India’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly, driven by bold ideas, resilient founders, and an ambition to scale globally. At the heart of this momentum is Leap To Unicorn, a flagship initiative co-created by IDFC FIRST Bank, Moneycontrol and CNBC-TV18, dedicated to identifying and accelerating high potential startups.

Leap To Unicorn is a one-of-its-kind Founder Success Program that provides

Expert Mentorship​

Networking Opportunities

Fundraising Access​

What's New

Over three successful seasons, Leap To Unicorn has grown from establishing credibility to achieving national scale and building a mature startup ecosystem platform.​

This new season introduces four curated investment cohorts, each led by dedicated investors who will actively contribute across the journey from refining the selection process to mentoring founders and identifying high-potential opportunities.

brown unicorn

Choose Your Leap

Fintech

For innovators redefining financial infrastructure for the next billion users.

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DEEPTECH & AI​

For founders building cutting-edge technologies designed for global impact.​

 

ESG

For ventures creating scalable, investable solutions with measurable impact.​​

 

D2C​

For brands built for culture, scale and
the next consumer wave.​​

 

Be part of India’s next wave of breakout startups.​

WHY PARTICIPATE

MENTORING SESSIONS

Attend curated boot camps conducted by startup ecosystem experts

FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY

Pitch to marquee investors for your next fundraiser

RECOGNITION

Feature in the IDFC FIRST Bank’s ‘Top 100 Startups to watch out for’ report

NETWORKING

Access to India’s top unicorn founders and investors

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

Exclusive virtual masterclasses with industry veterans for all registered participants

MEDIA COVERAGE

Exposure on Network18’s media platforms

Growth Partners

Anand Lunia,

Anand Lunia

Founding Partner, IndiaQuotient

Anchor Investor for the Fintech cohort of Leap To Unicorn Season 4, he is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build enduring businesses. Known for his founder-first...

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Nitika Khurana,

Nitika Khurana,

Chief Investments & Ops - Chandigarh Angels Network (CAN)

Nitika Mishra Khurana is a prominent figure in the Indian startup ecosystem, serving as the Chief Investments & Operations Officer at the Chandigarh A…

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Mitesh Shah,

Mitesh Shah,

Co-Founder, IP Ventures

Mitesh Shah is a notable angel investor and the co-founder of Inflection Point Ventures (IP Ventures), which he established in 2018. Having served as … Read More

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Amit Kumar,

Amit Kumar,

Partner, ah! Ventures Fund

Amit Kumar is a co-founding partner at ah! Ventures Fund, a SEBI-registered Category I Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) that invests in early-stage, … Read More

Anand Lunia,

Anand Lunia

Founding Partner, IndiaQuotient

Anchor Investor for the Fintech cohort of Leap To Unicorn Season 4, he is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build enduring businesses. Known for his founder-first... Read More

MORE TO JOIN
Nitika Khurana,

Nitika Khurana,

Chief Investments & Ops - Chandigarh Angels Network (CAN)

Nitika Mishra Khurana is a prominent figure in the Indian startup ecosystem, serving as the Chief Investments & Operations Officer at the Chandigarh A…Read More

From Blueprint to Breakthrough:
Leap to Unicorn Unfolded

From founding one of India’s first unicorns to becoming an icon of meritorious achievement, the journey of V Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank, illustrates the power of belief and selflessness. Listen to the legend himself talk about the core values that have helped him rise above challenges and his passion to support other startups in their journey.

Helping You Grow

IDFC FIRST Bank is committed to supporting and strengthening the Indian Startup ecosystem and is invested in creating a platform for startups that promotes sustained growth. Under the FIRSTWINGS startup banking programme, we offer a suite of customized offerings including bespoke products and solutions for startups, founders, and investors.

Solution Stack

  • First Startup Current Account

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  • Business First Mobile App

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  • Startup Credit Card

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  • Working Capital Solutions

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  • Trade & FX Solutions

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  • Cash Management Solutions

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  • Founder Success Program

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  • Beyond Banking Support

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  • Employee Solutions

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Past Seasons

EXPLORE SEASON 3
EXPLORE SEASON 3
EXPLORE SEASON 2
EXPLORE SEASON 2
EXPLORE SEASON 1
EXPLORE SEASON 1

PROGRAM PARTNER

SanchiConnect is India’s fastest-growing DeepTech enablement network built by industry veterans from NASSCOM and T-Hub, and backed by Baring Private Equity. With 70+ high-impact startup programs delivered in just five years and a thriving community of 5,000+ founders, mentors, and investors, SanchiConnect brings unmatched execution firepower to every mandate. From curated mentorship and fundraising access to go-to-market acceleration, all powered by cutting-edge automation for program management and governance, SanchiConnect is the partner India’s top startup programs trust to deliver, at scale, every time.