AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge
A free, beginner-friendly online hackathon from GatewayGS and The AEI Initiative, inviting AI projects that tackle environmental problems. Runs July 25 to August 15, 2026, with a $25 (about ₹2,300) prize pool.
- Funding amount
- ₹2,300 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (15 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
AI 4 Earth Hackathon is a beginner-friendly online contest run by GatewayGS together with The AEI Initiative. It asks participants to build artificial-intelligence solutions aimed at environmental problems, and everything is hosted and submitted through Devpost.
The contest opens on July 25, 2026 and wraps up on August 15, 2026. It is completely virtual, so no travel or physical attendance is involved. You can register right up to August 15, 2026, and there is no entry fee.
The brief is deliberately wide. The central theme is sustainability and the environment, but you are free to pick your own sub-theme within the broad "AI for Earth" umbrella — whether that is wildlife conservation, water quality monitoring, renewable energy optimisation, waste management, climate modelling or something else entirely.
The prize pool is $25, which comes to roughly ₹2,300. The organisers have not published a breakdown by rank or placement. The bigger draw for most participants is the chance to build a portfolio project, test their skills against a real brief and get visibility in the AI-for-good community.
Highlights
- Online hackathon running July 25 to August 15, 2026, with registration closing on August 15, 2026.
- Prize pool of $25 — roughly ₹2,300 — with no rank-wise split published.
- Free to enter, with no registration fee.
- Open worldwide to all skill levels, and beginners are specifically encouraged.
- Enter solo or as a team; no team-size limits are stated.
- Build any AI project tied to environmental sustainability and submit it via Devpost.
Who can apply
This hackathon is deliberately open. The published rules cover only skill level and location, which means individual entrants, students and teams can all take part directly.
- Skill level: there is no bar. Beginners are explicitly encouraged, and the event carries a beginner-friendly tag aimed at first-time hackathon participants.
- Location: global. No geographic restriction applies, and the whole event is run online.
- Who it suits: developers, data scientists, students and AI enthusiasts who want to apply technology to social good.
- Team size: no limits have been announced. You may compete solo or as part of a team.
- No registered company or institution is required to enter.
AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge 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 AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge closed on 15 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Prize pool: $25, approximately ₹2,300. That is the full advertised cash pool, based on the conversion rate used by the organisers. There is no published split by rank, so it is not stated how the amount is distributed among winners.
Beyond the cash:
- Free to enter. The hackathon carries no registration or submission fee.
- A portfolio-ready project built around a real environmental brief.
- Recognition within the AI-for-good community that GatewayGS and The AEI Initiative work with.
- A showcase platform, since all entries are submitted and displayed through Devpost.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Entries are assessed on four dimensions: how closely the idea fits the environmental theme, the creativity it demonstrates, the quality of the technical implementation, and the impact the solution could realistically have.
The organisers have not released weightings, a scoring rubric or a round-by-round schedule, and no separate shortlisting or pitch stage has been announced.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge, 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
AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2,300. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I win at the AI 4 Earth Hackathon?
The advertised prize pool is $25, which works out to roughly ₹2,300 at the conversion rate used by the organisers. No breakdown by rank or placement has been published, so it is not known how the pool is divided among the winners.
When does the hackathon run and what is the submission deadline?
The event takes place online from July 25, 2026 to August 15, 2026. The deadline for both registration and project submission is August 15, 2026.
Who is eligible to participate?
Practically anyone. The hackathon is open to all skill levels with no geographic restriction, and beginners are actively encouraged to join. Developers, data scientists, students and AI enthusiasts are the intended audience.
Do I need to be based in India to enter?
No. There are no geographic restrictions at all — the hackathon is global and runs entirely online, so anyone can participate from anywhere.
Can I work in a team, or do I have to enter alone?
You can do either. Solo participants and teams are both welcome, and the organisers have not set out any team-size constraints.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Registration and participation are free, and there is no charge for submitting a project.
What kind of project should I build?
Anything that sits under the broad "AI for Earth" umbrella. The central theme is environmental sustainability, and you may choose your own sub-theme — for example wildlife conservation, water quality monitoring, renewable energy optimisation, waste management or climate modelling.
How will my project be judged?
Entries are assessed on four things: how closely the idea fits the environmental theme, the creativity it shows, the quality of the technical implementation, and the impact it could have. No weightings or detailed scoring criteria have been released.
Does the hackathon take equity in my project?
No. This is a competition with a cash prize rather than an investment programme, so no stake is taken in your project in return for the money.
How and where do I apply?
Registration and project submission both happen on the hackathon's Devpost page at https://gatewaygs-ai-4-earth-hackathon.devpost.com/. You can sign up at any point before the August 15, 2026 deadline.
Is DPIIT recognition required for AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge?
No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.
How do I apply for AI 4 Earth Hackathon — ₹2,300 Prize Pool, Online AI Challenge?
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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