Cosmicathon — ₹80,000 Product Building Hackathon at TIET Patiala

Cosmicathon is a national-level hackathon focused on actually building products, hosted at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) in Patiala, Punjab. Cosmic Attire and Venture Lab support the event, and the internship pathways attached to the top prizes come through those partners.

What sets it apart from an ideas-only hackathon is the filtering built into the format. Three rounds stand between registering and the final build: an online screening test, a problem-identification video, and a 24-hour sprint on campus. The design intent is simple — only teams with a validated problem statement and real execution capability reach the last stage.

The hackathon is meant for students and early-stage builders from across India. You enter as a team of one to four people, and if you register on your own, you are placed into a team once the screening round is over.

• Round 1 — Screening test (15 August, online). An aptitude test open to everyone who has registered, used to filter for baseline technical and problem-solving ability. It is conducted online, so you can attempt it from wherever you are.

• Round 2 — Problem video submission (opens 16 August). Teams that clear the screening submit a short video identifying a real-world problem drawn from the announced domains or tracks. This round assesses how well a team frames a problem.

• Round 3 — 24-hour build (22 August, 1:00 PM to 23 August, 3:00 PM). Shortlisted teams reach the TIET campus on 21 August for check-in and a welcome session. The actual problem statements are disclosed only once the clock starts. Twenty-four hours of building follow, with mentors on hand to unblock teams. Judging and demos take place on the afternoon of 23 August, closing with a ceremony.

The total cash prize pool is ₹80,000, split across the top three teams, and each of them also receives internship opportunities. Registration closes on 15 August 2026, through the Cosmicathon listing on Unstop.

• ₹80,000 total cash prize pool — ₹35,000 for the winner, ₹25,000 and ₹20,000 for the runners-up.
• All three podium teams also receive internship opportunities.
• Three-stage filter: online screening test, a problem video, then a 24-hour on-campus build.
• Open to students and early-stage builders across India; teams of 1 to 4, or register solo and get matched.
• Final round at TIET Patiala — check-in on 21 August, build from 1:00 PM on 22 August to 3:00 PM on 23 August.
• Everyone who clears Round 1 receives a certificate. Registration closes 15 August 2026.

Cosmicathon is open to students and early-stage builders from anywhere in India. There is no bar on age and no restriction tied to your academic year, so undergraduates, postgraduates and people already building outside a formal course can all take part.

• Team size: one to four members.
• Solo entries: allowed. Individual registrants are matched into teams after the screening round.
• Geography: open across India, with the final build round held in person at the TIET campus in Patiala, Punjab.
• Where the rounds happen: the screening test is online and can be taken from anywhere; only shortlisted teams need to travel to Patiala.

No prior funding, registration category or institutional affiliation is mentioned as a requirement to enter.

Cosmicathon — ₹80,000 Product Building Hackathon at TIET Patiala is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Cosmicathon — ₹80,000 Product Building Hackathon at TIET Patiala closed on 15 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Cosmicathon runs a cash prize pool of ₹80,000 for the top three teams, and every one of those teams also gets internship opportunities.

• Winner: ₹35,000 plus internship opportunities.
• First runner-up: ₹25,000 plus internship opportunities.
• Second runner-up: ₹20,000 plus internship opportunities.
• Certificates: everyone who clears Round 1 receives one.

The internships are offered through Cosmic Attire and Venture Lab, the partners supporting the hackathon, who open these pathways for the strongest performers. The prize is a cash award for a hackathon win rather than an investment into a company, so nothing here involves handing over equity in a venture.

Selection narrows the field in three stages, each testing something different before the next one opens.

• Round 1 — Screening test (15 August). An online aptitude test that every registered candidate can attempt from anywhere. It is the first filter, checking baseline technical and problem-solving skills.

• Round 2 — Problem video submission (opens 16 August). Teams that make it through submit a short video naming a real-world problem from within the announced domains or tracks. Judges assess how sharply the team frames and defines the problem it wants to solve.

• Round 3 — 24-hour on-campus build (22 August, 1:00 PM to 23 August, 3:00 PM). Shortlisted teams travel to the TIET campus, checking in on 21 August for a welcome session. Problem statements are handed over only at the start of the build. Teams then have 24 hours to produce a working prototype, with mentors available throughout to help unblock them.

Judging and demos happen on the afternoon of 23 August, followed by the closing ceremony.

Before you apply to Cosmicathon — ₹80,000 Product Building Hackathon at TIET Patiala, 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.

Cosmicathon — ₹80,000 Product Building Hackathon at TIET Patiala is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹80,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.