20 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — July 2026
We list 20 startup competitions in India open in July 2026: 10 newly launched (including the Rapid Regen Challenge and HealthSprint 2026) and 15 closing within 14 days (including TribePreneurs Idea Quest, iDEX DISC 12, and several hackathons). Deadlines range from July 14 to September 30.
As of July 14, 2026, there are 20 active startup competitions in India offering funding, mentorship, and market access. Of these, 10 are newly launched and 15 are closing within the next 14 days. Notable new launches include the Rapid Regen Challenge (₹65 Cr prize), HealthSprint 2026, and the iDEX Open Challenge. Competitions closing soon include TribePreneurs Idea Quest, the iDEX DISC 12 Female Urination Device challenge, and multiple hackathons with deadlines on July 15.
At a Glance
The Gap in Between — Startup Challenge 2026 (The Gap in Between)
The The Gap in Between — Startup Challenge 2026 is an international competition for impact-driven startups. Organized by The Gap in Between (Social Nest Foundation), it seeks ventures solving social or environmental issues. Winners receive ₹9 L, exposure to impact investors, and mentorship. Any sector or stage is eligible. Deadline is July 14, 2026.
TribePreneurs Idea Quest (Ministry of Tribal Affairs)
The TribePreneurs Idea Quest is organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to support startups founded by Scheduled Tribes entrepreneurs. It provides structured support to transform ideas into viable businesses. Winners receive ₹4 L – ₹7 L. Eligibility is limited to ST founders. Deadline is July 15, 2026.
iDEX DISC 12 Re-Open: Inflight Urination Device for Female Fighter Pilots (iDEX)
The iDEX DISC 12 Re-Open: Inflight Urination Device for Female Fighter Pilots is a defence innovation challenge by the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program. It seeks a device for female fighter pilots to urinate during long missions. Prize is ₹15 Cr. Open to MSMEs, startups, and innovators. Deadline July 15, 2026.
Sustainability Hackathon 2026 (IIT Bombay BETiC)
The Sustainability Hackathon 2026 is organized by IIT Bombay–Honeywell Centre of Excellence. It targets sustainability solutions in clean energy, agriculture, healthcare, water, circular economy, mobility, and waste management. Prizes from ₹75,000 to ₹5 Cr. Open to students and early-stage innovators. Deadline July 15, 2026.
LaunchPad 2026 (GRG Gen Nxt)
LaunchPad 2026 is a pitch competition for revenue-stage AI and AgriTech startups. Organized by GRG Gen Nxt, it offers a ₹50,000 prize and direct access to investors. Deadline July 15, 2026.
HackNexus'26 (Droidecks)
HackNexus'26 is a national online hackathon by Droidecks for college students. Participants solve real-world challenges across provided problem statements. Prize pool ₹70,000. Team size 2–4. Deadline July 15, 2026.
NERVE CoE OCP Cohort 1 (NERVE CoE, Nagpur)
The NERVE CoE Open Challenge Program Cohort 1 is a MeitY-backed deep tech incubator in Nagpur. It offers GPU infrastructure, seed funding up to ₹5 Cr, expert mentoring, and go-to-market support. Open to AI and DeepTech startups in HealthTech, AgriTech, Forestry, Mining. Deadline July 15, 2026.
SmartAIthon 2026 (IEEE KCE Student Branch CIS Chapter)
SmartAIthon 2026 is an online hackathon for AI, IoT, and social good projects. Organized by IEEE KCE, it is beginner-friendly. Prize ₹10,000. Deadline July 15, 2026.
STPI SmartAgri CoE OCP 1.0 (SmartAgri CoE, Bhilai)
The STPI SmartAgri CoE Open Challenge Program 1.0 supports AgriTech startups developing products for farmers. Prize up to ₹3.5 Cr. Based in Bhilai. Deadline July 15, 2026.
Next Byte Hacks V3 (Next Bytes)
Next Byte Hacks V3 is a global online hackathon for social good projects. Open to individuals and teams worldwide, beginner-friendly. Prize ₹9,000. Deadline July 15, 2026.
Reddit’s Games with a Hook Hackathon (Reddit)
Reddit’s Games with a Hook Hackathon is a global challenge to build engaging games with a unique hook. Total prize pool ₹3.6 Cr. Open to all. Deadline July 15, 2026.
Defence India Startup Challenge 12 (Re-Open): Development of Inflight Urination Device for Female Fighter Pilots (Defence Innovation Organisation)
The Defence India Startup Challenge 12 (Re-Open) is a re-opening of the iDEX challenge for the same problem statement. Prize ₹15 Cr. Open to MSMEs, startups, and innovators. Deadline July 15, 2026.
STPI CoE-EA: Schneider Electric Open Challenge Program 3.0 (STPI CoE-EA, Bengaluru)
The STPI CoE-EA Schneider Electric Open Challenge Program 3.0 is an incubation program for startups in Industry 4.0 and efficiency augmentation. Prize range ₹2.5 L – ₹2.5 Cr. Based in Bengaluru. Deadline July 17, 2026.
Tech Next Challenge 2026 (Accenture)
The Tech Next Challenge 2026 by Accenture focuses on autonomous technologies: AI, robotics, self-healing IT. Open to deep-tech startups. Prize varies. Deadline July 17, 2026.
StartUp Xcelerate 2026 (Chamber for Small & Medium Businesses, Mumbai)
The StartUp Xcelerate 2026 is a growth and investment meetup for startups seeking ₹1 Cr – ₹100 Cr in funding. It offers market linkages with retail chains and investors. Deadline July 19, 2026.
HealthSprint 2026: Indo-Israel Innovation Sprint for Healthcare Startups (GINSERV)
HealthSprint 2026 is a 30-day sprint for healthcare and MedTech startups. It provides access to Israeli innovation ecosystems, mentorship, and hospital networks. Focus areas: Clinical AI, MedTech, Hospital SaaS. Prize varies. Deadline July 20, 2026.
Ericsson Innovation Challenge (TiE Delhi-NCR)
The Ericsson Innovation Challenge leverages 5G for social impact in rural connectivity, healthcare, climate, agriculture, and manufacturing. Organized with TiE Delhi-NCR and IAN. Prize varies. Deadline July 22, 2026.
Rapid Regen Challenge — the^delta prize (the^delta)
The Rapid Regen Challenge is a CSR initiative by PepsiCo, executed by the^delta prize. It supports non-profits and CSOs deploying regenerative agriculture practices over 24 months. Prize ₹65 Cr. Deadline August 2, 2026.
Swanari TechSprint 4.0: AI for Inclusive Finance (IIMA Ventures)
The Swanari TechSprint 4.0 is a challenge co-created by RBIH and IIMA Ventures for AI fintech solutions serving women SHGs. Focus on credit access, savings, and digital bookkeeping. Prize varies. Deadline August 15, 2026.
iDEX Open Challenge (iDEX)
The iDEX Open Challenge seeks innovations in defence and aerospace: autonomous systems, advanced materials, rocket engines. Prize ₹15 Cr. Open to startups, MSMEs, and engineers. Deadline September 30, 2026.
Before Applying
Several competitions have specific eligibility constraints. TribePreneurs Idea Quest is restricted to startups founded by Scheduled Tribes entrepreneurs. The iDEX challenges and Defence India Startup Challenge are open only to Indian MSMEs, startups, and individual innovators. HealthSprint 2026 focuses on healthcare and MedTech startups at any stage, while the Sustainability Hackathon is open to students and early-stage innovators. Reddit’s Games with a Hook Hackathon and many online hackathons have no geographic or demographic restrictions.
Timing is critical: The Gap in Between closes on July 14 — the same day this article is published. Ten competitions close on July 15, including TribePreneurs, multiple iDEX challenges, and several hackathons. StartUp Xcelerate closes on July 19, and HealthSprint on July 20. The Rapid Regen Challenge (August 2) and Swanari TechSprint (August 15) offer more time. Note that the iDEX Open Challenge closes on September 30, so it is the longest-running opportunity. For competitions like the Ericsson Innovation Challenge and Tech Next Challenge, applications may involve pre-screening or nomination steps — check the official pages for details.
