Jobs and careers platform Apna has launched the second season of Campus Tank – India’s Next Unicorn 2.0, a startup contest for young founders. The company says the funding pool has been raised from USD 6 million in the first season to USD 15 million. The initiative is run in partnership with Chandigarh University and marks Apna’s move from helping people find jobs to backing entrepreneurs who can create them.

Season 2 brings together returning investor partner Venture Catalysts with Inflection Point Ventures, Anthill Ventures, Indian Angel Network, Eaglewings Ventures, Aeravti Ventures, FAAD Network, PedalStart, Be An Angel and Kiani Ventures. Apna says the wider panel will connect startups with investors suited to their stage, from pre-seed to Series A. Beyond funding, partners will offer incubation and ecosystem support, with more offerings to be announced as partnerships are finalised. Apna will run the platform, registrations, national outreach and startup coordination. Chandigarh University will host the Grand Finale Demo Day and provide incubation through Cube Founders Space, while investors will help evaluate applications and sit on the Demo Day jury.

Season 1, the company says, drew 21,789 registrations from more than 1,200 cities. Three startups emerged from it: Krvvy, a women’s functional innerwear and shapewear brand designed for Indian body types; Offlyn, a Bengaluru-based platform to host, discover and get rewarded for offline experiences; and Medoc Health, which builds AI-driven hospital automation for providers, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

“The success of Season 1, with over 21,000 applications from 28 states and five union territories, reflects the immense entrepreneurial potential of India’s youth,” said Nirmit Parikh, Founder and Group CEO of Apna. “As we launch Season 2, I am particularly excited about startups working in upskilling and reskilling, AI data training, and applied AI.”

Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder of Venture Catalysts, said: “Campus Tank is about connecting founders across India with the capital and networks they need. With Season 2, a broader investor panel spanning pre-seed to Series A will help startups connect with investors suited to their stage and needs.”

Satnam Singh Sandhu, Rajya Sabha MP and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, said the focus must now shift “from increasing numbers to ensuring the quality, sustainability and global competitiveness of startups,” adding that “profitability is essential for the long-term sustainability of any venture.” Chief guest Naveen Jindal, Lok Sabha MP, said: “India has never lacked ideas or entrepreneurial talent. What we need is a stronger ecosystem that helps transform these ideas into real-world solutions.”

Registrations are open to founders across India at https://apna.co/contests/campus-tank-2026.