Contest Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

1. About the Contest

The ET Startup Awards 2026 Contest (“Contest”) is organised by The Economic Times (“ET”) in connection with the ET Startup Awards 2026.

The Contest gives startup teams an opportunity to earn an invitation for an eligible founder or co-founder to attend the ET Startup Awards 2026 by responding to a short written prompt on the official Contest post.

One eligible founder or co-founder from the selected startup will receive an invitation to attend the ET Startup Awards 2026, scheduled to be held on 9 October 2026 at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru.

Participation in the Contest is subject to these Terms & Conditions.

2. Contest Question

Participants will be required to respond to the following question:

“What are you building, and what could access to India’s leading founders and business leaders at ETSA unlock for you?”

Responses should be concise, original and relevant to the startup’s journey.

3. Eligibility

Any member of a startup team may submit an entry on behalf of their startup.

The entry should tag the relevant founder or co-founder(s) of the startup.

However, if the entry is selected as the winning submission, the invitation to attend the ET Startup Awards 2026 will be extended only to a founder or co-founder of that startup.

ET may request reasonable proof of founder or co-founder status before confirming the invitee.

If satisfactory proof is not provided within the timeline communicated by ET, ET may disqualify the selected entry and choose an alternate winner.

4. How to Participate

Any member of a startup team may submit an entry on behalf of their startup by commenting on the official ET Startup Awards Contest post on LinkedIn within the stated Contest period.

The entry must:

  • answer the Contest question;
  • tag the startup/company page, where available; and
  • tag the relevant founder or co-founder(s) who would be eligible to attend the ET Startup Awards 2026 if the entry is selected.

If an entry is selected as the winning submission, the invitation will be extended only to an eligible founder or co-founder of that startup, subject to verification by ET.

No purchase or payment is required to enter.

Entries must be submitted through the official LinkedIn Contest post unless ET specifies otherwise.

5. Number of Entries

Only one entry per startup will be considered.

If multiple entries are submitted on behalf of the same startup, ET reserves the right to evaluate only the latest valid submission received before the Contest deadline.

Submitting multiple entries will not increase the chances of selection.

6. Contest Period

The Contest will open and close on the dates and times specified in the official Contest communication.

Entries received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that their submission has been successfully posted before the Contest closes.

7. Editing Entries

Entries that are materially edited after the Contest deadline may be disqualified at ET’s discretion.

Minor corrections that do not materially alter the substance of the original entry may be accepted at ET’s discretion.

8. Winner Selection Criteria

Eligible entries will be evaluated on the quality of the written response.

The selection will consider:

Clarity
 How clearly and directly the response explains why access to ETSA would matter at this stage of the startup’s journey.

Strength of Response
 How thoughtful, specific and compelling the answer is.

Relevance to ETSA
 How meaningfully the response connects the startup’s current journey with the opportunity to engage with industry leaders at ET Startup Awards 2026.

The Contest is not an assessment of the startup’s commercial potential, valuation, business performance or suitability for an ET Startup Award.

Likes, reactions, follower count, company size or social popularity will not determine the winner.

9. Selection Process

ET will review eligible submissions based on the criteria above.

One winning entry will be selected.

ET’s decision regarding eligibility, evaluation and selection will be final and binding.

ET will not be required to disclose individual scores, internal deliberations or reasons for selecting or not selecting any particular entry.

10. Winner Verification

The founder or co-founder nominated in the selected entry may be contacted through LinkedIn, email, telephone or another contact method available to ET.

Before confirming the invitation, ET may request:

  • proof of founder or co-founder status;
  • proof of identity;
  • contact details required for event registration; and
  • any other information reasonably required to verify eligibility.

The selected founder or co-founder must provide the requested information and respond within the timeline communicated by ET.

11. Alternate Winner

ET reserves the right to select an alternate winner if the originally selected founder or co-founder:

  • does not respond within the stipulated timeline;
  • cannot verify founder or co-founder status;
  • is unable to attend the event;
  • declines the invitation;
  • provides inaccurate or misleading information; or
  • otherwise fails to comply with these Terms & Conditions.

12. What the Winner Receives

The confirmed winner will receive:

One non-transferable invitation to attend the ET Startup Awards 2026 at The Leela, Bengaluru on 9 October 2026.

The invitation is for the confirmed founder or co-founder only unless expressly stated otherwise by ET.

The invitation may not be sold, exchanged, assigned or transferred to another person.

13. Travel, Accommodation and Other Expenses

The invitation covers attendance at the ET Startup Awards 2026 only, subject to the access provided by ET.

ET will not be responsible for any travel, accommodation, local transportation, personal expenses or any other incidental costs associated with attending the event.

All such costs will be borne solely by the winner.

The selected founder or co-founder should therefore ensure that they are able to travel to The Leela, Bengaluru and attend the event on the scheduled date.

14. No Association With ET Startup Awards Selection

Winning this Contest is entirely separate from the official ET Startup Awards 2026 selection and judging process.

Being selected as the Contest winner:

  • does not constitute winning an ET Startup Award;
  • does not constitute nomination or shortlisting for an ET Startup Award;
  • does not provide any advantage in the official ET Startup Awards selection process;
  • does not influence the jury or judging process; and
  • does not entitle the winner to appear on stage, present an award, receive an award or participate in the official awards programme unless separately invited by ET.

Participation in the Contest will have no bearing on consideration for any ET Startup Award.

15. Participant Responsibility

By entering the Contest, participants confirm that:

  • the information provided in their submission is accurate to the best of their knowledge;
  • they are authorised to submit the entry on behalf of the startup;
  • they are authorised to share the information contained in the submission;
  • their entry does not knowingly infringe the intellectual property, privacy or other rights of any third party; and
  • they will not include confidential, proprietary or commercially sensitive information that they are not authorised to disclose.

16. Rights to Use Submissions

By submitting an eligible entry, participants grant ET permission to reproduce, repost, publish, display, adapt and otherwise use their Contest submission in connection with:

  • the Contest;
  • ET Startup Awards 2026 communication;
  • winner announcement content;
  • ET-owned social media channels;
  • ET-owned digital platforms; and
  • related promotional or editorial communication.

ET may make reasonable edits for length, format, grammar or presentation, provided that the substance of the participant’s submission is not materially misrepresented.

17. Winner Publicity

As a condition of accepting the invitation, the winner may be required to consent to ET using their:

  • name;
  • startup/company name;
  • photograph or likeness;
  • Contest submission;
  • excerpts from their response; and
  • information relating to their participation in the Contest

for winner announcement, event communication and related promotional purposes.

18. Disqualification

ET reserves the right to disqualify an entry where:

  • the participant does not meet the eligibility criteria;
  • founder or co-founder status cannot be verified;
  • the entry is received after the deadline;
  • the submission is materially edited after the deadline;
  • the submission contains false or misleading information;
  • the submission infringes third-party rights;
  • the participant attempts to manipulate the Contest;
  • the entry contains unlawful, abusive, discriminatory or inappropriate material; or
  • the participant breaches these Terms & Conditions.

19. Modification, Suspension or Cancellation

ET reserves the right to modify the Contest timelines, mechanics, selection process or other operational aspects of the Contest if required.

ET may also suspend, postpone or cancel the Contest where circumstances make it reasonably necessary to do so.

Where practicable, material changes will be communicated through official ET or ET Startup Awards channels.

20. Event Changes

Event details, including timing, programme, access arrangements and venue-related requirements, may be subject to change.

ET will endeavour to communicate material changes to the confirmed winner.

ET will not be responsible for costs incurred by a participant or winner arising from changes to their personal travel, accommodation or other arrangements.

21. Platform Disclaimer

The Contest may be promoted through LinkedIn and Instagram.

The Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with LinkedIn or Instagram.

22. Acceptance of Terms

By submitting an entry to the Contest, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

Failure to comply with these Terms & Conditions may result in disqualification.

23. Organiser’s Decision

All decisions made by ET in relation to the Contest, including eligibility, interpretation of these Terms & Conditions, selection of the winner and any operational matters, shall be final and binding.