Pune is called as the ‘Oxford of the East’, as it is a hub to many educational institutes. COEP Technological University (formerly known as College of Engineering, Pune) is a prominent educational institute in Pune as it is the 3rd oldest engineering college in Asia. Established in 1854, this institute is a 168-year-old legacy. COEP Tech has many notable alumni from different walks of life like Bharat Ratna Mr. M Visvesvaraya, Prof. Thomas Kailath, Dr. C. K. N. Patel and many more to name. COEP Tech strives for the overall development of its students.

It is a students led club, supported by the institute and mentored by faculty. BHAU's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cell, COEP Tech aims to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among students. The cell has been organizing various engaging events to inculcate an interest in entrepreneurship and Startups. For example, IDEA competition, B-Plan Competition, Case Study Activity, Budgeting, Workshops, and seminars, etc. Pune Startup Fest (PSF) is the annual entrepreneurial festival organized by the I&E-Cell of COEP Tech. COEP Tech's I&E-Cell is a pre-incubation center of COEP Tech.

Pune Start-up Fest'23, brought together 170+ innovative start-ups through a 'Launchpad',a start-up expo, along with investors, mentors, C-Level executives from top corporations, industry, and people across the country and successfully epitomized this idea over the two grand days of the fest. • An infusion of Rs. 5 Cr+ was deployed as a capital investment at Pitcher's Valley.
• A footfall of over 15000+ people including students and corporates.
• More than 120 investors, mentors, and industry experts.
• A prize pool of Rs. 1 Lakh was awarded for the competitions organised during PSF'23.
• A dedicated "Student Startup Zone" for enabling opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
• "Student Internships" - to help students find internships in startups.
• Rs.12 Cr+ were invested into startups over the last 5 years.

Pitcher's Valley is an exhilarating live pitching event, where registered startups undergo rigorous scrutiny based on their pitch deck, out of which, around 10 exceptional startups are handpicked to present their innovative business ideas in front of some of the most prominent venture investors of India. The inaugural edition of Pitchers Valley took place last year, wherein an infusion of INR 5 crore was deployed as a capital investment.

Embark on a journey of innovation at Pune Startup Fest'23 Launchpad, where 170+ startups converge to showcase cutting-edge products and services. This flagship event attracts a diverse audience, from investors and mentors to industry experts and potential customers. With zones dedicated to student startups, technical marvels, and social initiatives, Launchpad caters to a spectrum of interests. It's not just an expo; it's an opportunity hub for inspiration, collaboration, and investment. Join us at Pune Startup Fest's Launch Pad Expo, where the future of entrepreneurship unfolds—don't miss out on witnessing the next big thing in the startup world!