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

It is a six-hour, in-person AI Ideathon hosted by Scaler School of Technology. Participants learn to rapidly prototype fully functional web applications using AI tools, without needing any coding background, and the day ends with teams demonstrating their prototypes to judges.

The competition is strictly open to students of Class 11 and Class 12, from any high school or coaching centre across India. There is no prior coding, computer science or AI experience requirement — if you can type a prompt, you are ready to participate.

There is a total cash prize pool of ₹30,000, which is awarded to the top teams at the finale.

Registration closes on April 21, 2026. After registering, there is a second deadline: the mandatory Participation form shared on the official WhatsApp group must be completed by April 26, 2026, and the selected teams are announced by April 29, 2026.

Yes. The event is designed for students with no prior coding, computer science or AI experience. It opens with a "Zero to One" AI crash course and a live demonstration, and Scaler's AI/ML club mentors support teams during the build sprint with hands-on help and prompt-engineering tips.

Teams must consist of 2 or 3 members. Participants from different schools or coaching centres are encouraged to form cross-school teams, so you do not have to restrict yourself to classmates.

Every participant must register individually first. After that, you form your team by inviting other registered members using their registered email IDs, and all invited members must accept the team invitation for the team to be valid.

The buildathon centres on Artificial Intelligence, with participants using tools such as v0.dev, Claude and WebSim to create web applications that solve everyday problems. Selected participants must also complete a "Pre-Flight Checklist" by creating free accounts for the designated AI tools before the event day.

The finale runs for six hours in person at the Scaler School of Technology campus in Bangalore on May 17, 2026. It starts with the "Zero to One" AI crash course and a live demonstration, followed by a four-hour uninterrupted building sprint, and closes with a two-minute live demonstration of each prototype to the judges. Slideshows are not allowed, so the working web app is what you present.

No. Genesis: The AI Buildathon is a student competition, and the reward structure is cash prizes for the top teams rather than an investment, so there is no equity stake involved.

Applications are made online through the registration link on Unstop, where you use the "Register Now" option to sign up individually. From there you form your team via registered email IDs, join the mandatory WhatsApp group for updates, and complete the Participation form shared on that group by April 26, 2026.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

Genesis: The AI Buildathon — ₹30,000 Ideathon for Class 11 & 12 Students is offered by Scaler School of Technology, an academic institution. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.