18 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — ₹149.0 Cr+ in Prizes — August 2026

Indian startups currently have 18 active competitions available for applications in August 2026. This includes five newly launched programs and 15 opportunities closing within the next 14 days. Notable programs include the ₹100 crore Startup League 2026, the RBIH TechSprint for Enhanced Due Diligence, and BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 by Estée Lauder Companies and Nykaa.

At a Glance

TechGALA Japan Program 2026 (India Accelerator)

The TechGALA Japan Program 2026 is a collaboration between India Accelerator and 01Booster Inc., Japan. This program aims to identify innovative Indian startups for integration into Japan's innovation ecosystem. India Accelerator leads a nationwide selection process, culminating in a pitch showcase in Bengaluru. The top 5 startups will represent India at TechGALA Japan 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, from 15-17 December 2026, receiving travel support and market-entry assistance. Over 60 high-potential startups across various deep-tech and innovation sectors are evaluated. Applications close on 23 August 2026.

NeuralSprint (Devpost)

NeuralSprint is an online hackathon hosted on Devpost. It invites developers, designers, and innovators to build projects at the intersection of machine learning, AI, web, and social good. Participants can work individually or in teams to create impactful prototypes. The competition is open globally to students, professionals, and hobbyists with an interest in AI/ML and social impact. The focus is on building solutions that address real-world problems using AI and web technologies. Submissions close on 24 August 2026, with a prize pool of ₹13,800.

CyberHack 2026 (SRMS CET&R)

CyberHack 2026 is a 24-hour cybersecurity hackathon organized by Shri Ram Murti Smarak College of Engineering, Technology & Research (SRMS CET&R), Bareilly. The event features Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges to assess skills in cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and problem-solving. It is open to students and professionals interested in cybersecurity, particularly those with a background in computer science, information security, or related fields. The hackathon concludes on 25 August 2026, offering a prize of ₹51,000.

The Great Agent Hackathon (Women In Product India)

The Great Agent Hackathon is organized by Women In Product India, focusing on building AI agents for enterprise use cases. Participants are invited to create agent-based solutions leveraging machine learning and AI technologies. The competition is open to students, professionals, and early-stage builders, with encouragement for women in product and tech. Teams or solo participants can address any problem statement involving an intelligent agent, from customer support automation to internal workflow orchestration. Submissions are due by 25 August 2026, with a prize of ₹1 L.

Hack Synthesis 3.0 - 2026 (UEM Kolkata)

Hack Synthesis 3.0 - 2026 is a 30-hour hackathon organized by the University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata. It invites student innovators, designers, and developers from across India to collaborate and build solutions. The event is open to college students in India, with teams of 1 to 3 members. It operates under an Open Innovation theme, allowing participants to choose their problem and build a solution. The hackathon concludes on 25 August 2026, with a prize pool of ₹60,000.

AI Builders Hackathon (OSC)

The AI Builders Hackathon is an online, open-ended hackathon organized by OSC. It invites participants to build innovative AI-powered projects. The hackathon is beginner-friendly and welcomes participants globally, including Indian teams and individuals. It is open to anyone interested in AI and machine learning, from students to experienced developers and startup founders. The hackathon runs entirely online, with submissions due by 25 August 2026, and offers a prize pool of ₹3.6 L.

BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 (The Estée Lauder Companies Inc)

BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 is a beauty entrepreneurship and innovation program by The Estée Lauder Companies, in collaboration with Nykaa and supported by Startup India, DPIIT. This initiative aims to discover and empower founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives shaping the future of beauty for Indian consumers. It welcomes applications across various stages, from pre-launch concepts to established brands and breakthrough technologies, across categories like skincare, hair care, fragrance, makeup, wellness, and beauty-adjacent areas. The program offers a prize pool of ₹40 Cr and closes on 25 August 2026.

Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026 (Africa Deep Tech Foundation)

The Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2026 is an online hackathon organized by the Africa Deep Tech Foundation. It invites innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs globally, including Indian participants, to build deep tech solutions addressing real-world problems. The competition focuses on machine learning, AI, and productivity tools. It is suitable for developers, data scientists, engineers, and startup builders. The hackathon runs online, with submissions due by 27 August 2026, and offers a prize pool of ₹1.5 Cr.

Synq-a-thon (Ignite Room & Synq AI)

Synq-a-thon is a full-day hackathon hosted by Ignite Room in collaboration with Synq AI. It is designed for developers, engineers, and AI enthusiasts to solve enterprise challenges using Synq AI's context layer. The event focuses on building AI-powered solutions that integrate with real business data. This hackathon is for solo participants comfortable with coding and interested in enterprise AI. The event takes place on 29 August 2026, at the Synq AI Office in Gurugram, offering a prize of ₹1 L.

Mudhal Padi 2.0 – Investor Demo Day (StartupTN)

Mudhal Padi 2.0 – Investor Demo Day is organized by StartupTN's Erode Regional Hub and Yi (Young Indians), Karur Chapter. This event connects founders with a panel of investors, including venture capitalists, angel investors, and industry veterans, to secure funding, mentorship, and connections. Participants engage in live pitch sessions to articulate their vision and demonstrate their product or service. The primary goal is to foster a vibrant ecosystem for early-stage ventures. Applications close on 30 August 2026, with varying prize outcomes.

Hackfinity 3.0 (RIT Tamil Nadu)

Hackfinity 3.0 is a 24-hour hackathon organized by Ramco Institute of Technology (RIT), Tamil Nadu. It aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and creativity among student participants. Teams are encouraged to build functional prototypes or solutions addressing specific themes or challenges. This competition is open only to students from the same college, with teams of 2–4 members. It consists of two rounds: an online proposal submission followed by an on-site prototype development for shortlisted teams. The deadline for proposals is 30 August 2026, with a prize pool of ₹30,000.

UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 (UAE-India CEPA Council)

The UAE-India Start-up Series 2.0 is an initiative by the UAE-India CEPA Council to foster cross-border innovation and entrepreneurship. It targets high-potential Indian startups, providing opportunities to expand into the UAE and beyond. This program aims to deepen economic ties and collaboration in technology and business development, enabling Indian ventures to access new markets, capital, and a robust support ecosystem. It serves as a bridge for market access, investment pathways, and strategic partnerships. The deadline for applications is 30 August 2026, with a prize pool of ₹5.7 Cr.

OneAquaHealth IEEE Global Hackathon 2026 (OneAquaHealth Project)

The OneAquaHealth IEEE Global Hackathon 2026 is an online international challenge for students and innovators, organized by the OneAquaHealth Project. It invites participants globally to develop innovative solutions related to aquatic health and sustainability. The hackathon is open to students, researchers, and innovators. Participants can work remotely and submit their projects by the deadline of 31 August 2026, competing for a total prize pool of ₹7.4 L.

AI Builders Hackathon (T-Hub Hyderabad)

AI Builders Hackathon is a focused hackathon hosted at T-Hub Hyderabad, India's innovation ecosystem. The event is dedicated to building on the application layer of AI, encouraging participants to create practical, deployable AI solutions. It is open to Indian students, developers, and early-stage startup teams interested in building AI-powered applications. Solo participants and teams are welcome. The hackathon takes place on 31 August 2026, offering a total cash prize of ₹1 L, plus API credits for winning teams.

Hacksocial 2026 (Hacksocial)

Hacksocial 2026 is an online hackathon inviting participants globally to build technology solutions addressing social good challenges. Organized by Hacksocial, this competition encourages innovation in areas such as machine learning, AI, and open-ended problem-solving for positive social impact. It is open to developers, designers, students, and entrepreneurs globally, with teams and individuals welcome. The hackathon features an open-ended theme focused on social good. Submissions are due by 31 August 2026, with a prize pool of ₹2.3 L.

FEG Innovation Hackathon 2026 (T-Hub)

The FEG Innovation Hackathon 2026 is an intensive two-day innovation challenge designed to unite tech builders, startups, and creative thinkers. Hosted in partnership with T-Hub, this event focuses on tackling real-world digital entertainment problems faced by Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG). Participants choose from three product challenges related to Session Quality & User Conversion, Native App Experience, and Game Load Time. Teams transform an idea into a working prototype within 24 hours. The deadline is 7 September 2026, with prizes ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 L.

Startup League 2026 (Startup Stairs)

Startup League 2026 is India's DeepTech startup funding program, powered by Startup Stairs and backed by Startup Haryana, aligning with Startup India and DPIIT goals. This national initiative identifies and supports innovative Indian startups across DeepTech sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Electric Vehicles, Drone Technology, PCB & Semiconductor, and Defence Technology. Its objective is to help early to growth stage companies secure investment, foster connections with investors, and accelerate business trajectory. The deadline for applications is 15 September 2026, with a prize pool of ₹100 Cr.

RBIH TechSprint 2026 – Enhanced Due Diligence (Reserve Bank Innovation Hub)

The RBIH TechSprint 2026 – Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) is an innovation program spearheaded by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH). It addresses critical challenges in EDD within the Indian financial ecosystem by inviting fintech startups to develop advanced solutions that digitise and automate EDD processes, particularly for detecting and investigating mule accounts. The initiative builds upon RBIH's existing MuleHunter.AI ecosystem. There is a rolling deadline for applications, with varying prize outcomes.

Before Applying

Before submitting applications, prospective participants should review specific eligibility requirements. For instance, Hackfinity 3.0 is limited to students from the same college, requiring teams of 2–4 members, while the AI Builders Hackathon (T-Hub) is specifically for Indian students, developers, and early-stage startups. Conversely, the BEAUTY&YOU India 2026 program is inclusive across various development stages and beauty categories, and The Great Agent Hackathon, while encouraging women in product and tech, is broadly open to all.

Timelines for these competitions are critical, as many close within the next week. The TechGALA Japan Program 2026 and NeuralSprint have immediate deadlines on August 23rd and 24th, respectively. The RBIH TechSprint 2026, however, operates on a rolling deadline, allowing more flexibility. Applicants for Hackfinity 3.0 should note its two-round format, requiring an initial online proposal submission before prototype development. The TechGALA Japan Program 2026 also involves a multi-stage selection process, with top startups proceeding to a pitch showcase.