Is ISPL open to non-participants?

Yes. ISPL is open to ecosystem participants including investors, operators, professionals, students, and startup enthusiasts for networking and experience, even if they are not playing or pitching.

How are teams formed?

Teams are formed city-wise. Each team includes:

• 12 founders/investors from the same city
• One Founding Team Mentor
• One Founding Team VC

Where does the event take place?

ISPL is an on-ground event.

• Cricket matches and networking take place at the main venue
• Pitching sessions are conducted in a semi-formal, curated setting within the venue

How does scoring and progression work?

• Teams play group-stage matches
• Top teams advance to semi-finals
• Winners of semi-finals compete in the finals
• A total of 9 matches are played on Day 1

How are funding discussions taken forward post-event?

Post-event, Lakhani Financial Services, ISPL’s partner investment banking firm, supports founders in closing any soft commitment discussions over a period of up to three months following the league.

FINAL NOTE

ISPL is a curated experience, not a mass participation event.

It is designed for founders and ecosystem participants who value credibility, competition, and capital-led conversations—brought together in a format that goes beyond conventional networking.

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