19 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — August 2026

Nineteen startup competitions are open for applications in India this August: four are newly launched, and fifteen close within the next two weeks. Notable open calls include the MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge, the Young Inventors Prize 2027, and the AI-Powered Battery Test Assessment Platform Challenge.

Deadlines are concentrated between 9 and 15 August 2026, while two programs — Grand Challenge 5 and the AI Battery challenge — accept applications on a rolling basis.

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At a Glance

Electropreneur Park OCP 8.0 (EP Bhubaneswar)

Electropreneur Park Open Challenge Program 8.0 (link) is a flagship incubation program for startups in the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) sector. It is established by STPI with support from MeitY and the Government of Odisha. Selected ventures can receive funding from ₹5 lakh to ₹2.5 crore, along with incubation support.

OCP 8.0 focuses on semiconductor design, AI, IoT, robotics, embedded systems, smart cities, agritech, disaster tech, PCB design, and computer vision. The program is open to startups and innovators with high-potential ventures in these areas. Applications close on 9 August 2026.

CSC Summer Impactathon (Webb Schools CSC)

CSC Summer Impactathon (link) is an online hackathon by The Webb Schools Computer Science Club, running from 9 July to 10 August 2026 on Devpost. It is beginner-friendly and open to anyone globally, including Indian participants. The goal is to build projects that address social good themes.

The total prize pool is ₹7,360. There is no theme restriction beyond social impact, and the format is a one-month virtual build. Submissions are due by 10 August 2026.

CodeFusion 2K26 (Microsoft)

CodeFusion 2K26 (link) is a national-level hackathon supported by Microsoft, open to undergraduate and postgraduate students across India. Dedicated tracks cover AI, Web3, blockchain, and open innovation. Participants must hold a valid college ID from an Indian institution.

The competition has three rounds and offers a prize of ₹2 lakh. Teams can be interdisciplinary and cross-college. Registration closes on 10 August 2026.

Neetiyudh: A Case Study (MANAGE Hyderabad)

Neetiyudh (link) is the flagship case study competition at Krishi Chanakya 2026, organized by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad. It is open to MBA students from recognized Indian institutions.

The competition is structured in three rounds: a 30-minute quiz, an abstract submission round, and a final presentation. The winner receives ₹35,000. Last date to register is 10 August 2026.

Akanksha: A Business Plan (MANAGE Hyderabad)

Akanksha (link) is a business plan competition organized by Krishi Chanakya at MANAGE, Hyderabad. It is open to MBA, PGDM, and allied management students from Indian institutions. Teams of 2–3 members from the same institute are eligible.

The competition offers a prize of ₹42,500 for the winning entry. Submissions are due by 10 August 2026.

Takshak: A Marketing Case Study Challenge (MANAGE Hyderabad)

Takshak (link) is a marketing case study challenge by Krishi Chanakya, MANAGE Hyderabad. It is open to MBA students who form teams of 2–3 from the same institute.

The challenge involves a quiz, an abstract submission, and a final presentation round. The total prize is ₹35,000. Deadline: 10 August 2026.

InnoVenture 2026 (Amity University UP)

InnoVenture 2026 (link) is an international innovation and technology challenge organized by Amity University Uttar Pradesh. It is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students from any discipline, globally.

The 2026 theme focuses on measuring ROI and impact of emerging technologies. The top prize is ₹2.3 lakh. Applications must be submitted by 10 August 2026.

Caspian AI Agent Hackathon (Caspian)

Caspian AI Agent Hackathon (link) is a 15-day online hackathon by Caspian, an open-source SDK that gives AI agents a unified identity across email, Slack, Discord, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Participants must build an AI agent that uses the Caspian SDK and runs on at least two channels.

Open to students, working professionals, and independent developers; teams may have 1–2 members. The prize is ₹20,000. Submissions close on 10 August 2026.

Build with DataHub: The Agent Hackathon (DataHub)

Build with DataHub: The Agent Hackathon (link) is a virtual competition organized by DataHub for developers, data engineers, and AI enthusiasts. Participants build agent-based solutions using the DataHub platform.

The total prize pool is $20,500 (approximately ₹1.9 crore). There are no geographic restrictions, and Indian participants are welcome. The deadline is 10 August 2026.

Samvedna: A Sustainable Idea (Krishi Chanakya)

Samvedna (link) is a sustainability-focused case study competition organized by Krishi Chanakya at MANAGE, Hyderabad. It is open to MBA students from any recognized Indian institution, with teams of two from the same institute.

The competition challenges participants to build commercially sound yet socially responsible solutions for rural and agricultural development. The prize is ₹35,000. Registration closes on 10 August 2026.

International Innovation Challenge 3.0 (Manipal University Jaipur)

International Innovation Challenge 3.0 (link) is organized by Manipal University Jaipur and open to university students from all disciplines globally. Teams of 1–4 develop original projects based on one of ten themes.

The competition begins with a PPT-based shortlisting round, followed by an offline final at the Jaipur campus (online option for international teams). The prize is ₹7 lakh. Registration deadline: 11 August 2026.

Brainwave (ACTS-EDC)

BRAINWAVE (link) is a national innovation challenge by the Association of Computing, Technology & Science (ACTS-EDC), University School of Automation & Robotics, GGSIPU East Delhi Campus. It is open to undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma students, and recent graduates.

Teams of 2–4 can choose official problem statements or compete under an open track. The prize is ₹3 lakh. Applications close on 12 August 2026.

2nd NextGen Hackathon 2026 (ACM Fremont)

2nd NextGen Hackathon 2026 (link) is an online hackathon by the ACM Fremont Chapter, USA, in association with the Soft Computing Research Society. It is open to students, professionals, and tech enthusiasts of any background.

Domains include AI for social good, green tech, Web3, future mobility, and cybersecurity. The prize is ₹1.6 lakh. Last date to register is 12 August 2026.

Hack-4-Crown (NSUT Delhi)

Hack-4-Crown (link) is a 24-hour hackathon held during Oblivion'26 at Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Delhi. Open to student teams of 3–4, the event focuses on building functional prototypes.

Evaluation is based on innovation, teamwork, time management, and scalability. The prize is ₹22,000. Registration closes on 12 August 2026.

Caspian Buildathon (BITS Pilani)

Caspian Buildathon: Build agents that can reach anyone (link) is a virtual hackathon organized by BITS Pilani. It runs from 28 July to 12 August 2026.

Participants build AI agents using modern AI and machine learning techniques. The challenge is beginner-friendly and open globally. The prize is ₹1.6 lakh. Submissions are due by 12 August 2026.

MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge (MC² Foundation)

MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge (link) is an energy innovation platform initiated by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, in association with the Department of Biotechnology. It is part of the MC² Foundation's flagship challenge.

The challenge seeks indigenous, scalable, and commercially viable technologies for n-Butanol and iso-Butanol production as diesel-blending fuels. The prize pool is ₹75 crore. Applications close on 15 August 2026.

Young Inventors Prize 2027 (EPO)

Young Inventors Prize 2027 (link) is organized by the European Patent Office to recognize young innovators developing technology-driven solutions for global sustainability. It supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Prizes range from ₹4.8 lakh to ₹1.9 crore. The competition is open to individuals and teams meeting the age criteria (details on the official page). The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2026.

Grand Challenge 5 (Maker Village)

Grand Challenge 5: Power Sector Transformation (link) is organized by the CoE on IIoT Sensors & Maker Village at IIITM-K, in collaboration with KSEB and C-MET. It targets innovations for the power distribution sector, specifically transformer health monitoring and power quality management.

The prize is ₹1.5 crore. The challenge is open to startups, companies, and R&D institutions, with applications accepted on a rolling basis.

AI-Powered Battery Test Assessment Platform Challenge (MeitY Startup Hub)

AI-Powered Battery Test Assessment Platform Challenge (link) is organized by MeitY Startup Hub in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India and NeGD. The goal is to digitize India's 10 standardized physical fitness battery tests using AI, computer vision, and video analytics.

The two-stage challenge offers a prize of ₹2.5 crore. It is open to innovators and startups; the deadline is rolling.

Before Applying

Several competitions have strict eligibility filters. The four MANAGE-run contests — Neetiyudh, Akanksha, Takshak, and Samvedna — restrict participation to MBA/PGDM students from Indian institutions, with team members from the same institute. Electropreneur Park OCP 8.0 is limited to startups in the ESDM sector, while CodeFusion requires a valid Indian college ID. Hack-4-Crown is open only to student teams of 3–4.

Timing is tight across the board. The OCP 8.0 closes on 9 August, followed by nine competitions on 10 August, one on 11 August, and four on 12 August. The MC²+ Grand Butanol Challenge, the only newly launched competition with a close deadline, ends on 15 August. The Young Inventors Prize 2027 has a 30 September deadline, and both Grand Challenge 5 and the AI Battery Test challenge operate on a rolling basis.