This isn’t just another award. It’s not a trophy on a shelf or a badge on a LinkedIn profile. The One of a Kind Startup Awards, presented by The Economic Times and Cashfree Payments, was built specifically for early-stage, internet-first founders. The ones building quietly, moving fast, and solving problems most people haven’t even noticed yet.
And India’s startup community is taking notice.
The buzz is real
Since applications opened on April 13, founders from across sectors have been signing up. From AI-first tools to bootstrapped consumer brands, from category creators to startups with unusually loyal customer bases, the diversity of who’s applying tells its own story.
Today startups from metros and tier-II cities are building fintech, healthtech, D2C, SaaS, and spaces that don’t have neat labels yet. What they share is simple: they believe they’re building something one of a kind. And they want the right people to know about it.
Why this one is worth your time
India has no shortage of startup awards. But most of them celebrate companies that have already made it. This one is different. The One of a Kind Startup Awards is built for the early stage, the messy, uncertain, pre-scale phase where the right recognition can genuinely change a startup’s trajectory.
Being part of this platform means getting in front of an audience that matters. The Economic Times reaches millions of business decision-makers, investors, and industry leaders across the country. Cashfree Payments powers over a million businesses in India. Together, they bring a level of visibility that most early-stage startups spend years trying to earn organically.
Then there’s the jury. These aren’t ceremonial names on a letterhead. They are active investors, unicorn founders, and ecosystem builders who are genuinely looking for the next great idea. Getting evaluated by them, win or lose, is itself an opportunity. The kind that doesn’t come around often at this stage. These aren’t people who will skim a pitch deck. They’ll engage with it.
And for the startups that do win? The national spotlight, the resources, and the network that follows can compress years of growth into months.
Five categories. One clear signal.
The awards span five categories, each recognising a different kind of early-stage excellence.
- AI Innovator is for startups using AI to solve real problems, not as a feature on top of an existing product.
- GTM Excellence is for founders who’ve cracked distribution in creative, unexpected ways.
- Category Creator is for the ones building something that didn’t exist before.
- Customer Experience Delight is for startups whose users don’t just return, but advocate.
- Bootstrapped Champion is for the founders who’ve built real traction without relying on external capital.
Each category is a statement. There’s more than one way to be exceptional. The awards recognise all of them.
The window is closing
Applications close on May 31, 2026. After that, a data-backed evaluation begins, looking at GTM innovation, scalability, and market traction. Shortlisted startups then present directly to the jury on June 30. Winners are revealed at the felicitation ceremony on July 20.
The process is transparent. The timeline is tight. And the opportunity is real.
One thing to remember
The best startups don’t wait for the world to discover them. They put themselves in rooms where the right people are paying attention. The One of a Kind Startup Awards is one of those rooms.
If your startup is incorporated after April 2020, generates revenue of up to ₹10 crore, and is built on a digital-first model, you’re eligible. The question isn’t whether you qualify. The question is whether you’ll apply before someone else in your space does.
Applications are open at economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-spotlight/cashfree. The deadline is May 31, 2026.