Inkling 2026 is the flagship national case competition organised by Dot in partnership with IIM Ranchi. Unlike traditional case competitions, Inkling challenges participants to think beyond frameworks, test assumptions, and defend recommendations like a founder would. The competition revolves around Dot, a young startup on a mission to fix the news mess, and spans strategy, marketing, and product decisions.
Who Should Apply
Open to students from all colleges and all academic disciplines across India. Incoming batches are also welcome. Teams must consist of exactly 3 members from the same institution. Cross-year and cross-specialisation teams are allowed, but inter-college teams are not.
Format & Timeline
The competition is conducted entirely online across three rounds:
- Round 1 – Online Quiz (July 2026): A 20-minute quiz of 60 MCQs based on ~50 recent stories published on Dot.
- Round 2 – Case Submission (7 days): The Top 100 teams receive a real-world business case based on Dot and must submit a one-page solution per problem. Top 10 teams advance.
- Round 3 – Grand Finale (August 9, 2026): Top 10 teams present their solutions online before a judging panel.
Prizes
Total cash prize pool of ₹50,000:
- 1st Prize: ₹25,000 + goodies + live project opportunity with Dot
- 2nd Prize: ₹15,000 + goodies + live project opportunity with Dot
- 3rd Prize: ₹10,000 + goodies + live project opportunity with Dot
- Positions 4 to 10: Goodies for all finalists (collectively worth over ₹30,000, including a 1-year Dot subscription)
- Certificates for all eligible participants
Eligibility
Teams of exactly 3 members from the same college or institution. Open to all academic disciplines. Entry is free.
How to Apply
Registration closes on July 17, 2026. Apply via the official Unstop page linked above. Join the WhatsApp community for updates (details in the attached PDF on the event page).
