Build Space by Google Developer Groups — ₹85,000 Student Case Competition — Frequently Asked Questions

The competition carries a total prize pool of ₹85,000, given out as a combination of cash and in-kind rewards. The winner receives ₹35,000, the first runner up ₹20,000 and the second runner up ₹10,000. Two further awards of ₹10,000 each go to track winners, but only if those tracks apply.

The competition is open to students, and you enter as a team rather than as an individual. Every team must have between three and five members, and registration has to be done through Unstop. No other conditions — such as company stage, sector or state — are listed in the eligibility rules.

Registration closes on 16 April 2026. Teams need to be signed up on Unstop before that date to be considered for Round 1.

Applications are handled entirely through the official Unstop event page for Build Space by Google Developer Groups. You can register here: https://unstop.com/hackathons/build-space-by-google-developer-groups-helix-tiet-thapar-institute-of-engineering-and-technology-tiet-patiala-1666534?lb=RmRUqal2&utm_medium=StartupGrantsIndia&utm_source=competitions&utm_campaign=Nikhilmo94501. Unstop is the only route in, so there is no separate form or email entry to fall back on.

No. Build Space is a case competition that awards prize money and in-kind rewards — it is not an investment programme, and nothing is given in return for a stake in your venture. Whatever you build during the competition stays yours.

Neither is mentioned in the eligibility rules. Build Space does not list DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or company incorporation as a condition of entry. What matters is that you are a student, that your team has three to five members, and that you register on Unstop by the deadline.

There are three rounds. Round 1, the Blueprint Brief, is a 20-minute online quiz on product fundamentals and technical concepts, and the best performers advance. Round 2, the Forge at Buildspace, brings the top 40 teams together on campus for a 16-hour sprint to turn ideas into working prototypes. Round 3 is the final pitch on campus, where finalists present their product, technology and business model to a judging panel and answer questions.

Not quite — it is built as a technical-business case competition. A working build alone will not carry a team through. Participants are expected to show that their solution is commercially viable, which is why the final round includes a pitch on the business model alongside the product and the technology behind it.

The first round is an online quiz, so teams can attempt it remotely. Rounds 2 and 3 both take place on campus — Round 2 is a 16-hour offline sprint for the top 40 teams, and Round 3 is the final pitching session.

Teams must have a minimum of three and a maximum of five members. Applications that fall outside that range do not fit the competition's format, so it is worth locking in your team size before you register on Unstop.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.