PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, February 12: XLRI Jamshedpur’s incubation centre, XCEED, through its student execution committee NEXORA, hosted NEXCON 2026 — its flagship Investor & Startup Summit — at the Tata Auditorium on campus.
The summit drew more than 1,000 in-person attendees and over 500 virtual participants from across the country, bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, students and working professionals.
Designed as a practical learning forum, NEXCON 2026 aimed to bridge theory and real-world startup execution. The event provided participants with direct exposure to how startups are ideated, evaluated, funded and scaled.
The summit was attended by XLRI Director Fr. S. George; Fr. Joseph Mathew; and Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi, CEO of XCEED, along with senior faculty members and representatives from the XLRI ecosystem.
Chief guests Aditi Murarka Agrawal, Founder of Nestasia and an XLRI alumna (Class of 2015), and actor-entrepreneur Arijit Dutta shared candid reflections on their entrepreneurial journeys, challenges and growth experiences.
Live ‘Shark Tank’ Style Pitch Competition
The highlight of the summit was a Shark Tank–style live pitch competition, where shortlisted startups presented their ventures before a panel of investors and founders. The session featured rapid-fire questioning, real-time evaluation and direct investor feedback.
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More than 200 startups registered in January 2026 and underwent multiple screening rounds, with four finalists selected to pitch live:
- Shyamal Patel – Founder, XLSlides (XLRI Jamshedpur)
- Deepak Kumar – Yogitha Biofarming Private Limited (Kharagpur)
- Omkar Kumar and Ashirwad – Labour Link (BIT Sindri)
- Chaitanya Arora and Megha Agarwal – HeyDo Tech (XLRI Jamshedpur)
The showcase offered participants a rare opportunity to witness investor scrutiny and the art of pitching under pressure.
Panel on Building and Scaling Startups
Another key segment was a panel discussion titled “Zero to One: How to Build and Scale a Startup”, moderated by Prof. Rahul Shukla.
The discussion explored founder–market fit, early-stage execution challenges, scaling strategies and the critical metrics investors assess before backing a venture. The interactive session provided practical insights into building sustainable startups in a competitive landscape.
Distinguished Speakers from the Startup Ecosystem
NEXCON 2026 featured speakers from across the entrepreneurial and financial ecosystem, including founders, angel investors, banking leaders and startup mentors. Their collective experience spanned venture creation, investment strategy, digital transformation and startup banking.
Strengthening XLRI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Through NEXCON 2026, XCEED and NEXORA reinforced XLRI Jamshedpur’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship by facilitating real-world exposure, mentorship and investor engagement for students and emerging founders.
The summit concluded with a formal vote of thanks and was organised under the guidance of Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi and the NEXORA team.
About XCEED
XCEED is XLRI Jamshedpur’s incubation and entrepreneurship development centre, dedicated to supporting early-stage ventures through structured incubation, mentorship and access to a strong entrepreneurial network.
With NEXCON 2026, XLRI once again positioned itself at the forefront of promoting innovation and entrepreneurial excellence in Eastern India.
