AWARD CATEGORIES
STARTUP OF THE YEAR
The award will aim to pick the startup that has the potential to become a blue-chip corporation. The ET Startup of the Year will be characterised by breakthrough innovation, top-class execution and fast-paced growth. The quality of the founding and management team was an important component in decision-making.
TOP INNOVATOR
The award will recognise innovations that launch a business or give it a big boost. It should be an original idea that is core to the business or one that provides the differentiation that sets it apart from competition.
BEST ON CAMPUS
The award will showcase a startup whose impact can be judged both by the idea and the execution. The founders should have been students whose aim was to build a commercial enterprise. There must be some level of validation either through an investor or a customer. College projects don’t qualify.
WOMAN AHEAD
The startup should be launched and led by a woman who competes and wins against the best in the business.
BOOTSTRAP CHAMP
The Bootstrap Champ will have demonstrated the ability to win customers and earn revenue for at least a year. Without raising external capital it should possess the potential to scale into a large enterprise.
COMEBACK KID
This award celebrates failure and recognises those who have survived to tell the tale. It will be given to entrepreneurs who rebuild or launch a more successful business.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
This award will recognise the startup that best embodies the ‘double bottomline’ model combining profits and public good.
MIDAS TOUCH (BEST INVESTOR)
The award will recognise the most lucrative exit in the year. The decision will be made based on the volume of deals as well as the size of exit.
CEO OF THE YEAR
This award is for the CEO whose commitment and drive have seen them scale their organisation to significant size and created impact by clearly demonstrating strategic direction for the business thus catapulting it to a pole position in the industry and sector.
GLOBAL STARTUP OF THE YEAR
We will honour this Indian startup who has established the company’s global footprint by building for the world, excelling against competition in the global marketplace and generating a substantial amount of its revenue from outside of India.
TIMELINE
Phase 1
MARCH 2019
Inviting nominations from the startup community
Phase 2
MAY 2019
Shortlisting of the nominations by ET Editors and Knowledge Partners
Phase 3
JULY 2019
Jury Meet − review of the shortlisted nominations by a closed-door jury, which fill decide the winner for each of the 8 categories
Phase 4
AUGUST 2019
Award Ceremony
