HackOcean — National Frontend Hackathon with ₹1.5L+ Prize Pool — Frequently Asked Questions

HackOcean is a national-level online frontend hackathon for Indian students and developers. It is organised by the Digital Learning Group (DLG) with Madhav Institute of Technology & Science (MITS), Gwalior, and runs entirely online across two evaluated rounds — a presentation-based screening round followed by a 12-hour build finale.

The winner receives ₹3,000 in cash, the first runner-up ₹2,000 and the second runner-up ₹1,000. All three also get CodeCrafters VIP Memberships, Interview Buddy AI interview credits and a digital certificate. The top 5 teams get a free 1-year .XYZ domain plus a certificate, and everyone who participates receives a digital participation certificate and sponsor rewards. The combined estimated prize pool is worth over ₹1.5 lakhs.

Any Indian student or developer can enter. There are no conditions around your college, course, year of study, city or state, and developers who are not studying are welcome too. You can compete alone or in a team of up to four members.

Teams can have 1 to 4 members, and solo participants are explicitly allowed. Registration carries a nominal fee: ₹49 for a solo entry, ₹89 for a duo, ₹139 for a trio and ₹179 for a squad.

The last date to register is 22 July 2026. Applications are made through the official Unstop page for HackOcean, so register there before the deadline to secure your spot.

Yes. HackOcean actively encourages participants to use AI-powered development tools responsibly to build innovative, high-quality solutions. The only hard rule is that the code itself must be written during hackathon hours, and copying an existing website will get you disqualified.

In Round 1 (Ignition) you submit a presentation covering your problem understanding, solution approach, UI/UX wireframe and creativity; the top 50 teams move on. In Round 2 (Deep Ocean) you build a complete frontend solution within 12 hours and submit both a GitHub repository and a live deployed URL.

Shortlisted teams receive three frontend problem statements and choose one: ABYSS, a landing page for a fictional deep-sea exploration company offering premium submarine adventures; REEF, a landing page for a fictional ocean conservation organisation; or DeepSea Guardian, an intelligent platform for monitoring deep-sea ecosystems using AI, IoT and satellite data.

Judges assess problem-solving ability, product thinking, UI/UX design, presentation skills and frontend development expertise. Round 1 weighs your presentation and wireframe, while the finale weighs the working frontend you ship, including the deployed link and repository.

No. HackOcean is a competition rather than a government grant or funding scheme, so DPIIT recognition and MSME (Udyam) registration are not part of the entry criteria. The only eligibility condition is being an Indian student or developer who registers before the deadline.

No. HackOcean — National Frontend Hackathon with ₹1.5L+ Prize Pool is competition and is non-dilutive — the provider does not take an equity stake in your startup.

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