Archive · 29 Jun 2025
IIT Surpasses European Universities in Startup Founders
A new study looked at where the founders of big, successful companies (unicorns) went to college.
Stanford and Harvard were at the top, but the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was third!
This is a big deal because IIT is doing better than all the universities in Europe at creating successful companies.
Vinod Khosla, a tech investor, said it's a shame that more European universities aren't on the list, maybe because of cultural differences.
Most of the founders studied business or science.
India is also doing well, having the third most unicorn founders in the world.
A report analyzed the alma maters of 300+ unicorn startup founders.
Stanford and Harvard top the list, followed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
IIT outperformed all European universities in producing unicorn founders.
Vinod Khosla highlighted the absence of European universities in the top 20.
The report found most founders held business or STEM degrees.
- Who
- Vinod Khosla, the report authors, and founders of unicorn startups.
- What
- A report analyzing the universities attended by unicorn startup founders.
- When
- Report released on June 28, 2025.
- Where
- Global, with a focus on the US, India, and Europe.
- Why
- To highlight the sources of startup success and the role of universities in fostering entrepreneurship.
View from Vinod Khosla
Report Findings
University Performance
View from Vinod Khosla
European universities are underperforming.
Report Findings
N/A
- Report Source
- Mojo Mortgages
- Top 3 Universities
- Stanford, Harvard, IIT
- IIT Ranking
- 3rd Globally
- Unicorn Founders Studied
- 300+
- IIT Unicorn Founders
- 36
- Common Degrees
- Business or STEM