Refund & Cancellation Policy

The application fee covers participation and administration and is non-refundable once payment has been confirmed and the application submitted. Not progressing to Round 2, the semi-final or the final is a normal competition outcome and is not grounds for a refund. Withdrawing voluntarily after submitting does not entitle you to a refund.

If you are charged more than once for the same application, the duplicate amount is refunded in full. Write to apply@youngfounderschallenge.in with the payment references and we will verify with the payment provider.

If a payment fails or is interrupted, no application is created and no fee is due. Where an amount has been debited but the payment provider reports the payment as failed, the amount is returned by the provider or the bank, typically within 5–7 working days.

If the organiser cancels the competition before judging is complete, all paid entry fees are refunded in full. If the competition is rescheduled rather than cancelled, entries carry over and fees are not refunded.

If we determine an entry is ineligible for a reason the participant did not misrepresent — for example an administrative error on our side — the fee is refunded in full. Where an entry is disqualified for a breach by the participant, including false information or plagiarism, the fee is not refunded.

Email apply@youngfounderschallenge.in from the email address used on the application, with the application reference, the payment reference and a short explanation. We aim to respond within 7 working days. Approved refunds are returned to the original payment method by the payment provider, normally within 7–10 working days of approval.

Online payments are being set up with our payment provider. Until payments are live, an application can be prepared and saved but is not confirmed as entered, and no fee is collected.