GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide
Global Innovation Build Challenge V2 is a fully online hackathon where student teams from anywhere in the world spend ten weeks building technology projects for real-world problems. There is no cash prize — instead, five non-cash awards and community recognition go to standout builds.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closes in 5d (21 Sept 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Global Innovation Build Challenge V2, usually shortened to GIBC V2, is an online hackathon run by Kang Chiao International School Student. It brings together student builders from across the world to work on technology projects that tackle genuine, real-world problems rather than textbook exercises.
Because the entire event happens remotely, location is not a barrier. Participants form their own teams — a team may contain as many as eight people — and spend roughly ten weeks designing, coding and polishing a project together from wherever they are.
The challenge is pitched at students with an interest in DevOps, machine learning and AI, and social good. Those three areas are where the organisers expect most of the work to land, and they shape the kind of submissions that fit the event best.
It is worth being clear about what GIBC V2 is not: it is a competition, not a funding programme. No cash prize is on the table. What participants walk away with is a from-scratch project they can put in a portfolio, visibility inside the global GIBC community, and a shot at one of five non-cash prizes reserved for the strongest entries.
The build window opens on July 11, 2026 and closes on September 21, 2026 — the same date on which registration shuts. Entries are assessed by an elite panel drawn from 10–15 industry professionals and expert judges, and a virtual award ceremony follows on September 28, 2026.
Highlights
- Fully virtual global hackathon for students, running from July 11 to September 21, 2026
- Teams of up to 8 members; open to students anywhere in the world
- No cash prize — five non-cash prizes plus portfolio work and community recognition
- Build areas centre on DevOps, machine learning/AI and social good
- Judged by 10–15 industry professionals and expert judges on innovation, technical execution and impact
- Register on Devpost by September 21, 2026; award ceremony on September 28, 2026
Who can apply
GIBC V2 is open to students anywhere in the world — there is no country, state or region filter in the criteria.
- Participant type: students. The challenge is built for learners, not for registered companies or professional teams.
- Team size: teams may contain up to 8 members.
- Working format: fully virtual, so teammates can be spread across different cities or countries and collaborate remotely.
- Fit: the event suits students drawn to DevOps, machine learning/AI and social good, though the stated eligibility is simply being a student.
- Registration paperwork: the programme does not list any state-wise or entity-type restrictions, and no DPIIT or MSME registration is required to take part.
GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide 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
Applications for GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide are open and the current deadline is Closes in 5d (21 Sept 2026). Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.
What the funding covers
GIBC V2 sits in the prize-based competition category rather than the grant category, so it is important to set expectations correctly: no cash prize is offered. What the challenge does award is five non-cash prizes to the projects that stand out.
Beyond the prizes, the value on offer is mostly in what you build and who sees it:
- A portfolio-worthy project created from scratch over the ten-week build period. Examples of the kind of work involved include a custom LLM built within a 50-million-parameter cap, a data pipeline for a medical or fintech use case, or a novel hardware or software prototype.
- Recognition within the global GIBC community, which is useful for students assembling a public track record.
- Evaluation by a panel of 10–15 industry professionals and expert judges, meaning your work is seen by people working in the field.
- A virtual closing award ceremony on September 28, 2026.
- Access to the official GIBC V2 Discord community, where participants network with builders from other countries and keep up with announcements during the hacking period.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Submissions are assessed by an elite judging panel of 10–15 industry professionals and expert judges, who review what each team has built during the ten-week window.
Projects are scored on innovation, technical execution and impact — in other words, how original the idea is, how well it has actually been engineered, and how much difference it could make to the problem it addresses.
From that review, the judges select the standout projects to receive the five non-cash prizes. Results are marked with a virtual award ceremony on September 28, 2026, one week after submissions and registration close.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does the Global Innovation Build Challenge V2 provide?
None in the form of money. GIBC V2 is a competition rather than a funding scheme, and the organisers state plainly that no cash prize is offered. Instead, five non-cash prizes are given to the standout projects, along with recognition inside the global GIBC community.
Who is allowed to take part in GIBC V2?
Students from anywhere in the world. The eligibility stated for the challenge is simply that you are a student, with no restriction on which country you are studying in. It is aimed at learners rather than registered companies or professional teams.
How many people can be on a team?
A team may have as many as eight members. You can enter with fewer, and since the whole event is virtual, your teammates do not need to be in the same place — remote collaboration is the norm.
What is the deadline, and how long does the challenge run?
The build period starts on July 11, 2026 and finishes on September 21, 2026, which works out to a ten-week hacking window. Registration also closes on September 21, 2026, so that date is the hard cut-off for both signing up and submitting.
Does the programme take equity in my project?
No equity arrangement is part of this programme. GIBC V2 is a student competition with no cash prize and non-cash awards only — there is no investment being made and therefore no stake being taken. It is not a dilutive funding programme in any sense.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to enter?
No. GIBC V2 is open to students globally and its criteria do not mention DPIIT recognition, MSME status, or any particular business entity type. Those registrations are relevant to Indian startup funding schemes, not to this challenge.
What kinds of projects suit this challenge?
The organisers highlight DevOps, machine learning/AI and social good as the natural fit. Illustrative examples of the work involved include a custom LLM kept within a 50-million-parameter limit, a data pipeline for a medical or fintech setting, or a novel hardware or software prototype. If your idea uses technology to solve a real-world problem, it is in scope.
How are entries judged, and by whom?
A panel of 10–15 industry professionals and expert judges reviews the submissions. They assess innovation, technical execution and impact — originality of the idea, quality of the engineering, and the difference the project could make. The five non-cash prizes go to the projects that score best on that basis.
How and where do I apply?
Registration happens through the official Devpost page for the challenge at https://gibc-v2.devpost.com/. Everything is handled online, and you need to complete your registration before the September 21, 2026 deadline.
What happens after submissions close?
Judging takes place after the September 21, 2026 close, and the results are announced at a virtual closing award ceremony on September 28, 2026. Throughout the ten-week build, participants can also use the official GIBC V2 Discord community to network with other teams and follow announcements.
Who is eligible to apply for GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide?
GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
How do I apply for GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
Alternatives to GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide
Not sure GIBC V2 — Global Student Hackathon for Builders Worldwide is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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