EduSync: Connect the Web Hackathon — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Students

EduSync: Connect the Web is a hackathon run by Paper Buddy for students in India. The task is to design a single platform that keeps schools and homes in step with each other, and that also lifts how students learn, how safely they move through the school day and how their mental well-being is cared for.

The build window is 7 July to 24 July 2026, and registration shuts on 20 July 2026. It is an online event, so teams can take part from anywhere in the country. Anyone enrolled as a student — any branch, any year — may join, on their own or with up to three others.

On the rewards side, the prize pool reaches ₹45,000. The winner is put forward for PPO consideration and receives a certificate; second place takes ₹30,000 and third place ₹15,000, both with certificates as well.

The brief names three areas where solutions are expected:

• Academic analytics — dashboards and tools that show how a student's progress moves over time.
• Safety systems — secure gate-pass management and transport tracking built into the same platform.
• Mental wellness support — anonymous check-ins, sentiment analysis driven by AI, and live chat or notifications.

Projects have to be the team's own original work. AI tools are fine as development assistants, but the team must be able to walk evaluators through how their build actually works.

One administrative point decides everything: registration has two parts — Unstop first, then the PaperBuddy Hackathon Portal — and only teams that finish both can submit, be evaluated, or claim certificates, prize money and PPO consideration.

• Student hackathon hosted by Paper Buddy, open to any branch and any academic year in India.
• Build window runs 7 July to 24 July 2026; registration closes on 20 July 2026.
• Up to ₹45,000 in cash prizes — ₹30,000 for second place, ₹15,000 for third, PPO consideration for first.
• Enter solo or in a team of 1 to 4 members; every winning position also gets a certificate.
• Two-step registration is compulsory: Unstop plus the PaperBuddy Hackathon Portal.
• Solutions should target academic analytics, safety systems or mental wellness support.

EduSync is open to students across India, with no restriction on branch or academic year. The organisers state plainly that beginners and experienced developers are equally welcome, so a first hackathon is not a barrier to entry.

Entry can be individual or as a team of 1 to 4 members, which leaves room for a solo builder or a small group of up to four.

There is no DPIIT recognition, MSME registration, company incorporation or prior funding requirement attached to this programme. It is a student competition, and eligibility rests on being a current student in India.

Registration must be completed in both places — Unstop and the PaperBuddy Hackathon Portal — for a team to stay eligible for submission, evaluation, certificates, cash prizes and PPO consideration.

EduSync: Connect the Web Hackathon — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Students is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for EduSync: Connect the Web Hackathon — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Students closed on 20 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

EduSync is structured as a competition, so rewards come as prize money and recognition rather than a grant, loan or investment.

• 1st prize — PPO consideration plus a certificate.
• 2nd prize — ₹30,000 plus a certificate.
• 3rd prize — ₹15,000 plus a certificate.

The cash prizes together add up to up to ₹45,000, and each of the three winning positions also carries a certificate.

Because this is a competition, no equity is taken from participants. What teams compete for is the purse and the certificates, plus the PPO route open to the winning team.

To be in the running at all, a team must finish registration on Unstop and on the PaperBuddy Hackathon Portal. Stopping after one step forfeits submission, evaluation, certificates, cash prizes and PPO consideration.

Assessment happens after the hackathon window closes, and two things decide whether a project is looked at in the first place. The team must have completed registration on both Unstop and the PaperBuddy Hackathon Portal — only then is it eligible for submission and evaluation.

The work itself also has to stand up. Projects must be original and developed by the participating team, and AI tools may only be used as development assistants, not as a substitute for the team's own build.

Evaluators expect participants to explain how their implementation works, so the solution has to be something the team fully understands and can describe.

Before you apply to EduSync: Connect the Web Hackathon — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Students, 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.

EduSync: Connect the Web Hackathon — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Students is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹45,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.