In a bold move to empower the next generation of changemakers, marketing strategist Harshavardhan Chauhaan has launched the Young Entrepreneurs Fund (YEF) — a $10 million initiative designed to fuel early-stage, pre-revenue ideas that prioritize scalable societal impact over conventional business success metrics.
The fund offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000, supporting founders who are reimagining systems, consumer behavior, and technology through fresh, disruptive lenses.
“Through the launch of the Young Entrepreneurs Fund, our aim is to go beyond funding business plans by investing in neural networks of influence that rewrite consumer behavior from the subconscious up,” Chauhaan explained.
True to its philosophy, YEF isn’t just about capital. It brings a robust mentorship ecosystem into play, connecting recipients with global brand strategists, growth marketers, and serial entrepreneurs. These experts are uniquely positioned to help startups navigate shifting paradigms around consumer trust, influence, and loyalty in an age of fleeting attention spans.
Four Core Focus Areas
YEF is sharply focused on four strategic domains:
- Deep Tech: Backing moonshot innovations in AI, quantum computing, and robotics, with the goal of redefining India’s place on the global tech frontier.
- Clean Energy: Supporting climate-forward startups in renewable energy, green infrastructure, and carbon-neutral solutions, in alignment with India’s sustainability roadmap.
- Rural Platforms: Enabling startups that democratize access to agritech tools, rural fintech, and digital literacy—bridging the urban-rural innovation divide.
- National IP and Indigenous Innovation: Championing startups rooted in India’s cultural and scientific heritage, from traditional craftsmanship to climate-resilient farming techniques.
YEF positions itself as a catalyst for purpose-driven innovation—where early-stage founders are equipped not just with funds, but with the strategic insight and global perspective to scale ideas that matter.
As India steps into a new era of entrepreneurship, the Young Entrepreneurs Fund is setting a new benchmark for what early-stage investment can look like when it’s built on influence, inclusion, and impact.
