
Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur presents
EAD-LSM: Where India's Next Wave of Entrepreneurs Begins
The Entrepreneurship Awareness Drive and Local Startups Meet bring founders, investors, and students together across 20+ cities — building the largest PAN-India entrepreneurship network of its kind.
About Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur
Founded in 2006, the Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) is a student body of IIT Kharagpur dedicated to inspiring and guiding startups on campus and beyond. What began on campus now operates on a national scale, instilling the entrepreneurial spirit in India's youth through workshops, mentorship, and flagship events like Empresario, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, and Million at Stake.
What is EAD (Entrepreneurship Awareness Drive)
EAD is the largest PAN-India confluence of new-age entrepreneurs and students, a city-hopping series of talks and interactions reaching:
35,000+
Students
100+
Speakers
20+
Cities
100+
Startups
From Delhi NCR and Mumbai to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Indore, Ranchi, and beyond, EAD brings founders and industry leaders directly to college campuses to spark the next generation of Indian entrepreneurship.
What is LSM (Local Startups Meet)
LSM connects emerging startups with seasoned investors through mentorship, workshops, and vibrant networking opportunities — city by city.
65+
Investors
1200+
Startups
75+
Speakers
10+
Cities
LSM chapters have run in Kolkata, Pune, Kanpur, Bengaluru, Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Surat — pairing local founders with the capital and mentorship they need to scale.
Empowering change across the startup ecosystem.
Through strategic milestones, we capture metrics that matter: student exposure, capital deployment, and early stage scaling. Our drives create structural networks that empower regional innovation hubs.
"From SEBI's Executive Director to founders featured on Shark Tank India, EAD-LSM has hosted leaders from Groww, Inshorts, INDmoney, RPSG Group, EY, Symphony Ltd., and dozens of other premier brands across two dozen Indian cities."










The EAD–LSM Flow
From awareness to investment — a seamless pipeline connecting student innovators to the startup ecosystem.
EAD City Roadshow
Nation-wide awareness drives in 30+ cities — keynotes, workshops, and ideation sessions with student innovators across India.
Idea Incubation
Shortlisted participants receive guided 1-on-1 mentorship, business model refining, and investor pitch deck preparation.
LSM Pitch Events
Curated local meets connecting early-stage founders directly to VCs, angel investor networks, and domain mentors for feedback & funding.
Scale & Connect
Top startups receive long-term mentorship, access to incubation networks, and capital pipelines to scale their ventures nationally.
Moments That Built
the Ecosystem
From packed auditoriums and startup pitches to networking sessions and founder interactions — explore the journey of EAD & LSM across India.


































































































































We believe in the power of community
EAD-LSM has hosted voices like Deepit Purkayastha (Co-Founder & CEO, Inshorts), Ashutosh Naik (Chief Commercial Officer, Groww), and Ram Mohan Rao (Executive Director, SEBI), bringing real startup and investment experience directly to students.
- DP
Deepit Purkayastha
Co-Founder & CEO, Inshorts | LSM – Delhi
“I really enjoyed interacting with the founders at LSM. The energy, ambition, and quality of ideas were refreshing. Platforms like this are exactly what India's startup ecosystem needs to help entrepreneurs learn, connect, and grow.”
Aug 07, 2026 - AS
Aisha Sharma
BITS Pilani
“EAD is a real gem! I attended the roadshow last year and it completely changed the way I look at starting up. I can only recommend it!”
Jan 18, 2026 - AB
Achal Bakeri
Founder, Chairman & MD, Symphony Ltd. | EAD – Ahmedabad
“EAD gives students a rare opportunity to learn entrepreneurship directly from founders and industry leaders. It's encouraging to see so many young innovators taking the first step towards building impactful startups.”
Aug 07, 2026 - RV
Rahul Verma
IIT Kharagpur
“I pitch at LSM every year, and it's awesome! I met our lead seed investor right at the Kolkata edition. Essential for early stage founders! :)”
Jan 18, 2026 - AN
Ashutosh Naik
Chief Commercial Officer, Groww | LSM – Mumbai
“The conversations at LSM felt genuine and insightful. Meeting ambitious startup founders, sharing experiences, and discussing business growth made it a truly worthwhile experience.”
Aug 07, 2026 - PP
Priya Patel
COEP Tech, Pune
“The mentorship sessions during EAD were top notch. Connected with founders who gave us direct actionable feedback on our business model.”
Jan 18, 2026 - KG
Kumar Gaurav
Partner, EY | LSM – Delhi
“What stood out to me was the quality of founders and the openness to learn. LSM creates meaningful conversations between entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors, which is exactly how strong startup ecosystems are built.”
Aug 07, 2026 - KS
Karan Singh
VIT, Vellore
“Showcasing at Local Startups Meet opened doors to ₹25L in seed capital. The E-Cell IIT Kharagpur team organized a truly seamless event!”
Jan 18, 2026 - BM
B. L. Mittal
Founder & Executive Chairman, SastaSundar | LSM – Kolkata
“Every successful entrepreneur benefits from the right guidance at the right time. LSM brings together founders, investors, and industry experts on one platform, making it an excellent initiative for startup networking and mentorship.”
Aug 07, 2026
- NG
Neha Gupta
DTU, Delhi
“I use EAD insights every day for our startup strategy! I track all our regional growth milestones thanks to the network we built there.”
Jan 18, 2026 - RR
Ram Mohan Rao
Executive Director, SEBI | EAD – Nagpur
“It's inspiring to see so many students curious about entrepreneurship and innovation. EAD encourages young minds to think bigger, ask better questions, and understand what it takes to build sustainable businesses.”
Aug 07, 2026 - SR
Siddharth Rao
Jadavpur University, Kolkata
“EAD is a game changer for tier-2/3 cities! It brought ecosystem opportunities right to our campus when no one else was visiting.”
Jan 18, 2026 - PM
Pulkit Mehrotra
Vice President, Unicorn India Ventures | LSM – Indore
“I was impressed by the founders and the quality of startup discussions at LSM. Initiatives like this help entrepreneurs refine their ideas, build valuable connections, and prepare for long-term growth.”
Aug 07, 2026 - AJ
Aditi Joshi
LNCT, Bhopal
“The energy at EAD city roadshows is electrifying! Over 1,000+ enthusiastic students in a single hall ready to innovate.”
Jan 18, 2026 - NG
Nutan Gupta
COO, EaseMyTrip | LSM – Gurugram
“The enthusiasm of the participants was infectious. LSM is creating an environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from experienced leaders while building a strong startup community.”
Aug 07, 2026 - VM
Vikram Mehta
Nirma University, Ahmedabad
“Local Startups Meet gave my team the perfect platform to validate our idea. The feedback from the judges was incredible.”
Jan 18, 2026 - MK
Manjunatha Kukkuru
Vice President, Infosys Business Incubator | LSM – Bengaluru
“Innovation grows when founders have access to the right mentors and ecosystem. LSM brings together entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors in a way that creates real learning and long-term collaboration.”
Aug 07, 2026 - PA
Prateek Aggarwal
President, Value Creation, RPSG Group | EAD – Kolkata
“What impressed me most about EAD was the curiosity and drive of the students. Creating opportunities like this helps nurture future founders and strengthens India's entrepreneurial ecosystem from the ground up.”
Aug 07, 2026
You Have Questions,
We Have Answers
Have questions about EAD-LSM, sponsorships, or bringing an event to your city?
Location
Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur
West Bengal 721302, India
Tell Us What You Need
Our team is ready to assist you with every detail. Drop an email or message.


