Ideathon 2026 — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Student Innovators

Ideathon 2026 is an online innovation challenge organized by the Society of Finance, Economics, Business and Data Science at IIT Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with BETTR. The competition aims to spark creativity and problem-solving among students and early-stage entrepreneurs, giving them a stage to present unique business ideas and compete for cash prizes.

Open to students and early-stage entrepreneurs from any discipline, the challenge allows teams of 1 to 3 members, including solo participants. It is conducted entirely online, making it accessible to applicants from anywhere.

The competition unfolds in two rounds: first, participants submit a presentation (PPT) detailing their business idea, evaluated on innovation, feasibility, scalability, and overall business potential. Shortlisted teams then advance to a final pitch, where they present online before a panel of judges, assessed on idea originality, market viability, business feasibility, presentation quality, and their ability to answer judges' questions.

The total prize pool is ₹45,000, distributed as ₹20,000 for first place, ₹15,000 for second, and ₹10,000 for third.

The Society of Finance, Economics, Business and Data Science is a student-run body at IIT Bhubaneswar that promotes entrepreneurial and analytical skills through events and competitions. BETTR is a platform that supports innovation and startup initiatives.

To apply, register via the Unstop link provided and join the WhatsApp group for updates.

• Total prize pool of ₹45,000
• First place: ₹20,000, Second: ₹15,000, Third: ₹10,000
• Open to all students and early-stage entrepreneurs
• Teams of 1 to 3 members
• Fully online competition
• Submission deadline: 1st August 2026

Open to all students and early-stage entrepreneurs from any discipline. Teams can consist of 1 to 3 members, including individual participants. There is no geographic restriction as the competition is fully online.

Ideathon 2026 — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Student Innovators is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Applications for Ideathon 2026 — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Student Innovators are open and the current deadline is Closes today. Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

Cash prizes totaling ₹45,000, with ₹20,000 for first place, ₹15,000 for second, and ₹10,000 for third. Winners also gain recognition and exposure for their business ideas.

The competition consists of two rounds:

• Round 1: Idea Submission — Teams submit a PowerPoint presentation outlining their business idea by 1st August 2026. Submissions are evaluated on innovation, feasibility, scalability, and overall business potential.
• Round 2: Final Pitch — Shortlisted teams present their idea online before a panel of judges on 5th August 2026. They are assessed on idea originality, market viability, business feasibility, presentation quality, and their ability to answer the judges' questions.

Before you apply to Ideathon 2026 — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Student Innovators, 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.

Ideathon 2026 — ₹45,000 Prize Pool for Student Innovators is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹45,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.