The Black-Box Protocol: Stage 01 - "System Escalation"
By Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI), Vidisha
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Quick Answer
A 48-hour hybrid hackathon in Gwalior focused on autonomous AI agents and Web3 — ₹2 L prize pool, internships, and incubation pipeline.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹2L
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI), Vidisha
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 5 July 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI), Vidisha. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The Black-Box Protocol: Stage 01 — "System Escalation" is a campaign-driven hackathon organised by Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI), Vidisha and presented by TECHhelp4U. Unlike conventional weekend hackathons, this is the first stage of a multi-phase technical universe where projects undergo structural incubation rather than being abandoned after the closing ceremony. Stage 01 focuses on the convergence of autonomous AI agents and decentralized Web3 ledger technology.
Who Should Apply Open to teams of 2–4 developers with active GitHub profiles. Ideal for students and early-stage builders skilled in AI orchestration, smart contracts, or UI/system architecture.
Format & Timeline The competition follows a strict 2-round hybrid architecture:
- Round 01 (Online): June 5 – July 12, 2026. Teams register, submit a 6-slide system architecture blueprint (PPT/PDF), and all members must complete a 60-minute HiDevs Skill Test covering GenAI products, reliability, monitoring, and cost/latency optimization. Only the top 50–60 teams advance.
- Round 02 (Offline Finale): July 26, 2026 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A 12-hour continuous physical hacking sprint. Teams must live-code, test, and deploy MVPs integrating sponsor APIs, AI workflows, cloud infrastructure, or blockchain smart contracts. No slide preparation allowed. Judging is based strictly on live execution.
Prizes
- Winners: ₹50,000 + PPOs, PPIs, Goodies & Certificates
- Internships: ₹1.50 L direct internship interview offer
- Top 10 Teams: Goodies
- Total prize pool: ₹2,00,000
Eligibility Teams of 2–4 members. All code must be initialized and committed during active round windows. Pre-existing or plagiarized projects will be disqualified. Projects must functionalize both AI and Web3 domains.
How to Apply Register on the official Unstop page by July 5, 2026. Provide active GitHub profiles and select core technical domains during onboarding.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Organizer
Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI), Vidisha
Prizes & Awards
- Amount
- Up to ₹2L
What You Get
₹2,00,000 total prize pool, paid out as competition winnings: the winning team receives ₹50,000 plus PPOs, PPIs, goodies and certificates. A separate internship track offers a ₹1.50 L direct internship interview offer, and the top 10 teams receive goodies. Judging is based strictly on live execution in the 12-hour offline finale, so prizes reward working MVPs rather than slide decks. Stage 01 also positions winning projects for structural incubation in later stages of the multi-phase Black-Box Protocol, rather than ending at the closing ceremony.
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.
