24 Startup Competitions in India Open for Applications — ₹26.1 Cr+ in Prizes — November 2026

November 2026 presents a robust landscape for Indian startups seeking capital, mentorship, and global exposure. A total of 24 active competitions and funding programs are currently open for applications. This includes 10 newly launched initiatives and 16 closing within the next 14 days, offering diverse opportunities from major players like Google, PayPal, and Cars24, alongside international programs such as the SusHi Tech Challenge and the Create AI Agents Championship.

At a Glance

Vultr Agent Rush Hackathon 2026 (Vultr)

Vultr: Agent Rush is a hybrid AI hackathon by cloud provider Vultr and lablab.ai. The online build phase is from November 3 to 8, 2026, with an optional on-site day in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 8. First place wins US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh) in cash plus US$3,000 in Vultr credits. Submissions close on 9 November 2026 at 4:30 AM IST. This short event is for individuals and small teams, focused on AI, with no equity taken. More details at: https://www.startupgrantsindia.com/vultr-agent-rush-hackathon-2026

MassChallenge Challenge Programs 2027 (MassChallenge)

MassChallenge's 2026-2027 Challenge Cycle connects pre-seed to Series A startups with industry organizations to address complex challenges. This program offers opportunities to collaborate with corporate partners in FinTech, Healthcare, Climate, and other sectors. Startups can apply to put their technology to work, build enterprise relationships, and accelerate commercial application. The application deadline is 9 November 2026. Find out more: https://www.startupgrantsindia.com/masschallenge-challenge-programs-2027

Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge 2026 (Cars24)

The Cars24 Grand Startup Challenge 2026, in collaboration with Startup India, seeks early-stage startups addressing challenges in Fintech & Lending, Mobility & Road Safety, Supply Chain, and Sovereign AI. Selected startups receive capital, mentorship, deployment opportunities through pilots, and investor visibility. The four-month program culminates in a grand finale in New Delhi. Applications close on 10 November 2026.

PayPal AI Hackathon 2026 (PayPal)

The PayPal AI Hackathon 2026 is an online hackathon for building or updating applications using the PayPal developer platform with an AI tool. Cash prizes total US$67,500 (about ₹64 lakh), with US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh) for first place. Individuals, teams, and registered organizations are eligible, excluding residents of sanctioned places. Submissions close on 13 November 2026 at 1:30 AM IST.

Farm Robotics Challenge 2027 (UC ANR Innovate)

The Farm Robotics Challenge 2027 is for student teams developing robotics, AI, or automation solutions for agricultural problems. Run by UC ANR Innovate and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, it offers over US$200,000 in prizes and startup support. The project proposal deadline is 13 November 2026. This competition targets students at colleges, universities, and trade or technical schools, not established companies.

Startup Buildathon India 2026 (Google)

The Startup Buildathon India 2026, powered by Google AI and Hack2Skill, supports founders in transforming AI startup ideas into market-ready products. Participants leverage Google's AI stack, infrastructure, mentorship, and community support through online applications, city-based buildathons, regional showcases, and a grand finale at Google's Bengaluru campus. The program emphasizes hands-on development and customer validation. The deadline for applications is 13 November 2026.

DARPA Surgical Competition (DARPA)

The DARPA Surgical Competition (DSC) seeks a scalable, manufactured autonomous trauma surgical robot. It aims for a robot capable of performing procedures independently, assisting human surgeons, and learning new skills. The total prize pool is US$3,500,000 (about ₹33.25 crore), with up to US$1,000,000 (about ₹9.5 crore) for first place in two lanes. Qualification closes on 14 November 2026 at 2:30 AM IST. While open to all nationalities, finalists must compete in person at a US military installation at their own cost, and a US taxpayer number is required for payouts.

SEMI Chip the Future Challenge 2026 (SEMI Foundation)

The SEMI Foundation Chip the Future Challenge is a global student competition where university students tackle semiconductor problems in chip design, manufacturing, AI hardware, and advanced packaging. The 2026 edition is fully virtual, and India is among the eligible countries. The abstract submission deadline is 14 November 2026. The competition runs until winners are announced on 31 March 2027, offering a platform for academic innovation.

NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge 2026 (NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd.)

The NLDSL DigiTwin Grand Challenge seeks to revolutionize India's logistics sector using Digital Twin technology. This initiative by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL), with NICDC and DPIIT Startup India, targets digital twin applications in port operations, freight corridors, warehousing, and supply chain networks. The challenge supports startups, innovators, and academic teams to develop data-driven solutions. Winners can receive between ₹3 lakh and ₹5 lakh. The application deadline is 14 November 2026.

AwardX Pitch Competition 2026 (LaunchX)

AwardX International 26 is an online startup pitch competition by LaunchX, an entrepreneurship education organization. It is open to high school students globally, applying individually or as a team. The grand prize is an equity-free cash prize of US$5,000 (about ₹4.75 lakh). Applications close on 14 November 2026. This competition is entirely free to enter and compete in.

NEAR HACKATHON 2026 (NEAR Foundation)

The NEAR HACKATHON is a fully online, two-week build competition for the NEAR blockchain ecosystem. It features a total prize pool of US$250,000 (about ₹2.38 crore), with a grand prize of US$55,000 (about ₹52 lakh). The hackathon is open to developers, designers, and idea creators for NEAR, working alone or in teams, with no country restrictions. The deadline is 15 November 2026 at 5:29 AM IST. Prizes are paid in NEAR tokens.

Arbiter Hacks V1 (Arbiter)

Arbiter Hacks V1 is a beginner-friendly, online hackathon focusing on Machine Learning and AI. Organized by Arbiter, it allows participants to work on any project within this scope. The competition runs from September 14 to November 15, 2026, providing ample time for development and submission. This virtual event is open to students, early-career developers, and experienced builders from any location. The submission deadline is 15 November 2026.

Heat & Health Innovation Challenge 1.0 (Centre of Excellence on Climate & Health)

The Heat & Health Innovation Challenge (HHIC 1.0) by the Centre of Excellence on Climate & Health (CoE-CH) accelerates innovations addressing heat and climate-health challenges in India. In collaboration with Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth and Tarutium Global Consulting, it supports startups, MSMEs, corporate innovation teams, and non-profits. The program identifies validated, deployable solutions for public health and climate resilience. Prize amounts range from ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh. The application deadline is 15 November 2026.

CRM Startup Innovation Challenge 2026-27 (CII Foundation)

The CRM Startup Innovation Challenge 2026–27 by the CII Foundation and Cadence Design Systems targets innovative startups with market-ready solutions for crop residue management (CRM). This initiative aims to reduce stubble burning and air pollution by fostering a sustainable agricultural economy. One selected startup will receive financial assistance, mentorship, and field-level facilitation to scale their solutions. The prize is ₹10 lakh. Applications close on 15 November 2026.

Global Deep Tech Battle @ CES 2027 (swisstech)

The Global Deep Tech Battle @ CES 2027 is an open pitch contest by swisstech. Selected deep-tech teams pitch live at the swisstech Pavilion at CES in Las Vegas on 6–7 January 2027, across four battles: Robotics, HealthTech, CleanTech, and Consumer Electronics. Participants must already be attending CES, as the contest does not provide entry tickets. Each battle winner receives a US$3,000 cash prize (about ₹2.85 lakh). The entry deadline is 16 November 2026.

UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge 2026 (United Nations Development Programme)

The UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC), 5th Call, funded by Sida, supports private-sector organizations with implementation-ready solutions for ocean and coastal problems. Up to 10 innovators will receive up to US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh) each. While the lead company can be based anywhere, the work must be carried out in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, or Viet Nam. The call closes on 16 November 2026 at 10:29 AM IST.

TISC Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge 2026 (Government of Telangana)

The Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge (TISC) 2026 is a flagship initiative by the Government of Telangana. It invites startups, innovators, researchers, and student teams to co-create solutions for public service challenges across the state. TISC offers a platform to develop and validate solutions in real-world environments, providing access to government stakeholders and domain experts. The goal is to identify impactful solutions for various government departments. Applications close on 20 November 2026.

Global Startup Awards Edition 12 (Global Startup Awards)

The Global Startup Awards (GSA) Edition 12 is an international competition recognizing top startups, founders, and ecosystem players across 19 regions and 161 countries. It provides early-stage and established companies with global visibility, networking opportunities with industry leaders, and access to an exclusive community. The program celebrates innovation in sectors like AI, green technologies, health tech, fintech, and deep tech. Applications close on 15 December 2026.

SusHi Tech Challenge 2027 (SusHi Tech Tokyo)

The SusHi Tech Challenge 2027 is a startup pitch contest by the SusHi Tech Tokyo Executive Committee, part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's SusHi Tech Tokyo event. The grand prize is JPY 10 million (about ₹63 lakh). Entry requires an online pitch deck, with semifinal and final rounds held live in Tokyo on 20–21 May 2027. Travel costs are not specified, but the JPY 300,000 booth fee is waived for 20 semifinalists. The application deadline is 18 December 2026 at 1:30 PM IST.

Champalimaud Vision Award 2027 (Champalimaud Foundation)

The António Champalimaud Vision Award 2027 is a €1,000,000 (about ₹10.9 crore) prize from the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal. It recognizes organizations fighting blindness and visual impairment or developing new technologies for visually impaired individuals. Organizations can apply or be nominated. The award can support basic, translational, or clinical research, clinical practice, or public health programs, with no restrictions other than commercial purposes. Entries for the 2027 award must be submitted by 31 December 2026.

Create AI Agents Championship 2027 (Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy)

The Create AI Agents Championship 2027 is a global competition by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy for developing AI agents with business potential. Four category winners each receive a US$150,000 grant (about ₹1.43 crore). Registration opened on 7 October 2026 and closes in January 2027. The Grand Final, featuring 12 finalists, is held live in Dubai in May 2027, with travel expenses unspecified. Categories include Best Societal, Personal, and Business AI Agents.

Colosseum Eternal Award 2027 (Colosseum)

The Colosseum Eternal Award is a US$25,000 prize (about ₹23.75 lakh) in USDC stablecoins awarded by Colosseum, a San Francisco crypto venture firm. This prize is given approximately every six months to the top crypto startup built during its