Inkling 2026 - National Case Competition
By Dot
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Quick Answer
A national case competition by Dot in partnership with IIM Ranchi — open to all Indian college students with ₹50,000 in cash prizes.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹50,000
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Dot
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 17 July 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Dot. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
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).
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
Organizer
Dot
Prizes & Awards
- Amount
- Up to ₹50,000
What You Get
Winning teams receive cash prizes from a ₹50,000 total pool: ₹25,000 for first place, ₹15,000 for second, and ₹10,000 for third. Prize money is paid out in cash to the winning teams. The top three teams also receive goodies and a live project opportunity with Dot. All finalists (positions 4–10) receive goodies collectively worth over ₹30,000, including a 1-year Dot subscription. Eligible participants receive certificates.
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.
