13 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — ₹7.1 Cr+ in Prizes — October 2026
October 2026 presents 13 active startup competitions across India, with significant funding and incubation opportunities. Early-stage startups, students, and innovators can find platforms addressing critical sectors from mobility to sustainability and climate tech.
Thirteen active startup competitions in India are currently open for applications this October 2026, offering diverse opportunities for innovators and early-stage ventures. This includes four newly launched programs and eleven opportunities with deadlines approaching within the next two weeks.
Among these, notable programs include the Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge, the Build, Ship, Shape Amazon Developer Hackathon, and the STPI IGNITE Open Challenge Programme, providing capital, mentorship, and market access across key sectors.
At a Glance
| Competition | Status | Deadline | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| BuildX Hackathon 2026 | Newly launched | 1 Nov 2026 | ₹15,000 – ₹50,000 |
| Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge 2026 | Newly launched | 10 Nov 2026 | ₹1 Cr |
| Nebius x NVIDIA Global AI Hackathon 2026 | New + closing soon | 30 Oct 2026 | ₹9,200 – ₹21.3 L |
| Build, Ship, Shape – Amazon Developer Hackathon 2026 | New + closing soon | 23 Oct 2026 | ₹3.7 L – ₹23 L |
| Ten Minute Million Challenge 2026 | Closing soon | 18 Oct 2026 | ₹35 L |
| IEEEXtreme 20.0 Global Programming Competition 2026 | Closing soon | 21 Oct 2026 | ₹9.2 L |
| Karnataka Government First Initiative | Closing soon | 23 Oct 2026 | ₹25 L |
| Hyundai CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026 | Closing soon | 23 Oct 2026 | ₹1 L – ₹4 L |
| IEEE ClimateChain Global Hackathon | Closing soon | 25 Oct 2026 | ₹2.8 L |
| STPI IGNITE Open Challenge Programme 2026 | Closing soon | 25 Oct 2026 | ₹2.5 L – ₹15 L |
| D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge | Closing soon | 31 Oct 2026 | ₹1 L – ₹25 L |
| Greenovation Circularity Challenge 2026 | Closing soon | 31 Oct 2026 | ₹4 Cr |
| MDBA Youth Blockchain Hackathon | Closing soon | 1 Nov 2026 | ₹46 L |
Ten Minute Million Challenge 2026 (E-Cell IIT Bombay)
Organized by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Bombay, the Ten Minute Million Challenge 2026 is a high-stakes pitch competition concluding today, 18 October 2026, as part of E-Summit 2026. It connects promising startups with leading investors, offering founders 10 minutes to present their solutions and business models. The competition provides a platform for securing substantial on-the-spot funding of up to ₹35 lakh and gaining invaluable feedback from industry experts.
IEEEXtreme 20.0 Global Programming Competition 2026 (IEEE)
IEEEXtreme 20.0 is a global 24-hour online programming competition by IEEE, challenging student teams to solve complex coding problems in real-time. The competition takes place on 21 October 2026, testing algorithmic skills, teamwork, and endurance. Open to IEEE student members and non-members worldwide, teams of up to three compete for a total prize pool valued at ₹9.2 lakh.
Build, Ship, Shape – Amazon Developer Hackathon 2026 (Amazon)
The Build, Ship, Shape Hackathon 2026 is a global online event hosted by Amazon Developer, with a deadline of 23 October 2026. It invites developers to create groundbreaking applications for Amazon's device ecosystem, including Fire TV, Alexa+, Bee wearable AI, and Ring devices. Participants have the opportunity to showcase technical excellence and innovate with Amazon's developer tools and platforms. Prizes range from ₹3.7 lakh to ₹23 lakh.
Karnataka Government First Initiative (Startup Karnataka)
The Karnataka Government First Initiative, launched by Startup Karnataka, closes on 23 October 2026. It provides startups with market access within the government ecosystem by enabling them to engage directly with various Government Departments, Boards, and Corporations. The program invites startups with innovative, deployment-ready solutions to address public problem statements, serving as a potential first customer for selected ventures. Winners can receive up to ₹25 lakh in funding.
Hyundai CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026 (Hyundai)
The Hyundai CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026, run by Hyundai Motor India Engineering, also has a deadline of 23 October 2026. It focuses on
