Startup Competitions & Hackathons in India

PayPal's online hackathon for apps that combine the PayPal developer platform with AI. US$67,500 (about ₹64 lakh) in cash prizes, with US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh) for first place. Closes 12 November 2026.

University of California robotics and AI challenge for student teams solving real farm problems: over US$200,000 in prizes and startup support, open to students worldwide. Proposals due 13 November 2026 (the Participate page says 13 December).

A nationwide buildathon for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs to build and scale AI-powered solutions with Google AI, expert mentorship, and startup grants and credits.

DARPA's prize contest for autonomous trauma-surgery robots: US$3.5 million in prizes, up to US$1 million (about ₹9.5 crore) per lane. Qualification closes 14 November 2026 IST.

Online semiconductor contest for university students, with India as its own competing region. Top prize US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) per track; the abstract round is open until 14 November 2026 (originally 31 October).

An India-wide grand challenge inviting students, startups, and enterprises to build innovative digital twin solutions for India's logistics sector, offering cash prizes and access to key datasets.

Free global pitch competition for high school founders, with a US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) equity-free grand prize. Applications close 14 November 2026.

CII Foundation and Cadence offer ₹10 lakh financial assistance, mentorship, and a field pilot opportunity to market-ready crop residue management startups.

Two-week online hackathon on NEAR for AI agents and cross-chain payments; US$250,000 pool, top prize US$55,000, paid in NEAR. Closes 14 Nov 2026.

A national challenge to identify and accelerate validated, deployable innovations addressing heat and climate-health challenges in India, offering cash prizes and support.

An online, beginner-friendly hackathon with a $300 prize pool, open to participants worldwide including India.

Up to US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh) each for up to 10 private-sector ocean solutions delivered in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Viet Nam. Closes 15 November 2026.

The D-Prize Global Competition provides up to US$20,000 to launch new organizations distributing proven poverty solutions in low- and middle-income countries.

Wageningen University challenge for student teams worldwide to design tech-enabled ideas that bring biodiversity back to rural land, with €9,000 in prizes.

Open deep-tech pitch contest at CES 2027, Las Vegas, 6–7 January. Four battles, US$3,000 (about ₹2.85 lakh) per winner. Entries close 16 November 2026; you must already attend CES.

Meta's contest for VR Start members building hands-first VR/MR apps for Meta Quest. Top prizes of US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh), up to US$1 million in total. Entries close 18 November 2026.

Abu Dhabi challenge for a low-cost, drone-deployable seed-carrier to regreen the UAE desert. US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh) prize. Submit a proposal by 19 November 2026.

A national-level virtual hackathon by IEEE SMC GNITC — 48-hour sprint with a $1,350 prize pool.

Free global pitch competition for high school founders, with a US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) equity-free grand prize. Applications close 14 November 2026.

CII Foundation and Cadence offer ₹10 lakh financial assistance, mentorship, and a field pilot opportunity to market-ready crop residue management startups.

Up to US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh) each for up to 10 private-sector ocean solutions delivered in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand or Viet Nam. Closes 15 November 2026.

The D-Prize Global Competition provides up to US$20,000 to launch new organizations distributing proven poverty solutions in low- and middle-income countries.

Open deep-tech pitch contest at CES 2027, Las Vegas, 6–7 January. Four battles, US$3,000 (about ₹2.85 lakh) per winner. Entries close 16 November 2026; you must already attend CES.

A national-level virtual hackathon by IEEE SMC GNITC — 48-hour sprint with a $1,350 prize pool.