# 30 Under 30

> 1stepGrow 30 Under 30 recognises young builders, researchers and founders in AI, data, cloud and software: eligibility, criteria and how to nominate.

- **Last updated:** Sep 11, 2026
- **Canonical URL:** https://www.1stepgrow.com/30-under-30/

## At a glance

- 30 Under 30 is 1stepGrow's recognition list of 30 young technologists, founders and researchers under the age of 30.
- Nominees must be under 30 on the closing date of the edition and working in or from India.
- Anyone can nominate, self-nominations are welcome, and nominating is free.
- The editorial jury selects the final 30 against published criteria covering impact, originality and contribution.

30 Under 30 is 1stepGrow's annual list of young people doing serious work in technology. We look for evidence: something built, researched, shipped or taught, and a clear sense of the nominee's own contribution to it.

## Who is eligible

- Under 30 years of age on the closing date of the edition.
- Working in or from India in technology — founders, engineers, researchers, creators and educators.
- A public, verifiable record of work: products, repositories, research, talks or community projects.

## Categories

- **AI and machine learning**: Models, applied AI products and research put to real use.
- **Data and analytics**: Data engineering, analytics and decision systems that changed outcomes.
- **Cloud, DevOps and security**: Infrastructure, platforms and security work that others depend on.
- **Software and product**: Products, open-source projects and developer tools with real users.
- **EdTech and learning**: New ways of teaching technology and widening access to it.
- **Community and social impact**: Communities, initiatives and technology built for public good.
## Selection criteria

- **Impact:** measurable outcomes — users, adoption, revenue, citations, people trained.
- **Originality:** a new approach to a real problem.
- **Leadership:** initiative, ownership and the ability to bring others along.
- **Contribution:** open source, knowledge-sharing, mentoring or community building.

## How selection works

1. **Nominations open**: Anyone can nominate someone — or themselves — through the form on this page.
2. **Eligibility and verification**: Editors confirm age eligibility and check achievements against public sources.
3. **Jury review**: Shortlisted nominees are scored for impact, originality, leadership and contribution.
4. **Announcement**: The final 30 are announced on this page, each with a short profile.
The jury is drawn from the 1stepGrow editorial desk and our [executive board](https://www.1stepgrow.com/executive-board/). Jury members declare conflicts of interest and do not assess nominees they have a relationship with.

## The list

Nominations for the current edition are open. The 30 selected nominees will be announced on this page, each with a profile explaining why they were chosen.

## Submit a nomination

Be specific about what the nominee has achieved and link to public evidence. Plain text only — no attachments.

_Submit through the form at https://www.1stepgrow.com/30-under-30/#submit, or email contacts@1stepgrow.com. Plain text only; no attachments._
Nominating a more senior leader? See [25 Tech Leaders](https://www.1stepgrow.com/25-tech-leaders/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is 1stepGrow 30 Under 30?

It is an editorial recognition list of 30 young people under 30 who are building, researching or teaching technology, selected by the 1stepGrow editorial jury.

### Who is eligible for 30 Under 30?

Anyone under 30 on the closing date of the edition who is working in or from India in technology — as a founder, engineer, researcher, creator or educator — with a verifiable record of work.

### Can I nominate myself for 30 Under 30?

Yes. Self-nominations are welcome and are assessed in the same way as nominations made by others.

### Is there a fee to apply?

No. Nominating is free. Selection is made by the editorial jury against the published criteria.

### What evidence should a nomination include?

Specific achievements with public links — a product, repository, paper, talk, award or press coverage — and a clear explanation of the nominee's own role.