Paras ChopraAryaman Vikram BirlaSatyan GajwaniMukesh BansalSachin BansalMithun SachetiAbhiraj Singh BhalAjit MohanVijay Shekhar SharmaIrina GhoseAdwaita NayarRishad PremjiNavi TechnologiesTimes BridgeAnthropic IndiaBennett, Coleman and Company LimitedTitanWiproPaytmUrban CompanySingularity GrowthNykaa FashionNurix AICaratLaneFlipkartCure.fitOne97 CommunicationsSnapWingifyLossfunkTimes InternetAditya Birla VenturesMyntra

ET Startup Awards 2026 jury unveiled; Anthropic India MD Irina Ghose, Nurix AI CEO Mukesh Bansal, CaratLane founder Mithun Sacheti to pick winners

The jury for the ET Startup Awards 2026 has been announced, featuring prominent figures such as Irina Ghose of Anthropic India, Mukesh Bansal of Nurix AI, and Mithun Sacheti of CaratLane, who will evaluate and select the winners from a pool of innovative startups.

The Economic Times The Economic Times17 August 2026 · 04:45 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

The ET Startup Awards 2026 has unveiled its jury, comprising influential leaders from the tech and startup ecosystem.1

Irina Ghose, managing director of Anthropic India, brings over 30 years of experience in technology, having previously held senior roles at Microsoft India.2

Mukesh Bansal, founder and CEO of Nurix AI, is recognized for his contributions to consumer technology through Myntra and Cult.fit.4

Mithun Sacheti, founder of CaratLane, recently achieved a significant exit by selling a stake in his company to Titan for ₹4,621 crore.3

The jury also includes Rishad Premji, executive chairman of Wipro, and Sachin Bansal, cofounder of Flipkart, who have both made substantial impacts in their respective fields.

Abhiraj Singh Bhal, cofounder of Urban Company, adds to the diverse expertise of the panel, which aims to recognize and reward innovation in the startup landscape.

The awards are set to highlight the best in entrepreneurship and technological advancement, showcasing the potential of India's startup ecosystem.

Key Insight
“Ghose, who spent 24 years at Microsoft India before joining Anthropic in January, leads Claude's enterprise adoption. Bansal previously cofounded Myntra and Cure.fit, while Sacheti sold his CaratLane stake to Titan for Rs 4,621 crore in 2023.”
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The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
“Meet the high-powered jury that will pick the winners of the ET Startup Awards 2026.”
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ET Startup Awards 2026 unveils high-powered jury with Rishad Premji as chair; nominees for Top Innovator and Bootstrap Champ revealed
The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
ET Startup Awards 2026 unveils high-powered jury with Rishad Premji as chair; nominees for Top Innovator and Bootstrap Champ revealed

The 12th edition of The Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) is back, remaining the most prestigious set of accolades for Indian entrepreneurs since its inaugural edition in 2015.

2026 JuryBootstrap Champ NomineesEt Startup Awards
2026-08-17
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • The 12th edition of The Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) is back, and the awards remain the most prestigious set of accolades for Indian entrepreneurs since the inaugural edition in 2015.
  • This year's jury comprises founders who have built, scaled, exited, and then gone back and built all over again, including Sachin Bansal, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Mukesh Bansal, Mithun Sacheti and Paras Chopra, with Rishad Premji in the chair.
  • The most important component for the jury is the dossier prepared, a handbook packed with confidential information that goes through hundreds of checks and rechecks before finalisation. Today, nominees are unveiled in two of the eight categories: Bootstrap Champ and Top Innovator.
  • The ET Startup Awards were inaugurated in 2015, marking a significant milestone in recognizing entrepreneurial talent in India.
ET Startup Awards 2026: Top Innovator and Bootstrap Champ nominees named; Rishad Premji-led jury to pick winners in Bengaluru on August 25
The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
ET Startup Awards 2026: Top Innovator and Bootstrap Champ nominees named; Rishad Premji-led jury to pick winners in Bengaluru on August 25

The award will recognise innovations that launch a business or give it a big boost, requiring an original idea that is core to the business or provides differentiation from competition.

4basecareAditya Birla GroupAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
2026-08-17
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • Nominees for the Top Innovator and Bootstrap Champ categories have been announced, featuring companies like Theranautilus, EtherealX, 4baseCare, QNu Labs, Agrani Labs, Suta, Habuild, Urban Vault, Melento, and D’You.
  • Rishad Premji will chair a jury that will meet in Bengaluru on August 25 to select winners across eight categories, including Startup of the Year and Bootstrap Champ.
  • The ET Startup Awards has become a benchmark for entrepreneurial achievement in India since its inception in 2015.
  • This year’s edition comes at a defining moment for the Indian startup economy, which is navigating a slower pace of development in artificial intelligence.
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