During his visit, Poddar discussed innovations and business strategies with startup founders and shared insights from his career, highlighting the potential of India's youth-led startup ecosystem.

This initiative reflects a broader shift in India's startup landscape, moving from consumer tech to deep-tech and sustainable solutions, with institutions like IIT Kanpur leading the charge.

IIT Kanpur has secured a substantial $3.5 million in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from Foxhog Ventures to support startups in critical sectors such as aerospace, defense, and agritech.

Foxhog Ventures is also exploring various investment models, including equity and debt, to ensure sustainable support for these startups.

Recognized for its diverse investments, Foxhog Ventures is preparing for an IPO in the Indian market, demonstrating its strong commitment to growth in the region.

Tarun Poddar, the CEO of Foxhog Ventures, visited IIT Kanpur on June 11, 2025, where he engaged with student entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of supporting India's innovation ecosystem.

In addition to the CSR funding, Foxhog Ventures will manage a dedicated CEO Fund to provide research and development grants to startups aligned with their social impact mission.

This investment is part of Foxhog's broader CSR initiatives, which focus on fostering innovation in various sectors, including sustainability.

Prof. Deepu Philip from the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur presented the center's vision and milestones, underscoring the value of Foxhog's support in empowering tech-oriented startups.

The collaboration between IIT Kanpur and Foxhog Ventures aims to combine mentorship and capital to create scalable and impactful solutions in these critical sectors.

To formalize this partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be established, outlining the evaluation, mentoring, and monitoring processes for the supported startups.

The funding will be managed through the SIIC, focusing on accelerating growth for startups and enhancing the innovative ecosystem in India.