• IIT Kanpur partners with a South Korean incubator to host UpStart abroad
• Korean startups gain access to global mentors, investors, and markets
• UpStart finale to be held at IIT Kanpur during E-Summit 2026

The Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Kanpur has partnered with Unicorn Incubator, a South Korea-based company, to expand its flagship business model pitching competition, UpStart 2025, to the Korean Peninsula. The move marks the first time the competition has been hosted outside India, reflecting IIT Kanpur’s growing global startup outreach.

The UpStart Korea round took place on in Seoul at KITA Startup Space, COEX. The event featured 12 South Korean startups and drew participation from leading investors and venture capital firms. An Indian delegation from Startup India and Evify, a regional winner from UpStart India, also attended the cross-border event.

The collaboration gives early-stage founders in South Korea direct exposure to global mentors, investors, and international markets. Organizers said the partnership strengthens innovation exchange between India and South Korea while offering startups access to resources beyond their home markets.

Winners from the five UpStart rounds-Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Seoul will compete in the grand finale at the IIT Kanpur campus. The final pitching event will be held during the institute’s annual E-Summit from January 23 to 25, 2026.

Also Read: Sisir Radar Raises $7 Million to Build India's First Private L-Band Radar Satellite

Alongside its global startup push, IIT Kanpur has also reported strong momentum in campus placements. On December 1, students received 672 job offers, the highest single-day total in the institute’s history. The ongoing 2025-26 placement season has recorded a 16 percent increase in day-one offers compared to last year.

Pre-Placement Offers played a major role, with 253 PPOs, marking a 27 percent rise over the previous season. Nine students also secured international job offers. More than 250 companies, including Accenture, BlackRock, Airbus, Qualcomm, and Deutsche Bank, have shown interest in hiring IIT Kanpur graduates.

While placement numbers remain below peak levels seen in 2021-22, IIT Kanpur continues to show steady recovery and growth.