GIFT IFIH Young Builders' Program
A programme by Plug and Play Tech Center
An eight-week builder journey for students and young innovators: a fintech ideation hackathon at GIFT City followed by a residency for selected teams.
At a glance
| Best for | Students, recent graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs and young innovators interested in fintech |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea – Prototype |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Format | In person |
About GIFT IFIH Young Builders' Program
A builder journey for students, recent graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs and young innovators who want to build in financial services. It runs as a two-day idea hackathon at GIFT City and then, for selected teams, a residency there. The themes were agentic artificial intelligence in financial services and quantum technology in financial services.
What you get
- A two-day fintech ideation hackathon at GIFT City
- For selected teams, a residency at GIFT City
- Structured learning, mentorship and industry exposure, taking participants from idea to prototype
Who can apply
- Students, recent graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs and young innovators
- Interest in technology and innovation in financial services
How selection works: Not published beyond the audience line.
How to apply: The stated dates were a hackathon on 21 to 22 August 2026 and a residency from 1 September to 30 October 2026, both at GIFT City. Those dates have passed, though the site still shows an apply button, so treat the next intake as unannounced.
Where to apply
Other Plug and Play Tech Center programmes
- GIFT IFIH Residential ProgramEquity-free incubation for idea-to-MVP fintech startups building at GIFT City: twelve weeks onsite at GIFT IFIH, then three months of virtual support.
- GIFT IFIH Women in Fintech Investment Readiness AcceleratorA GIFT IFIH programme that prepares women-led fintech startups to raise capital, with a GIFT City immersion, weekly pitch sessions and guaranteed one-to-one investor meetings.
- GIFT IFIH Always On ProgramA rolling growth programme for post-seed to Series D fintech startups, with quarterly onboarding and three months of active support through the GIFT City ecosystem.
- Plug and Play startup ecosystemA free, stage-agnostic way to join Plug and Play's network and be matched with its corporate partners; startups apply online and are reviewed by its Ventures team.