The Pitch Days will be on the TCS campuses on Tuesday in Mumbai and next Thursday in Bengaluru. The one-day events will be open to early-stage start-ups in the financial technology sector.

Ten start-ups will be chosen. These will be offered an opportunity to participate in the 13-week Startupbootcamp FinTech accelerator programme in London or Singapore.

Markus Gnirck, co-founder and global chief operating officer, said, “Being a part of our Pitch Days means start-ups are on the Startupbootcamp FinTech watch list for life, giving these a greater chance of being selected for one of our global programmes.”

The shortlisted start-ups from the Pitch Day could be selected for mentorship from 100-plus entrepreneurs, investors, and partners. These will get access to top markets in London, the US, and the Asia-Pacific, and three months of free office space, €15,000 in cash per team, €450,000 in partner services, and exposure to 200 angel investors and venture capital funds.

K Ananth Krishnan, chief technology officer at TCS, said, “As part of our Co-Innovation Network (COIN), we have been working with start-ups across the world." TCS had in 2012 set up a centre in the Silicon Valley. It functions as a research and development unit, which boosts the company’s presence in the mobility space.

Under the COIN initiative started in 2004, TCS has been partnering academia, start-ups and venture capitalists (VCs). The company’s start-up alliances span the US, Europe, Asia and Israel.

Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant, too, are engaging with these communities. Infosys and Wipro are also investing in start-ups. Wipro has created a fund for start-ups.