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About IGNITE

Where Ideas Become Opportunities.

A global platform that bridges industries, cultures, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. IGNITE 2026 is where ideas become opportunities, partnerships are built, and the future of entrepreneurship is shaped.

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Founders & changemakers
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Active investors
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Startups incubated
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Equity-free grants
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Countries represented
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Speakers & panelists

A proven ecosystem of innovators, investors, and leaders driving real-world startup success.

Past Editions

Moments from IGNITE

IGNITE cohort group photo
Fintech panel
Keynote audience
Outdoor campus
IGNITE cohort group photo
Fintech panel
Keynote audience
Outdoor campus
Mentor circle
Award ceremony
Virtual keynote
Pitch finals
Mentor circle
Award ceremony
Virtual keynote
Pitch finals
Founders on stage
Campus networking
Startup workshop
Investor panel
Founders on stage
Campus networking
Startup workshop
Investor panel
IGNITE cohort group photo
Fintech panel
Keynote audience
Outdoor campus
Mentor circle
Award ceremony
Virtual keynote
Pitch finals
Founders on stage
Campus networking
Startup workshop
Investor panel
IGNITE cohort group photo
Fintech panel
Keynote audience
Outdoor campus
Mentor circle
Award ceremony
Virtual keynote
Pitch finals
Founders on stage
Campus networking
Startup workshop
Investor panel
IGNITE 2026

The Global Summit in Dubai.

Three days of unparalleled opportunity. A carefully curated gathering of 100+ pre-vetted innovators, industry leaders, investors, and founders from across the globe, all converging in Dubai to forge partnerships and launch the next wave of startups.

Dubai
Host city, UAE
2026
Edition
3 Days
Of building
Global
Delegate cohort
BITS Pilani Dubai Campus — host of IGNITE 2026
Event Programme

What happens at IGNITE.

From your first application to Demo Day in Dubai — the full journey.

0120 August

Applications Open

Startups submit their applications — share your vision, traction, and the problem you're solving.

Open CallOnline
0210 September

Applications Close

Last chance to submit. The screening panel reviews every entry — make yours count.

Deadline
0311 – 15 September

Online Screening Round 1

Pitch decks and elevator pitches reviewed and scored by our panel — the first cut to find the top talent.

Pitch DecksElevator Pitches
0420 September onwards

Online Screening Round 2

Shortlisted teams pitch live to expert judges — the final filter to select the Top 20 Finalists.

Online PitchesExpert Judges
05

Finalists Announced

29 September

The Top 20 teams are personally selected and invited to Dubai — your place on the IGNITE stage is confirmed.

MilestoneTop 20
Dubai, UAE
06Day 1

Mixer Meet

Human Bingo — mingle to find shared traits and experiences. First to complete the card wins, everyone leaves with real connections.

NetworkingDay 1
07Day 2

Panel Discussion

Investors, industry leaders, and serial entrepreneurs on themes shaping the next generation of global startups.

PanelDay 2
08Day 3

AI Integration Sprint

Work alongside AI experts to ship one meaningful AI-powered feature into your product in a single focused sprint.

AIDay 3
09Day 4

Demo Day

Top 20 finalists pitch live to a panel of investors and industry leaders — the culmination of the IGNITE journey.

PitchingDay 4

And many more — fireside chats, investor dinners, startup showcases, and city tours across Dubai.

Past sponsors & partners

Past Speakers & Panelists

Voices That Inspire.

Founders, investors, and industry leaders who have shaped the entrepreneurial landscape.

Shivakumar Ganesan

Shivakumar Ganesan

Co-Founder & CEO, Exotel

Bharath Shankar Subramanian

Bharath Shankar Subramanian

Partner, Accel

Bharti G Mann

Bharti G Mann

Vice President, Capgemini

Shawrya Mehrotra

Shawrya Mehrotra

Founder, Metvy

Darika Jain

Darika Jain

Founder, ImpactD

Samar Singla

Samar Singla

Founder, JungleWorks

Awais Ahmed

Awais Ahmed

Cofounder & CEO, Pixxel

Vinayak Aggarwal

Vinayak Aggarwal

Cofounder & CEO, BiteSpeed

Sankar Bora

Sankar Bora

Cofounder, Myntra

Sumedh Battewar

Sumedh Battewar

Cofounder & CBO, eMotorad

Abhishek Shah

Abhishek Shah

Cofounder, D2C Insider

Bhuvan Gupta

Bhuvan Gupta

Cofounder & CTO, ofBusiness

Amit Singhal

Amit Singhal

Partner, Fluid Ventures

Rohit Kamath

Rohit Kamath

Cofounder, Yaas

Sowmay Jain

Sowmay Jain

Cofounder, Bhindi AI

Ashish Kulkarni

Ashish Kulkarni

Director of AI, Krutrim

Shivakumar Ganesan

Shivakumar Ganesan

Co-Founder & CEO, Exotel

Bharath Shankar Subramanian

Bharath Shankar Subramanian

Partner, Accel

Bharti G Mann

Bharti G Mann

Vice President, Capgemini

Shawrya Mehrotra

Shawrya Mehrotra

Founder, Metvy

Darika Jain

Darika Jain

Founder, ImpactD

Samar Singla

Samar Singla

Founder, JungleWorks

Awais Ahmed

Awais Ahmed

Cofounder & CEO, Pixxel

Vinayak Aggarwal

Vinayak Aggarwal

Cofounder & CEO, BiteSpeed

Sankar Bora

Sankar Bora

Cofounder, Myntra

Sumedh Battewar

Sumedh Battewar

Cofounder & CBO, eMotorad

Abhishek Shah

Abhishek Shah

Cofounder, D2C Insider

Bhuvan Gupta

Bhuvan Gupta

Cofounder & CTO, ofBusiness

Amit Singhal

Amit Singhal

Partner, Fluid Ventures

Rohit Kamath

Rohit Kamath

Cofounder, Yaas

Sowmay Jain

Sowmay Jain

Cofounder, Bhindi AI

Ashish Kulkarni

Ashish Kulkarni

Director of AI, Krutrim

Shivakumar Ganesan

Shivakumar Ganesan

Co-Founder & CEO, Exotel

Bharath Shankar Subramanian

Bharath Shankar Subramanian

Partner, Accel

Bharti G Mann

Bharti G Mann

Vice President, Capgemini

Shawrya Mehrotra

Shawrya Mehrotra

Founder, Metvy

Darika Jain

Darika Jain

Founder, ImpactD

Samar Singla

Samar Singla

Founder, JungleWorks

Awais Ahmed

Awais Ahmed

Cofounder & CEO, Pixxel

Vinayak Aggarwal

Vinayak Aggarwal

Cofounder & CEO, BiteSpeed

Sankar Bora

Sankar Bora

Cofounder, Myntra

Sumedh Battewar

Sumedh Battewar

Cofounder & CBO, eMotorad

Abhishek Shah

Abhishek Shah

Cofounder, D2C Insider

Bhuvan Gupta

Bhuvan Gupta

Cofounder & CTO, ofBusiness

Amit Singhal

Amit Singhal

Partner, Fluid Ventures

Rohit Kamath

Rohit Kamath

Cofounder, Yaas

Sowmay Jain

Sowmay Jain

Cofounder, Bhindi AI

Ashish Kulkarni

Ashish Kulkarni

Director of AI, Krutrim

Samit Jain

Samit Jain

Managing Director, Pluss

Harshit Agarwal

Harshit Agarwal

Head of Marketing, Sunstone

Pankaj Singh

Pankaj Singh

Co-Founder, SlydS

Deepak Kumar

Deepak Kumar

CEO, SlydS

Siddharth Srigeri

Siddharth Srigeri

Partner, Endurance Capital

Aneesh Pai

Aneesh Pai

Cofounder, Done Deal

Sushil Sharma

Sushil Sharma

Cofounder & CEO, Marwari Catalysts

Rohit Goyal

Rohit Goyal

Managing Partner, Windrose Capital

Rakesh Verma

Rakesh Verma

Cofounder, MapmyIndia

Rahul Seth

Rahul Seth

VC Investor, Antler

Saloni Shah

Saloni Shah

Founder, Kaunversations

Shailendra Nath

Shailendra Nath

Founder, Changengine

Kanishka Tyagi

Kanishka Tyagi

Partner, LegumAmicus

Sumit Vijaypure

Sumit Vijaypure

Entrepreneur in Residence, Master's Union

Samit Jain

Samit Jain

Managing Director, Pluss

Harshit Agarwal

Harshit Agarwal

Head of Marketing, Sunstone

Pankaj Singh

Pankaj Singh

Co-Founder, SlydS

Deepak Kumar

Deepak Kumar

CEO, SlydS

Siddharth Srigeri

Siddharth Srigeri

Partner, Endurance Capital

Aneesh Pai

Aneesh Pai

Cofounder, Done Deal

Sushil Sharma

Sushil Sharma

Cofounder & CEO, Marwari Catalysts

Rohit Goyal

Rohit Goyal

Managing Partner, Windrose Capital

Rakesh Verma

Rakesh Verma

Cofounder, MapmyIndia

Rahul Seth

Rahul Seth

VC Investor, Antler

Saloni Shah

Saloni Shah

Founder, Kaunversations

Shailendra Nath

Shailendra Nath

Founder, Changengine

Kanishka Tyagi

Kanishka Tyagi

Partner, LegumAmicus

Sumit Vijaypure

Sumit Vijaypure

Entrepreneur in Residence, Master's Union

Samit Jain

Samit Jain

Managing Director, Pluss

Harshit Agarwal

Harshit Agarwal

Head of Marketing, Sunstone

Pankaj Singh

Pankaj Singh

Co-Founder, SlydS

Deepak Kumar

Deepak Kumar

CEO, SlydS

Siddharth Srigeri

Siddharth Srigeri

Partner, Endurance Capital

Aneesh Pai

Aneesh Pai

Cofounder, Done Deal

Sushil Sharma

Sushil Sharma

Cofounder & CEO, Marwari Catalysts

Rohit Goyal

Rohit Goyal

Managing Partner, Windrose Capital

Rakesh Verma

Rakesh Verma

Cofounder, MapmyIndia

Rahul Seth

Rahul Seth

VC Investor, Antler

Saloni Shah

Saloni Shah

Founder, Kaunversations

Shailendra Nath

Shailendra Nath

Founder, Changengine

Kanishka Tyagi

Kanishka Tyagi

Partner, LegumAmicus

Sumit Vijaypure

Sumit Vijaypure

Entrepreneur in Residence, Master's Union