Saturday, 11 July 2026 — 12 July 2026
Prize Pool
Prizes to be announced, plus exclusive Citadel Hackathon goodies (swag kits) for all participants.
Citadel 1.0 is a premier 30-hour software and hardware hackathon hosted at the University of Engineering and Management (UEM) Kolkata. Inspired by the legendary epic, the Mahabharata, this event
serves as an ultimate battleground for innovation, bringing together top talent to solve real-world problems using modern technology. Who Should Apply This hackathon is designed for developers, designers, and engineers – including students and aspiring innovators – who are passionate about technology and problem-solving. Participants are encouraged to form their 'Akshauhini' (teams) to collaborate on groundbreaking ideas. Tracks / Themes Participants can dive into a range of exciting and future-focused domains. These include AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Web3 & Blockchain, DevOps, SaaS Platforms, and Product Innovation. Teams are encouraged to explore these areas to develop impactful solutions. Format & Timeline The Citadel Hackathon is an intense 30-hour sprint scheduled for July 11-12, 2026, at the University of Engineering and Management in Kolkata. Over this period, teams will harness cutting-edge tools, scalable architectures, and emerging technologies to create functional prototypes. The journey begins with an online preliminary round, where participants showcase their skills to secure a spot in the main event. Prizes Participants will compete for exciting rewards, recognition, and opportunities that can significantly accelerate their careers and ideas. All participants will receive exclusive Citadel Hackathon swag kits. The event also offers invaluable networking opportunities with like-minded innovators, industry experts, and potential collaborators, alongside mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals. Eligibility Open to developers, designers, and engineers. Teams are encouraged to participate. How to Apply Your journey to build the Citadel begins with an online preliminary round. Showcase your skills and creativity to secure your place in the final hackathon. Only the most promising teams will advance to build their ideas at the main event. Apply via the official Devfolio page.
Open to students, developers, designers, and engineers. Teams are encouraged.
Prize Pool
Prizes to be announced, plus exclusive Citadel Hackathon goodies (swag kits) for all participants.
Up to ₹10 lakh equity-free seed support per startup · Karnataka TBI 2.0 programme at KLE Tech Belagavi (₹10 cr govt backing per TBI) · Dedicated 5,100 sq. ft. incubation facility at Dr M S Sheshgiri Campus · Tri-state mandate — open to founders from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra
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₹3–5 lakh grant support · 4-week intensive AI prototype sprint · Hybrid format — virtual + RTIH hubs/spokes across AP · Backed by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (RTIH)
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Up to ₹30 lakh seed grant · Equity-free / non-dilutive · For early-stage maritime startups across India · Virtual incubation + mentorship from IIMK LIVE
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Women founders in Maharashtra at any stage seeking mentorship and acceleration.
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Social impact startups in health, climate or education with TRL 4+ technology at product or revenue stage.
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Fully virtual, 4-month accelerator for women-led startups · 1:1 mentorship + expert-led sessions + closed peer cohort + Demo Day · Sector-agnostic — SaaS, HealthTech, AgriTech, consumer, enterprise and more · Investor connect at Demo Day; structured gap analysis at intake
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Agri entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh at the idea stage with TRL 2+ technology.
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DPIIT-recognised agritech startups in Uttar Pradesh under 5 years old with TRL 5+ technology.
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Students and individuals at the idea stage building agri innovations in Uttar Pradesh.
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Prototype grant up to ₹10 lakh · Equity-free / non-dilutive (DST NIDHI iTBI Scheme) · Idea-to-prototype stage support · Co-working space + lab facilities at NIT Srinagar
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Notion for Startups
Rs. 5 Lakhs+ in Notion creditsZoho for Startups
Up to ₹1.86 lakhs in Zoho Wallet credits (Stage 1 + Stage 2)Google for Startups Cloud Program
Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits over 2 yearsMicrosoft for Startups Founders Hub
Up to $150,000 in Azure creditsHuawei Cloud Startup Program
Up to $150,000 in Huawei Cloud cash credit vouchersMixpanel for Startups
Up to $145,000 (first year free on the Startup Plan)Razorpay Startup Perks
Up to ₹1 Cr in benefits (VC-funded: ₹30L domestic + ₹20L intl payment credits + ₹50L SaaS benefits; Angel-funded: ₹3L + ₹3L payments + ₹20L SaaS)Akamai Cloud Rise Start-Up Program
Up to $120,000 in cloud credits in year oneDigitalOcean Hatch
Up to $10,000/month in DigitalOcean credits for 12 months (AI-native startups)IBM for Startups
Up to $120,000 in IBM Cloud creditsAWS Activate
Up to $100,000 in AWS Activate Credits (Portfolio); $1,000 (Founders)Datadog for Startups
Up to $100,000 in credits over one yearFOSS CLUB PU, Pondicherry University
Manipal University (MU), Jaipur
Surat City Police, NEXUS, and NIT Surat
Sourcify community
InteractUp
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
Superxgen
OpenAI Developer Community — Aman Mogal

