Viasat Space for Good India 2026
By Viasat
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Quick Answer
Viasat's space-tech challenge for university students in India, with cash prizes up to ₹5 lakh and an all-expenses-paid in-person final in New Delhi. The 2026 edition is closed.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹5L
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Viasat
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 19 July 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Viasat. 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 2026 round of Viasat: Space for Good India is closed. Phase 1 entries closed at 11:59 pm IST on 19 July 2026, and the live final was held in New Delhi on 27 October 2026. The official page announces no 2027 edition, so watch the HeroX challenge page for a new round.
Viasat: Space for Good India is the India edition of Viasat's global STEM competition, run with the crowdsourcing platform HeroX. It is only for university students in India and is open to every subject. It is a competition for ideas, not a funding round: you win a cash prize, not an investment. The finals are live and in person in New Delhi, with travel and stay paid by Viasat. This page helps students prepare for a future edition.
What the competition offers
The total prize purse was ₹11,50,000. First place won ₹5,00,000, second ₹3,75,000 and third ₹2,75,000, paid by HeroX directly to the winner's bank account within 90 days of the winners being announced. All six finalists, including those who did not place, received travel and accommodation for the final week, Viasat goodies and a Viasat employee mentor. Winners must provide bank details within 10 business days and may be asked for identification. Winners pay any tax on prizes and costs the rules do not cover, such as meals.
Who can apply
You must be at least 18 and enrolled at an accredited Indian university or institute of higher education. Undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students of any subject and year are welcome. You enter individually, not as a team, and may submit one entry only. Employees and contractors of Viasat or HeroX, and their immediate families, cannot enter. Earlier Space for Good finalists were not eligible in 2026. Finalists must verify enrolment.
This suits a student with a clear idea about using satellite technology to help people. It does not suit a working founder who is not enrolled, or a group that wants to enter as a team.
How to apply
Create an account on the HeroX challenge page, complete the application form and accept the Challenge-Specific Agreement. Entries are in English. Concepts needed to link to one or more focus areas, such as equitable and sustainable access to space, direct-to-device and IoT, rural and remote digital empowerment, multi-orbit constellations, cybersecurity in space, disaster and humanitarian response, position, navigation and timing, and lunar communication.
- Phase 1, concept (about six weeks). Written answers of about five pages on the problem, the innovation, how it fits Viasat's capabilities, commercial viability and how you would measure impact. Using AI tools is allowed, but the core idea must be yours and you may be asked to explain it in person.
- Phase 2, digital entry (three weeks). A video, podcast, animation or other digital piece of up to three minutes.
- Phase 3, finals. An in-person presentation in New Delhi.
How entries are judged and what happens next
Phase 1 is scored out of 100 points: concept clarity and depth, mission relevance, innovation and Viasat capability fit (15 each), commercial viability (15), feasibility and risk awareness (10), metrics and impact (10) and quality (5). Two AI tools score first, with human oversight and a human final decision, and the top 30 advance. Viasat India employees score Phase 2 and give written feedback, and six advance. At the final, each finalist gives a 15-minute presentation and has a 15-minute discussion with a panel that includes at least one independent judge. The panel picks first, second and third place.
About Viasat
Viasat is the promoter named in the rules, with HeroX as co-promoter. The page describes Space for Good as Viasat's signature global STEM competition, and this is its India edition.
Things to check before you apply
- Travel is arranged by Viasat. It books travel and a hotel for finalists and no reimbursement is possible.
- Your idea and your media. Your name, image and submissions can be used in publicity, and the Phase 1 answers are the base for later phases.
- No feedback for entries that do not advance past Phase 1.
- A practical tip: read the scoring guide before you write, because commercial viability and fit with Viasat's capabilities carry as much weight as the idea itself.
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
- Amount
- Up to ₹5L
What You Get
The total prize purse is ₹11,50,000: ₹5,00,000 for first place, ₹3,75,000 for second and ₹2,75,000 for third, each paid by HeroX directly into the winner's bank account within 90 days of the results. The six finalists are each matched with a Viasat mentor and get travel, four nights of hotel stay and a gift card for expenses to attend the final in New Delhi.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Phase 1 entries are scored by two AI tools with human oversight and a final human decision, and the top 30 advance. Viasat India employees score Phase 2 entries and six finalists advance. A panel with at least one independent judge picks first, second and third place after each finalist's 15-minute presentation and 15-minute discussion.
Application Process
- 1
Register
Create a HeroX account and accept the agreement.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
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 Viasat Space for Good India?
Students aged 18 or over who are enrolled at an accredited Indian university or institute of higher education, at undergraduate, graduate or doctoral level, in any subject and year.
Can I enter as a team?
No. The rules say participants enter individually, with no groups, and may submit only one entry.
How much are the prizes and how are they paid?
First place won ₹5,00,000, second ₹3,75,000 and third ₹2,75,000. HeroX pays the cash directly to the winner's bank account within 90 days of the announcement.
Do finalists have to travel?
Yes. The final is held in person in New Delhi. Viasat books and pays travel and a four-night hotel stay for finalists, and no reimbursement is possible.
Is it free to enter?
Yes. The rules say entry is free and no purchase is necessary.
Is it open now?
No. Phase 1 of the 2026 edition closed at 11:59 pm IST on 19 July 2026 and the final took place on 27 October 2026. No next edition is announced on the page.
What do I need to submit?
In Phase 1, written answers of about five pages in English on the problem, the innovation, fit with Viasat, commercial viability and impact. Phase 2 is a digital entry of up to three minutes.
Who owns my idea?
The rules reviewed describe publicity rights over your name, image and submissions, which Viasat and HeroX can use. The saved rules text does not set out ownership of the idea itself, so read the legal agreement before entering.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a student competition with cash prizes. The page does not mention equity or investment.
When were results announced?
Phase 1 results came by early August 2026, the six finalists by early September, and the three winners were chosen at the New Delhi final.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
