PayPal AI Hackathon 2026
By PayPal
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
PayPal's online hackathon for apps that combine the PayPal developer platform with AI. US$67,500 in cash prizes, with US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh) for first place.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- PayPal
- Application deadline
- 10d — 13 Nov 2026
- Location
- International
About this competition
The PayPal AI Hackathon is an online hackathon from PayPal, run on Devpost. You build, or significantly update, an application that integrates the PayPal developer platform (using the free sandbox) together with an AI tool, model or platform of your choice. PayPal services such as Venmo, Braintree, Xoom, Honey, Zettle, Paidy and Hyperwallet all count, and PayPal integration must be central to the project.
The submission period runs from 1 October 2026 to 12:00 PM PT on 12 November 2026 (1:30 AM IST on 13 November). Individuals, teams and registered organisations can enter.
Prizes: cash prizes add up to US$67,500 (about ₹64 lakh). The three Grand Prizes are US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh), US$8,000 and US$5,000. Five Honourable Mention prizes of US$5,000 each go to Most Creative, Most Impactful, Best Demo Delivery, Best Use of PayPal + AI and Best Use of Agentic Commerce. Sponsor prizes from AG Grid, APIMatic, Bryntum and Channel3 add further cash, and Render offers hosting credits. Winners are announced around 21 December 2026.
The hackathon is not open to residents of Brazil, Quebec, Russia, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea or any other country comprehensively sanctioned by the US Treasury.
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
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Cash prizes total US$67,500 (about ₹64 lakh). Grand Prizes are US$12,000 (about ₹11.4 lakh), US$8,000 and US$5,000, and five Honourable Mention prizes pay US$5,000 each. Sponsor prizes add cash for the best use of AG Grid (US$5,000, US$2,000 and three of US$1,000), APIMatic (three of US$1,000 plus six months of an APIMatic business subscription), Bryntum (three of US$1,000) and Channel3 (US$1,500), and Render gives US$1,000, US$750 and US$500 in hosting credits. A project can win one Grand or Honourable Mention prize plus one sponsor prize. Winners pay any wire or currency-exchange fees and their own taxes.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Judges review eligible submissions between 1 and 15 December 2026, and winners are announced around 21 December 2026. Potential winners must complete prize affidavits and pass identity and eligibility checks before prizes are paid; for a team, the prize goes to its representative to share.
Application Process
- 1
Join on Devpost
Register on the hackathon website and set up the PayPal sandbox.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter?
Individuals of the age of majority where they live, teams and registered organisations, except residents of Brazil, Quebec, Russia, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea or other comprehensively sanctioned countries, and people linked to PayPal or Devpost.
When is the deadline?
12:00 PM Pacific Time on 12 November 2026, which is 1:30 AM IST on 13 November 2026.
What do I have to build?
An application that integrates the PayPal developer platform through the free sandbox, together with any AI tool, model or platform. PayPal integration must be central to the project.
Can I submit an existing project?
Yes, if you significantly updated it after the submission period started on 1 October 2026 and explain what changed. PayPal and Devpost decide what counts as a significant change.
How many prizes can one project win?
Up to one Grand Prize and one sponsor prize, or one Honourable Mention prize and one sponsor prize.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
