Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO of OYO, recently partnered with global influencer Nuseir Yassin’s platform NAS.io and the online learning portal BackToBackSWE to launch the ‘7-Day Startup Challenge.’ This initiative aimed to guide early-stage entrepreneurs through the essential steps of building and refining a business, with Rs 10 lakh equity-free grants awarded to five standout startups.
The challenge, which attracted nearly 3,000 participants from countries including India, the US, Canada, and the UAE, focused on seven daily themes. Each day tackled a crucial aspect of business development, from goal-setting and market research to product roadmap and branding.
The five winners were:
- Bharat Anubhav, an Odisha-based platform for certified tourist guides
- Ekogalaxy, a climate education platform
- Harmony Sourcing, connecting global buyers with Indian factories
- Farmkrate, an agricultural solutions startup from Andhra Pradesh
- Aura, a mental wellbeing initiative based in Bengaluru
Agarwal expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, saying, “Over the years, many have helped me on my entrepreneurial journey. This challenge is my way of giving back by sharing my experiences. NAS.io’s network of aspiring founders and BackToBackSWE’s mentorship expertise made them the perfect partners for this initiative. India is undergoing a startup revolution. With the right support, these startups will power the next wave of economic growth.”
Roshan Paul, co-founder of Aura, praised the challenge, stating, “The step-by-step approach helped refine our idea, and the support from the community was invaluable.”
Agarwal’s commitment to nurturing startups continues beyond this challenge. Earlier this year, he joined Shark Tank India as the youngest judge and announced ₹5 lakh grants for startups in Ladakh through the Naropa Fellowship.
