An 8-week cohort for startups targeting the Indian Consumer— with up to ₹5 crore in funding
Program Partners
Open
Mid Sept, 2026
Rajesh Sawhney
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Learn how to Ideate, Validate, and Scale your Startup with GSF Takeoff
MODULES Covered
Problem, User & Wedge
User research
Consumer-AI landscape
Tapping emerging consumer segments
MVP & AI-Native Building
MVP scoping and product design
Activation & onboarding
Live product teardown
Distribution & Growth
Channels & CAC discipline
Marketplace liquidity & retention
Growing in tier 2+
Survival Toolkit
Surviving fundraising challenges
Building a resilient team
Tracking metrics
Economics, Ops & Capital
Unit-economics
Managing burn and maintaining runway
Fundraise
+2 weeks of adaptive modules for
Marketplaces
Consumer tech
Consumer products
MEET OUR
FOUNDER MENTORS
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Pitch Perfect Investor Sessions
Learn directly from top Indian investors what they look for in early stage startups.
MODULES COVERED
Understanding Angel investors and Networks
Understanding Angel syndicates
Raising from angels and syndicates
Selecting metrics for success
North Star metrics
Tracking retention
Understanding VCs
Finding the right VC
When to raise from a VC
Pitching to Investors
Planning your fundraise
Executing your fundraise
AMAs
Validate your ideas with our investor panels
Contexualise your questions in depth
Storytelling
Why is the story important?
Learn to tell your story
MEET OUR
INVESTOR MENTORS
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Demo Day
Pitch to 150+ investors and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey.
Online Demo Day
All startups pitch, live streamed pan-India — reach the country's top VCs regardless of geography.
Offline Demo Day
The Breakout 10 pitch in person — to the GSF panel and top VCs. With a chance to get funded, up to ₹5 crore from GSF
Make The Most Of The Program With the GSF Team
Get access to one on one guidance sessions with our leadership team
A coordinator to guide you throughout your journey.
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Particpate in Mock Pitch Sessions to prepare for Demo Day.
Support for participating in offline and online demo day.
Our Success Stories
"GSF Accelerator connected us with mentors and a network that accelerated our growth and helped shape our startup's vision and strategy."
Nikhil Goyal
Co-Founder
SalaryBox
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"GSF Investors have been a huge support from Day 1. Rajesh Sawhney is the best mentor on the planet, helping me make the right decisions in tough times. He connected me to various investors, which led to our next round of funding."
Ritesh Singh
Founder & CEO
Arivihan
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“GSF Academy consistently brings together an incredible group of mentors each year and supports diverse groups of entrepreneurs, including women to take their first shot at entrepreneurship. It is an initiative I look forward to contributing to every year."
Vivek Prakash
Co Founder & CEO
Codingal
"Being part of GSF was a game-changer for us. The mentorship we received was invaluable, providing critical insights and guidance that accelerated our PMF. The networking opportunities connected us with key industry players and potential partners resulting in strong traction from early customers and interest from multiple investors for seed funding. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their expertise and support."
Khadim Batti
Co Founder & CEO
Whattfix
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the dates and the duration of the program?
The GSF Takeoff consumer cohort runs mid September for 8 weeks, with an online demo day followed by a closed funding demo day in the first week of February 2027.
What is GSF Takeoff?
GSF Takeoff is an 8-week consumer cohort for pre-PMF founders building across quick commerce, consumer AI, marketplaces, finance/wealth, content-media-gaming, D2C, and emerging consumers. We bring together operator-founders, VCs and CxOs for sessions mapped to a PMF scorecard, with two weeks branching into problem-specific tracks and community learning throughout. Participation is zero-equity (a nominal ₹25,000 enrolment), with breakout startups standing a chance to receive a term-sheet of up to ₹5 crore from GSF.
How is the program structured? What is the time commitment?
This is an 8-week program. Every week we will have two mentoring sessions on weekdays. Sessions are 60 minutes long and take place in the evenings between 5-7pm IST. Two weeks branch into problem-specific tracks (marketplaces, consumer tech, and consumer products) followed by one on ones with GSF Partners
When do I apply? When can I expect a response?
Applications are now open. We are carefully reviewing applications from founding teams across India. Startups invited to participate will be announced on a rolling basis.
How do I apply?
Please apply here --> Click Here
What is the program fee?
Indian startups: ₹25,000 for up to 3 co founders
Non Indian startups: $350 per founder
All fees are non refundable and due before the start of the Academy. There is no equity stake.
Will we be engaging with the other entrepreneurs in the cohort?
Absolutely, community interactions and peer learning are the cornerstone of the program. We will have weekly sessions where you will be collaborating with other entrepreneurs on various business-building exercises.
Why is GSF doing this program?
We feel amazing founders sometimes don’t have access to equally exceptional talent and mentorship. GSF aims to democratize this and create a more supportive environment that enables others to succeed. The program also gives us a chance to work with founders early in their entrepreneurial path and potentially invest in the company later.
Will I need to travel?
No, the GSF Takeoff is an online program.
Will there be a demo day?
Yes — two. An online demo day at the end of the program where all participants pitch to investors across the country, and a closed offline demo day in the first week of February 2027 where the Breakout 10 pitch to the GSF panel and select VCs.