Ixigo Co-Founder’s Fund for IIT Kanpur Startups
Ixigo co-founder Rajnish Kumar launches a INR 1 crore Made in Fire Fund to back graduating IIT Kanpur startup founders.
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Rajnish Kumar, co-founder and Group Co-CEO of ixigo and author of Made in Fire, has launched the Made in Fire Fund, a INR 1 crore (USD 105,000) initiative to support graduating students of IIT Kanpur. He announced it after returning to the campus as Guest of Honour to address the Class of 2026.
The fund will support 10 technology-led startups from each graduating batch, with INR 10 lakh (USD 10,500) in non-dilutive prototype funding for each selected startup. Founders will also get mentorship from Kumar, ixigo’s leadership team and the ixigo Mafia, the network of entrepreneurs and companies founded by former ixigo team members. They will also receive product reviews, go-to-market guidance, hiring support and investor introductions.
Selection will prioritise founder conviction, depth of customer understanding, originality of insight, execution ability, long-term thinking and coachability. Graduating students can apply individually or as founding teams.
The fund will focus on technology-led ventures in AI, SaaS, consumer internet, deep tech, climate, mobility, healthtech, enterprise software and other emerging technology areas.
Rajnish Kumar said: “Every great company begins with one believer. Twenty-five years ago, IIT Kanpur gave me the confidence to build before I knew where that journey would lead. The Made in Fire Fund is my way of paying that belief forward.”
Rajnish Kumar, co-founder and Group Co-CEO of ixigo and author of Made in Fire, has launched the Made in Fire Fund, a INR 1 crore (USD 105,000) initiative to support graduating students of IIT Kanpur. He announced it after returning to the campus as Guest of Honour to address the Class of 2026.
The fund will support 10 technology-led startups from each graduating batch, with INR 10 lakh (USD 10,500) in non-dilutive prototype funding for each selected startup. Founders will also get mentorship from Kumar, ixigo’s leadership team and the ixigo Mafia, the network of entrepreneurs and companies founded by former ixigo team members. They will also receive product reviews, go-to-market guidance, hiring support and investor introductions.
Selection will prioritise founder conviction, depth of customer understanding, originality of insight, execution ability, long-term thinking and coachability. Graduating students can apply individually or as founding teams.
The fund will focus on technology-led ventures in AI, SaaS, consumer internet, deep tech, climate, mobility, healthtech, enterprise software and other emerging technology areas.
Rajnish Kumar said: “Every great company begins with one believer. Twenty-five years ago, IIT Kanpur gave me the confidence to build before I knew where that journey would lead. The Made in Fire Fund is my way of paying that belief forward.”
