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

The total prize pool is ₹80,000. The winning team takes ₹35,000, the first runner-up gets ₹25,000 and the second runner-up gets ₹20,000. All three podium teams also receive internship opportunities, and everyone who clears the first round is given a certificate.

It is open to students and early-stage builders from anywhere in India. There are no restrictions on age or on the academic year you are in, and people who are building outside a formal course can take part as well. No prior funding or institutional category is mentioned as a requirement.

You can register on your own. Teams may have one to four members, and solo registrants are matched into teams after the screening round, so entering alone is a perfectly valid route.

Registration closes on 15 August 2026, which is also the day the online screening test is held. Apply through the Cosmicathon listing on Unstop before that date.

The first two are remote. Round 1 is an online aptitude test on 15 August that any registered candidate can attempt from anywhere, and Round 2 is a short problem-identification video submission that opens on 16 August. Round 3 is entirely in person at the TIET campus in Patiala, running from 1:00 PM on 22 August to 3:00 PM on 23 August.

Only if you reach the final round. Shortlisted teams check in at the TIET campus on 21 August for a welcome session and then build on campus for 24 hours, with judging and demos on the afternoon of 23 August. Rounds 1 and 2 can be completed from anywhere.

Domains and tracks are announced for the Round 2 video, but the final problem statements are disclosed only at the start of the 24-hour build round. Teams therefore cannot prepare a ready-made solution in advance — the build has to happen on campus.

No. This is a competition rather than a funding programme. Winners receive cash prizes and internship opportunities, and the event does not take a stake in any team or venture.

It is organised by Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) in Patiala, Punjab, with Cosmic Attire and Venture Lab as supporting partners. Those partners are also the route through which internship opportunities are offered to top performers.

Register through the Cosmicathon competition page on Unstop before the 15 August 2026 deadline. Since the screening test is conducted online, you can attempt it from your own location — only the final build requires you to be present at the TIET campus.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Cosmicathon — ₹80,000 Product Building Hackathon at TIET Patiala, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.