Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool
BITS Pilani's Caspian initiative runs a two-week online buildathon: ship an AI agent that reaches anyone, for a share of the $1,700 pool (about ₹1,56,400).
- Funding amount
- ₹1.6L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (12 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Caspian Buildathon is a fully online hackathon from BITS Pilani, run under the institute's Caspian initiative, which supports student-led technology projects and competitions. The brief is short and demanding: build an AI agent that can reach anyone.
Entrants get two weeks to design, build and submit a working autonomous agent that communicates, drawing on current AI and machine learning tools. You can enter on your own or with a team of any size, and the event is hosted on Devpost, with participation welcomed from anywhere in the world.
The build window runs from 28 July 2026 to 12 August 2026, and 12 August is also the registration deadline. Judges weigh creativity, technical implementation and impact. The overall prize pool is $1,700 — about ₹1,56,400 at 92 INR/USD, presented on the programme as up to ₹1.6L — though no rank-by-rank split has been published.
For student and indie builders, this is a low-barrier route to putting a real agent in front of judges, backed by an institute with a strong engineering and entrepreneurship reputation. First-time agent builders are explicitly welcome, yet the assessment criteria still reward strong technical execution.
Highlights
- Two-week virtual hackathon from BITS Pilani, run under its Caspian initiative
- Build window and deadline: 28 July to 12 August 2026
- Total prize pool of $1,700, about ₹1,56,400 (listed as up to ₹1.6L)
- Open worldwide to developers, students and AI enthusiasts, beginners included
- Solo entries or teams of any size; no DPIIT or MSME registration needed
- Entries judged on creativity, technical implementation and impact
Who can apply
Eligibility here is deliberately wide. The hackathon is open to developers, students and AI enthusiasts, and there is no geographic restriction, so entrants based outside India can take part.
Key points to check before you enter:
- Location: no country or state limits apply.
- Experience: the event is beginner-friendly, so first-time agent builders qualify just as experienced participants do.
- Teams: you may work solo or in a team, and no maximum team size has been specified.
- Paperwork: this is a competition rather than a government scheme or investor programme, so DPIIT recognition, MSME registration and company incorporation are not required.
- Theme: your entry has to fit the challenge — an AI agent whose job is to reach anyone.
Individuals and teams alike are free to submit.
Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool closed on 12 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
The reward here is cash prize money. The total pool is $1,700, roughly ₹1,56,400 at an exchange rate of 92 INR per USD, and the programme lists the prize as up to ₹1.6L.
What recipients should know:
- The pool is awarded as competition prize money, and a breakdown by rank has not been published, so individual prize amounts are unconfirmed.
- Nothing is taken in return — the organisers do not receive a stake or equity in your project.
- Beyond the cash, participants finish with a built agent for their portfolio and a public submission on Devpost.
- The event is entirely online, so there is no travel component attached to taking part.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
No formal multi-round selection funnel has been published. What is confirmed is the entry route and the judging criteria:
- Register on Devpost. Participation happens through the official Devpost listing.
- Build during the open window. The buildathon runs from 28 July 2026 to 12 August 2026.
- Submit before the deadline. 12 August 2026 is both the closing date and the registration deadline, so entries cannot be accepted after it.
- Judging. Submissions are assessed on creativity, technical implementation and impact.
- Prizes. Awards come out of the $1,700 pool; a rank-by-rank split has not been shared, so the value of each prize is unconfirmed.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1.6L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is the Caspian Buildathon?
It is a virtual hackathon organised by BITS Pilani through its Caspian initiative, which backs student-led tech projects and competitions. The task is to build an AI agent that can reach anyone, using modern AI and machine learning techniques. Everything happens online on Devpost, from 28 July to 12 August 2026, and you can enter alone or with a team.
How much prize money is on offer?
The total prize pool is $1,700, which works out to roughly ₹1,56,400 at 92 INR per USD, and the programme page presents the prize as up to ₹1.6L. BITS Pilani has not published how that pool is divided between ranks, so the exact amount for first place or any other position is not public.
What are the build dates and the application deadline?
The buildathon opens on 28 July 2026 and closes on 12 August 2026, giving you a two-week sprint. 12 August 2026 doubles as the registration deadline, so you need to be registered and have your project submitted by that date.
Who can take part in the hackathon?
Anyone with an interest in building agents — developers, students and AI enthusiasts are all invited, and no geographic restrictions are mentioned, so builders outside India are welcome too. The event is beginner-friendly, so you do not need a prior track record in agent development to enter.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration?
No. This is a hackathon, not a government funding scheme or an investor programme, so DPIIT startup recognition and MSME registration play no part in your entry. There is also no requirement to be an incorporated company, since individual participation is allowed.
Can I enter as part of a team, and is there a team size limit?
Yes, teams are allowed and solo participation is equally fine. The organiser has not stated a maximum team size, so as far as the published information goes, team size is flexible.
Does the programme take equity in my project?
No. The reward is competition prize money drawn from a $1,700 pool, so nothing is exchanged for ownership. You are not giving up a stake or any rights in what you build.
How will submissions be judged?
Three criteria are published: creativity, technical implementation and impact. In practice, judges look at how original the idea is, how well the agent has actually been built, and the difference it could make for the people it is meant to reach.
Is the buildathon suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is described as beginner-friendly, which makes it accessible to people who are new to building AI agents, while still leaving enough depth for more experienced builders to show what they can do.
How and where do I apply?
Registration and project submission both go through the official Devpost page at https://caspian.devpost.com/. Set up your entry there, build during the two-week window, and submit your project on the same page before 12 August 2026.
Who is eligible to apply for Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool?
Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
How do I apply for Caspian Buildathon — BITS Pilani AI Agent Hackathon, ₹1.6L Prize Pool?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
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