HoustonHacks2026 — Online Hackathon With a $150 (₹13,800) Prize Pool — Frequently Asked Questions

The total prize pool is $150, which is approximately ₹13,800. That is the full amount stated for the hackathon, so it is a cash prize competition rather than a large funding award.

Registration closes on 31 December 2026. The same date is listed for the hackathon itself, so plan to have your project ready and submitted by then rather than leaving it to the final day.

The hackathon is open to participants globally, and no specific restrictions are listed. Indian individuals and teams can enter on the same terms as anyone else, since there is no geographic limitation attached to the event.

Both options are allowed. You can register and build as a solo participant, or put together a team — developers, designers and innovators at any skill level are explicitly welcome.

No. Neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME/Udyam registration is mentioned anywhere among the requirements. Since the hackathon is global and open to individuals as well as teams, company registration of any kind is not part of the eligibility criteria.

Not at all. The hackathon is open to people at every skill level, including first-timers. Entries are judged on creativity, technical execution and impact, so a well-executed simple idea can compete alongside more complex builds.

It is entirely online. Everything runs through the hackathon's Devpost page, so participants can work from anywhere without travelling to a venue.

Projects are scored against three criteria: creativity, technical execution and impact. The entry or entries that perform best across those criteria take the $150 prize pool.

No. This is a hackathon competition with a cash prize, not an investment programme, so no equity stake is involved. It is a non-dilutive award.

Registration happens through the official Devpost page for the hackathon, at https://evensonarisnord.devpost.com/. Sign up there, build your project, and submit it before the 31 December 2026 deadline.