Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students

Genesis: The AI Buildathon is a one-day, six-hour AI Ideathon run by Scaler School of Technology for school students who would rather build something working than sit through another theory session. The in-person finale is held at the Scaler campus in Bangalore on May 17, 2026, and the whole format is built around a single outcome: a functional web application shipped within hours, created with AI tools instead of hand-written code.

Participation is limited to students of Class 11 and Class 12, from any high school or coaching centre anywhere in India. There is no requirement for a computer science background, coding practice or prior AI exposure — the organisers' own framing is that anyone who can type a prompt can take part. Teams may be formed across institutions, and cross-school squads are actively encouraged.

The entire event fits inside one six-hour window. It opens with a "Zero to One" AI crash course plus a live demonstration, then moves into a four-hour uninterrupted build sprint. The day closes with a two-minute live demonstration of the prototype in front of judges — slideshows are not permitted, so the working product is the pitch. Mentors from Scaler's AI/ML club stay on the floor through the sprint, offering hands-on support and advanced prompt-engineering tricks along the way.

Teams build with AI tools such as v0.dev, Claude and WebSim, using them to address everyday problems through new web applications. The competition carries a cash prize pool of ₹30,000 for the top teams.

• Six-hour in-person AI Ideathon at the Scaler School of Technology campus in Bangalore on May 17, 2026
• Open to Class 11 and Class 12 students across India, with no coding, computer science or AI experience needed
• Teams of 2 or 3 members, with cross-school teams encouraged
• Total cash prize pool of ₹30,000 for the top teams
• Register by April 21, 2026; Participation form due April 26, 2026; selected teams announced by April 29, 2026
• Build with tools like v0.dev, Claude and WebSim and pitch through a two-minute live demo — no slideshows

Genesis: The AI Buildathon is open only to students who are currently studying in Class 11 or Class 12. Any high school or coaching centre in India can send participants — there is no restriction to a particular city, board or stream.

Key conditions:

• Class level: Class 11 and Class 12 students only.
• Technical background: None needed. Coding, computer science and AI experience are all optional; the only prerequisite is being able to type a prompt.
• Team size: Teams must have 2 or 3 members. Every individual registers on their own first, then assembles or joins a team.
• Cross-school teams: Participants from different schools or coaching centres are encouraged to team up.
• Attendance: The finale is an in-person event at the Scaler campus in Bangalore, so selected teams need to be present on campus on the event day.

Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students closed on 21 Apr 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

This is a competition rather than a grant or investment scheme, so what participants stand to gain is prize money plus a working build.

• Cash prize pool: A total of ₹30,000 is awarded to the top teams. The published information gives the combined pool rather than a place-by-place breakdown.
• Intensive mentorship: Mentors from Scaler's AI/ML club work with teams during the build sprint, sharing hands-on help and advanced prompt-engineering techniques.
• Structured upskilling: The day begins with a "Zero to One" AI crash course and a live demonstration, so even first-time builders start with a working method.
• A finished prototype: Teams leave with a functional web application built using AI tools such as v0.dev, Claude and WebSim.

One preparation cost to note: before the event day, participants complete a "Pre-Flight Checklist" by setting up free accounts on the designated AI tools themselves.

Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students is offered by Scaler School of Technology, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by Scaler School of Technology as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The route from registration to the finale runs through a defined sequence of steps rather than a formal written test.

• Individual registration: Each student signs up on their own before any team is formed.
• Team formation: Registered participants invite others using their registered email IDs, and every invited member has to accept the invitation for the team to be complete.
• Mandatory participation form: After joining the official WhatsApp group for updates, each participant fills in the mandatory Participation form shared there, with the deadline for this being April 26, 2026.
• Team announcement: The teams selected for the finale are announced by April 29, 2026.
• Pre-flight preparation: Selected participants complete the "Pre-Flight Checklist" by creating free accounts for the designated AI tools ahead of the event day.
• Finale judging: On May 17, 2026, teams attend the in-person finale in Bangalore and present their prototype in a two-minute live demonstration before the judges. No slideshows are allowed, so the assessment rests on the working web app and the demo itself.

Before you apply to Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 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.

Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹30,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.