Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad
A two-round inter-college student hackathon hosted by IPEC Ghaziabad, with a ₹1,00,000 pool of cash prizes and perks across five problem themes. Online PPT round first, then a 24-hour on-site build on 22–23 August 2026; entries close 15 August 2026.
- Funding amount
- ₹1L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (15 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Hacksynergy 2026 is a student hackathon run by Inderprastha Engineering College (IPEC) in Ghaziabad. It is deliberately a two-round competition rather than a single weekend sprint: teams first make their case on paper, and only the shortlisted ones get to code on campus.
The pool on offer is ₹1,00,000, split between three ranked cash prizes and a large bundle of goodies, swags and a resource kit. Student teams from any college or institute in India can enter, and the organisers allow mixed teams — members do not have to come from the same campus or the same branch.
Every team picks one of five themes to work on: Health Care, Cybersecurity, EdTech, Fintech or Open Innovation. Round one happens online, where teams send in their project or idea as a PPT deck and a panel evaluates those submissions to build a shortlist. Round two is the offline finale — a 24-hour hackathon held at IPEC on 22–23 August 2026, where the shortlisted teams have to build and demonstrate a working prototype in person.
It is a competition, so winners receive prizes rather than investment. Entries close on 15 August 2026 and registration runs through the event's Unstop page, with all updates going to the email address a team registers with.
Highlights
- ₹1,00,000 total prize pool — ₹25,000 for 1st place, ₹15,000 for first runner up, ₹10,000 for second runner up, and ₹50,000 in goodies, swags and resource kits
- 1st prize also includes a Campus Ambassador Internship
- Two rounds: an online PPT/idea submission, followed by a 24-hour offline hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad
- Offline finale takes place on 22–23 August 2026; registrations close 15 August 2026
- Teams of 2 to 5 students; inter-college and inter-specialisation teams are allowed
- Five themes to choose from: Health Care, Cybersecurity, EdTech, Fintech and Open Innovation
Who can apply
Hacksynergy 2026 is aimed squarely at students. Anyone currently studying at a college or institute in India can take part — there is no restriction on which institution, course or specialisation you belong to.
- Team size: a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 members per team. Solo entries are not allowed.
- Inter-college teams: permitted. Teammates can come from different colleges and different specialisations.
- Theme selection: every team must choose one of the five themes — Health Care, Cybersecurity, EdTech, Fintech or Open Innovation.
- On-site requirement: each participant must carry a valid ID card issued by their college or institute to the offline round.
- Original work only: copied submissions or a pre-built solution will get a team disqualified.
No DPIIT recognition, MSME registration, company incorporation or prior funding is needed — this is a student competition, not an investor or government scheme.
Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad 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 Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad 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
Hacksynergy 2026 does not invest in or lend to teams. It awards cash prizes and perks drawn from a ₹1,00,000 pool, so nothing is diluted and no stake is taken in your idea or project.
The prize split is fixed:
- 1st Prize: ₹25,000 plus a Campus Ambassador Internship.
- First Runner Up: ₹15,000.
- Second Runner Up: ₹10,000.
- Goodies, swags, resource kit and more: ₹50,000 worth of items distributed through the event.
Beyond the money, shortlisted teams get the experience of building under a 24-hour clock on the IPEC campus and presenting a working prototype to judges, which is useful portfolio material for students.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Selection happens in two rounds.
Round 1 — Online PPT submission. Teams submit their project or idea in PPT format. These submissions are evaluated and a shortlist of teams is drawn up from them.
Round 2 — Offline 24-hour hackathon. Shortlisted teams come to IPEC and build, then present, a working prototype on-site across 22–23 August 2026.
If your team is not shortlisted after the first round, you do not move to the on-site finale. Alongside the evaluation, organisers screen submissions for plagiarism and pre-built solutions — either will lead to disqualification.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad, 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
Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much money can a team win at Hacksynergy 2026?
The total prize pool is ₹1,00,000. The first prize is ₹25,000 and also comes with a Campus Ambassador Internship. The first runner up receives ₹15,000 and the second runner up gets ₹10,000. The remaining ₹50,000 is given out as goodies, swags, a resource kit and other items.
Who is allowed to participate?
The hackathon is open to students at colleges and institutes in India. You do not need to be from IPEC or from any particular branch. Teams must have at least 2 and at most 5 members, and mixed teams with members from different colleges or specialisations are allowed.
What is the last date to register?
Registrations close on 15 August 2026. Sign-ups are handled through the event's Unstop page, so it is worth completing the form well before the cut-off.
How does the two-round format actually work?
Round one is online. Your team submits its project or idea as a PPT deck, and the submissions are evaluated to produce a shortlist. Round two is the offline finale at IPEC, where shortlisted teams build and present a working prototype during a 24-hour hackathon on 22–23 August 2026.
Which themes can my team pick?
You must select one of five themes: Health Care, Cybersecurity, EdTech, Fintech or Open Innovation. Pick the one that best fits the problem your team wants to solve.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
No. Those requirements apply to government funding schemes, not to this hackathon. Hacksynergy 2026 is a student competition, so no registration of that kind is asked for.
Does the hackathon take equity in my idea or startup?
No. The rewards here are cash prizes, an internship and event goodies — there is no investment being made and no stake or equity is taken in your project.
What do I need to carry for the offline round?
Every participant must be able to show a valid ID card issued by their college or institute during the on-site round at IPEC. Teams should also be ready to build on-site, since the offline round is a 24-hour hackathon.
Can students from different colleges form one team?
Yes. Inter-college and inter-specialisation teams are permitted, as long as the team has between 2 and 5 members and everyone is a current college student.
What can get a team disqualified?
Plagiarism or submitting a pre-built solution will lead to disqualification. The idea you submit in round one and the prototype you build in round two are expected to be your own original work.
Who is eligible to apply for Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad?
Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
How do I apply for Hacksynergy 2026 — ₹1 Lakh Prize Pool Hackathon at IPEC Ghaziabad?
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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