Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition
By Google
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Quick Answer
Google's nine-month Kaggle competition. US$50,000 in prizes, with US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh) for first place and two US$5,000 milestone prizes.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Application deadline
- 254d — 19 Jul 2027
- Location
- International
About this competition
Squares in Squares is an online Kaggle competition sponsored by Google LLC that runs for nine months, with submissions ranked on the competition's leaderboard. The prize pool is US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh), first place wins US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh), and two milestone prizes of US$5,000 each reward whoever leads in January and April 2027. Final submissions close on 18 July 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC, which is 5:29 AM IST on 19 July.
It is open worldwide to Kaggle users, and India is not on the list of excluded places. This is a skill competition, not a grant or an accelerator: you win by ranking well, not by pitching a business plan.
What the program offers
The final leaderboard pays US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh) for first place, US$10,000 for second, US$8,000 for third, and US$5,000 each for fourth and fifth.
Two Open Progress Prizes of US$5,000 each reward the top team at the 3-month cut-off on 17 January 2027 and the 6-month cut-off on 18 April 2027. Ties go to the earliest submission. A team can win a milestone prize and still go on to place on the final leaderboard.
These are competition prizes, not loans and not investments. The data is public domain (CC0), and winners license their solution as open source, so do not enter work you need to keep proprietary.
Who can apply
Anyone with a registered Kaggle account can take part, as long as they are at least 18 (or the age of majority where they live, if that is higher) and do not live in an excluded place. Residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and anyone under US export controls or sanctions, are excluded. You may enter alone or in a team of up to five people, and each person may hold only one Kaggle account.
For an Indian founder or team this means you can enter from India. Employees, interns, contractors, officers and directors of Google, Kaggle and their affiliates can take part but cannot win prizes. Prizes cannot go to residents of a country where they cannot be awarded.
This suits mathematicians, optimisation and geometry researchers, and competitive-programming or algorithm teams who enjoy a long-running puzzle. It is a poor fit if you need quick money or funding to run a company, because the final result is nine months away and the reward is a prize.
How to apply
There is no application form or business plan. You join through the competition page on Kaggle, accept the rules, and submit solutions that are scored automatically. The competition started on 21 October 2026. The milestone cut-offs are 17 January 2027 and 18 April 2027. Final submissions close on 18 July 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC (5:29 AM IST on 19 July). The page we hold does not yet show a separate entry or team merger date.
You can make up to ten submissions a day, but you pick only one final submission, so choose it carefully before the closing date. A practical tip: read the full rules tab before you start, because it is the binding document and this page is only a summary of it.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Each submission is scored automatically on the competition's evaluation metric, and prizes go to the best-ranked teams on the final leaderboard. Potential winners must hand over their code and documentation, license the winning solution as the rules require, and return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received; team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise.
About the sponsor
The sponsor of this competition is Google LLC, and the competition is hosted on Kaggle, an online platform where teams compete on data and machine-learning problems. The source does not give further background on the sponsor.
Things to check before you apply
- The source summary does not give a separate entry or team merger date, so check the competition page and form your team early.
- Prize-eligible winners must deliver code and documentation, license the solution as the rules require, and return acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked.
- Prizes are paid in US dollars. An Indian winner should check tax and foreign-exchange treatment with an adviser; the source does not give those rules.
- A practical tip: if you are a startup founder, treat this as a way to build credibility and test your technical team, and do not budget the prize money as funding, since only the top places are paid.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Google for Startups runs accelerators, a Google Cloud credits scheme, training and events for startups. Its India programmes are aimed at Indian startups and students, and its regional accelerators run as cohorts across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia…
Learn morePrizes & Awards
What You Get
Prizes add up to US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh). The final leaderboard pays US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh), US$10,000, US$8,000, US$5,000 and US$5,000 to the top five. Two US$5,000 Open Progress Prizes go to the leaderboard leader on 17 January 2027 and on 18 April 2027. Winners license their solution as open source and are paid about 30 days after returning the prize documents.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Each submission is scored automatically on the competition's evaluation metric, and prizes go to the best-ranked teams on the final leaderboard. Potential winners must hand over their code and documentation, license the winning solution as the rules require, and return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received; team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise.
Application Process
- 1
Join on Kaggle
Sign in to Kaggle and accept the competition rules before the competition closes.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition?
Any Kaggle user aged 18 or older (or the age of majority where they live, if higher) can enter, alone or in a team of up to five. Residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and anyone under US export controls or sanctions, cannot take part. Each person may have only one Kaggle account.
Can Indian startups and founders apply for Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition?
Yes. The rules exclude only the places named above, and India is not among them, so people in India can enter. Prizes are paid in US dollars and cannot go to people living in a country where prizes cannot be awarded. The source does not give Indian tax rules, so check with an adviser if you win.
How much can I win in Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition?
First place on the final leaderboard wins US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh), then US$10,000, US$8,000, and US$5,000 each for fourth and fifth. Two Open Progress Prizes of US$5,000 each go to the top team at the 17 January 2027 and 18 April 2027 cut-offs. The total pool is US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh).
How is the prize money paid?
Potential winners must return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received, and team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise. The source summary does not name the payment method.
What is the deadline for Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition, and what if it has passed?
Final submissions close on 18 July 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC, which is 5:29 AM IST on 19 July. The milestone prizes are judged at the cut-offs on 17 January and 18 April 2027. The page we hold does not show a separate entry date, so accept the rules early. The source does not say whether the competition will run again.
Is Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition a grant or equity?
It is a competition prize. You win money by ranking well, and the source summary describes no equity or ownership being taken. Winners must release or license their solution as the rules require, so check the licence before you enter.
What documents or materials do I need?
You need a Kaggle account and a working solution submitted through Kaggle. Winners are later asked for code, documentation and signed prize acceptance documents.
Do I have to travel anywhere?
The competition itself is online. The source summary mentions no travel requirement.
Is it free to enter Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition?
The source summary does not state an entry fee, and joining a Kaggle competition is done through a free Kaggle account. Check the competition page to confirm before you submit.
When are the results of Squares in Squares Kaggle Competition announced?
The source summary does not give a results date. The first milestone is measured on 17 January 2027, the second on 18 April 2027, and the final leaderboard is set after submissions close on 18 July 2027.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
