Deadline - 28th February 2026

Objective

The IITK FinTech Spark Program is a flagship initiative at IIT Kanpur designed to nurture the next generation of innovators by supporting high-potential student teams in building market-ready solutions. Aligned with the donor’s expertise in FinTech, IITK FinTech Spark Program aims to empower students to identify real-world problems and convert them into impactful prototypes and early-stage ventures. IITK FinTech Spark Program bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world application by offering structured mentorship, financial support, industry exposure, and access to IIT Kanpur’s innovation ecosystem.


Eligibility Criteria

  • Open to all undergraduate students who have completed their 4th semester.
  • Participation allowed across all departments.
  • Applications must be submitted as teams of 2–3 students.

Purpose of IITK FinTech Spark Program

  • Cultivating a strong FinTech innovation pipeline within IIT Kanpur.
  • Empowering students to solve high-impact problems through entrepreneurship.
  • Providing structured support — from problem identification to prototype development.
  • Encouraging technology-driven thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Enabling transition into SIIC IIT Kanpur for long-term incubation and scale-up.

Why FinTech?

The program focuses exclusively on FinTech, inspired by the domain expertise of donor Mr. Lokvir Kapoor.

FinTech presents limitless opportunities in areas such as:


  • Digital payments
  • Lending & credit infrastructure
  • RegTech & compliance
  • Financial inclusion
  • Wealth Tech
  • Insurtech & risk modelling
  • Cybersecurity in finance
  • Wealth Tech

This focus ensures students solve real, emerging challenges with high market relevance.


Benefits to Students

Fund Support
4 lakh for each selected team to build their prototype.
Milestone Based Funding
Quarterly performance-based disbursement.
Masterclass
Year-long FinTech knowledge sessions.
Industry Immersion
Fully sponsored summer immersion + investor pitch.
Mentorship
Guidance from IITK faculty and industry experts.
Incubation
Opportunity to join SIIC for long-term growth.
Infrastructure Support
Access to IITK facilities.
Funding Pipeline
Eligibility for govt schemes like NIDHI EiR, BIG, TIDE 2.0.

Program Flow

  • Stage 1

    Call for Application

  • Stage 2

    Problem Statement Pitching

  • Stage 3

    Industry Immersion

  • Stage 4

    Final Pitch and Selection

  • Stage 5

    Funding and Incubation at SIIC

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for the IITK FinTech Spark Program ?

UG students (all departments) who completed 4th semester. Teams: 2–3 members.

2. Can students from any department apply?

Yes, students from all departments are eligible.

3. What is the selection process?

Application → Shortlist → Industry Immersion → Final Pitch → Funding.

4. How much funding is provided?

Each team gets ₹4 Lakhs (quarterly disbursement).

5. Support beyond funding?

Mentorship, labs, IP support, incubation, investor access.

6. Can we incorporate while studying?

Yes, usually in 7th–8th semester.

7. Will donor funding require equity?

Possibly, depending on follow-on seed funding evaluation.

8. What if project progress is low?

Funding may pause or stop after evaluation.

9. Contact for queries?

Email: [email protected] (Subject: Query regarding IITK FinTech Spark Program)

Contact Section

For any queries, kindly email:

Email: [email protected]
Address: SIIC, IIT Kanpur