YouStarT

YouStart is a 10-week entrepreneurship program by Polygnan, designed to help engineering students turn ideas into prototypes, gain real-world exposure, and build a builder’s mindset. Participants receive mentorship, access to resources, and micro-grants to test their solutions.

YouStart is open to engineering students from any year or specialization.

If you’re a fresh grad (within 1.5 years of graduation), you’re eligible too.

So whether you’re just starting college or figuring things out after graduation, you’re welcome here.

No, not necessarily. Curiosity, motivation and a passion to build something meaningful are key here. We’ll help you spot real problems, brainstorm solutions, and shape ideas worth building.

If you already have an idea, awesome, you can totally work on that too.

• Curious, eager to learn , a can-do attitude and an inner drive for excellence

• Learn and adapt quickly

• Receptive to feedback and not act as know-it-alls

• Comfortable with ambiguity

• Proactive in taking action and persistent in testing and iterating their ideas

No. The program is free for all selected participants.

You’ll be guided by startup founders, industry professionals, and alumni from top tech and academic institutions. Mentorship is a mix of masterclasses, group Q&A sessions, and one-on-one discussions and so on. It is designed to help you explore ideas, solve problems, and grow your skills.

Participants work on a wide range of projects, from tech products and business ventures to social impact initiatives. Your project doesn’t need to be tech-related. What matters is your curiosity, creativity, and willingness to build something meaningful. During the program, you’ll get guidance to identify problems worth solving, brainstorm solutions, validate your ideas, and bring them to life, whatever your chosen domain is.

Each cohort has access to a ₹1 Lakh+ microgrant pool to support prototype building, pilot testing, and validation during the program. Grants are awarded based on progress, potential, and mentor feedback.

Polygnan does not take any equity in your startup. We will guide you toward funding resources in the broader startup ecosystem.

Success in YouStart isn’t just about building the “next big startup.” We look at two things:

• Tangible outcomes – Did you move your idea forward? This could mean creating a prototype or MVP, running pilot tests, or even getting your first real users. It’s about progress and action, not just slides and pitches.

• Personal growth – Just as important is how you grow during the journey. Are you more confident in taking initiative? Did you learn how to think creatively, solve problems in new ways, or step up as a leader in your team?

At the end of the day, success in YouStart is about leaving the program with both a stronger project and a stronger version of yourself.

We understand emergencies happen, but consistency is key. If you inform us in advance and have a genuine reason, we’ll support you. However, repeated absences will affect your participation score (and may lead to exit as per the 90% rule).

Yes, if you are disciplined and committed. The program is designed for students, but it demands 12–16 hours/week. If you can’t realistically give that time, it’s better not to take up the fellowship right now.

That’s part of the journey! We don’t expect every idea to become a startup. What matters is whether you learned, tested, iterated, and grew as a builder. Failure is respected if you gave it your best.

Once the program ends, you’ll continue to be part of our alumni community, with access to peers, mentors, and future opportunities. We’ll guide you and connect you to the broader startup and innovation ecosystem. You’ll also receive certificates for your efforts and shootouts for standout teams. More importantly, you’ll carry forward a network, mindset, and support system that stays with you well beyond the program.