24 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — August 2026

As of 2 August 2026, 24 startup competitions in India are accepting applications. Of these, 10 are newly launched and 15 close within 14 days. The highest-value contests include Rapid Regen Challenge (₹65 crore), MIT India Pune Hackathon (₹25 crore), GatewayHacks 2026 (₹1.1 crore), and Startup Dangal Season 3.0 (₹1 crore).

Several competitions focus on specific sectors — agriculture, labor mobility, cybersecurity, and Web3. Others welcome any tech or business idea. Deadlines matter: 15 competitions close by 6 August, so teams should review the list and prepare submissions immediately.

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At a Glance

Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize

Rapid Regen Challenge is a CSR initiative by PepsiCo, designed and executed by the^delta prize (AIC NCORE Developmental Impact Foundation). It funds non-profit organizations and civil society organizations that deploy regenerative agriculture practices across India. The programme targets 500 hectares and 500–1,000 smallholder farmers in Year 1, with a 24-month implementation period.

Selected organizations receive a share of the ₹65 crore prize pool. Eligibility is limited to non-profits and CSOs; for-profit startups are not the target. The application deadline is 2 August 2026.

GBT AI Ignite 2026

GBT AI Ignite 2026 is an AI innovation hackathon organized by GoBeyondTickets (GBT). Participants choose from ten problem statements spanning AI agents, healthcare, education, and smart systems. The competition is open to students, developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts; individual and team registrations are accepted.

The total prize pool is ₹1.8 lakh. Submissions close 3 August 2026.

AlgoOlympia 1.0

AlgoOlympia 1.0 is a national ideation and algorithmic design hackathon hosted by the School of CSE, Nalanda Chandigarh University. Unlike a typical coding contest, it emphasizes system architecture and algorithmic logic. Three tracks are offered: Healthcare, Women's Safety, and Sustainable Development Goals.

Eligibility is open to undergraduate, postgraduate, and corporate tech professionals. Teams must have exactly three members. The prize pool is ₹1.1 lakh and the deadline is 3 August 2026.

PixxelHack 2.0 – A Web Development Hackathon

PixxelHack 2.0 is a web development hackathon organized by the TCET-ACM-SIGITE Student Chapter at Thakur College of Engineering and Technology, Mumbai. It invites college students across India to build responsive and visually engaging web solutions.

Cross-college teams are allowed. The winner receives ₹6,000. Registrations close 3 August 2026.

Backblaze Generative Media Hackathon: Build with Genblaze on B2

Backblaze's Generative Media Hackathon is a global online competition that challenges developers to build creative applications using Backblaze B2 cloud storage and the Genblaze platform for generative media workflows. There are no geographic restrictions, and Indian participants are welcome.

The prize pool is ₹9.2 lakh. The deadline is 3 August 2026.

Build with Paritok: The Token-Efficiency Hackathon

Build with Paritok is a virtual hackathon hosted on Devpost by Paritok. The challenge focuses on token efficiency — optimizing how tokens are used in AI/ML workflows, productivity tools, or open-ended creative projects. Submissions are open-ended as long as they demonstrate token efficiency.

The event is open to individual developers and teams worldwide. The prize pool is ₹57,960. Applications close 5 August 2026.

SNAPSURROUND 2026 Phase 2: Turn your surrounding into Gauranteed Cash

SNAPSURROUND 2026 Phase 2 is an online visual intelligence case challenge by InteractUp. Participants capture and organize images from their surroundings — household items, electronics, gym equipment — into structured submissions. It tests observation and categorization skills.

Anyone with an Android phone can participate; no prior experience is needed. Teams of 1–2 members are allowed. The prize pool is ₹1.5 lakh and the deadline is 5 August 2026.

DEMUX 3.0 (BVRIT)

DEMUX 3.0 is a national-level hackathon for B.Tech students organized by B V Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT). It features six tracks and encourages the use of AI tools. Teams can be formed with fellow students, and individual registrations are accepted.

The total prize pool is ₹50,000. The deadline is 5 August 2026.

DEMUX 3.0 (BVRIT-N)

The second DEMUX 3.0 listing is a 24-hour online hackathon hosted by BV Raju Institute of Technology, Narsapur (BVRIT-N). It is open to students and early-career developers across India. Teams of 2–3 members are required.

The prize pool is also ₹50,000. The deadline is 5 August 2026. Note that two separate DEMUX 3.0 events are listed, both with the same prize and deadline.

AlgoVerse'26

AlgoVerse'26 is a hybrid Algorand hackathon organized by Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Pune, in collaboration with AlgoBharat. It focuses on Agentic Payments (x402), a pay-per-use AI and compute service model on the Algorand blockchain. Participants build working x402 endpoints and pitch business models.

Open to all students across India, with inter-college teams allowed. The prize pool is ₹46,000. Submission deadline is 5 August 2026.

Cross-Border Jobs Competition

Cross-Border Jobs Competition is run by Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP). It seeks startups that improve labor mobility across South and Southeast Asia — for example, platforms that help workers move, connect, and thrive across borders. The focus is on fairer, safer, and scalable migration pathways.

The prize pool is ₹8.3 lakh. Eligibility is for startups, and the deadline is 5 August 2026.

The Vingo Campus Strategy Challenge '26

The Vingo Campus Strategy Challenge '26 is a national case competition organized by Vingo, a community-first marketplace. Students solve real business problems in strategy, product, growth, and marketing. Winners get a share of the ₹30,000 prize pool.

Open to students across India. The deadline is 5 August 2026.

HackDevengers 1.0

HackDevengers 1.0 is an international online hackathon by Devengers. It is a solo, 8-hour competition with tracks in Generative AI, AI/ML, and Web Development. Participants build a complete solution individually.

The prize pool is ₹27,600. The deadline is 6 August 2026.

International Hackathon Competition 2026

International Hackathon Competition 2026 is an online, multi-round hackathon organized by Sofzenix IT Solution LLP. It follows an open innovation theme — participants can build any idea using AI, web, or mobile technologies. Teams of 1–4 members are allowed.

The total prize pool is over ₹8 lakh, plus internship opportunities and certificates. The deadline is 6 August 2026.

VentureX

VentureX is an 18-hour hackathon organized by IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Participants solve real-world problem statements provided at the start, developing practical solutions and presenting them. It evaluates creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Open to students at any recognized university in India. Teams of 2–5 members. The prize pool is ₹25,000. Deadline is 6 August 2026. This competition is both newly launched and closing soon.

MIT India Pune Hackathon 2026

MIT India Pune Hackathon 2026 is an innovation competition by MIT India, with a prize pool of ₹25 crore. It includes two tracks: Engineering and Design. The engineering track covers technical innovation, coding, and hardware; the design track focuses on UX and product design.

Open to individuals and teams across India. The deadline is 9 August 2026.

BTT Web Game Jam - Summer 2026

BTT Web Game Jam is an online game jam focused on browser-based games. It is beginner-friendly and open to developers worldwide. Participants design and build a playable web game within the jam period.

The prize is ₹9,200. The jam runs from 7–21 August 2026; submissions close 21 August.

CyberHack 2026

CyberHack 2026 is a 24-hour cybersecurity hackathon by Shri Ram Murti Smarak College of Engineering, Technology & Research (SRMS CET&R), Bareilly. It uses Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges to test skills in ethical hacking and security.

Open to students and professionals interested in cybersecurity. The prize pool is ₹51,000. Deadline is 25 August 2026.

OneAquaHealth IEEE Global Hackathon 2026

OneAquaHealth IEEE Global Hackathon 2026 is an online international challenge organized by the OneAquaHealth Project. Participants develop solutions related to aquatic health and sustainability.

Open to students, researchers, and innovators globally. The prize pool is US$8,000 (approximately ₹7.4 lakh). Deadline is 31 August 2026.

NexHack 2.0

NexHack 2.0 is a 36-hour national hackathon by the Institute of Information Technology & Management (IITM), New Delhi. It focuses on AI-driven solutions to real-world challenges. The event runs 25–26 September 2026, with an online idea presentation on 5 September.

Open to college students across India. Teams of 2–5 members, with cross-disciplinary teams encouraged. The prize pool is ₹37,000. Deadline is 26 September 2026.

GatewayHacks 2026 | Software & AI

GatewayHacks 2026 is an online hackathon by GatewayGS, a community-driven initiative for developers, designers, and innovators. It has two themes: Software and AI, with an emphasis on social good and beginner accessibility.

Open to anyone interested in software development, machine learning, or AI. The prize pool is ₹1.1 crore. Deadline is 2 October 2026.

IEEEXtreme 20.0 Global Programming Competition 2026

IEEEXtreme 20.0 is a global 24-hour programming competition organized by IEEE. Student teams compete to solve algorithmic challenges in real time. Teams have up to three members; solo participants can be matched into teams.

Open to IEEE student members and non-member students worldwide. The prize pool is valued at approximately ₹9.2 lakh. The competition takes place on 21 October 2026, which is also the registration deadline.

United Hacks V8

United Hacks V8 is an online hackathon by Hack United, aimed at beginners. It runs from 8–10 January 2027, with participants building projects remotely and submitting via Devpost.

Open to all skill levels; solo and team participation allowed. The prize is US$700 (approximately ₹64,400). Deadline is 10 January 2027.

Startup Dangal Season 3.0 - Hyderabad

Startup Dangal Season 3.0 is a startup competition held across 19 major locations in India, with a hybrid format in Hyderabad. It is open to startups of all sizes and industries, from seed-stage to established companies.

The prize pool is ₹1 crore. This competition has a rolling deadline — applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Before Applying

Before applying, check eligibility: Rapid Regen Challenge only accepts non-profits and CSOs, while Cross-Border Jobs is for startups in labor mobility. DEMUX 3.0 (BVRIT) is restricted to B.Tech students, and AlgoOlympia 1.0 requires teams of exactly three. AlgoVerse'26 welcomes all students but is limited to academic participants.

The fastest-approaching deadline is Rapid Regen Challenge on 2 August. Fifteen competitions close within 48 hours after that. IEEEXtreme 20.0 is a single-day annual event on 21 October; missing it means waiting until next year. NexHack 2.0 has a pre-hackathon online idea presentation on 5 September, after which shortlisted teams proceed. International Hackathon Competition involves three online rounds starting 13 August. Startup Dangal accepts rolling applications, so no deadline pressure there.