IncludAI Neurodiversity Hackathon 2026 — ₹2.8L Prize Pool
A virtual hackathon by IncludEDU and the Stanford NNEA for building tech that supports neurodiverse communities. Open worldwide and beginner-friendly, with a $3,000 (up to ₹2.8 lakh) prize pool; runs August 1–9, 2026.
- Funding amount
- ₹2.8L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (9 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
IncludAI is a fully online hackathon for people who want to use technology to make life better for neurodiverse communities. It is run by IncludEDU alongside the Stanford Neurodiversity, Neuroethics, and Neurotechnology Alliance (NNEA), which pairs an education-focused organiser with a Stanford research alliance.
The build window runs from August 1 to August 9, 2026. Everything happens remotely, and finished projects are handed in through the hackathon's Devpost page — the same place where the organisers set out the judging criteria and the milestone schedule.
Two directions frame the brief: education and machine learning/AI. Entrants are asked to design and build solutions that answer real problems faced by neurodiverse people.
It is deliberately welcoming to newcomers. Students, developers, designers and neurodiversity advocates can all take part, first-timers included, working either solo or in a team — the event details set no cap on team size.
Prizes come out of a cash pool of $3,000, worth about ₹2,76,000 (up to ₹2.8 lakh). How that pool is split between the winning places has not been published.
Registration closes on August 9, 2026, the final day of the event.
Highlights
- Virtual neurodiversity hackathon run by IncludEDU with the Stanford NNEA
- Runs online from August 1 to August 9, 2026, with registration closing August 9, 2026
- Total cash prize pool of $3,000 — about ₹2,76,000 (up to ₹2.8 lakh)
- Focus areas: education and machine learning/AI solutions for neurodiverse communities
- Open worldwide to individuals and teams; beginners welcome
- Projects are registered and submitted on Devpost at includai-2026.devpost.com
Who can apply
This hackathon is open to participants anywhere in the world.
- Individuals and teams are both welcome, and no team size limit appears in the event details.
- First-timers are encouraged — no previous hackathon experience is needed.
- People from any background may enter, including students, developers, designers and neurodiversity advocates.
- There is no residency or regional bar, so founders and builders outside India can join on the same terms.
- No DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or incorporated company is required — this is a competition, not a government grant scheme.
The one firm condition in the event details is timing: registration and project submission both close on August 9, 2026.
IncludAI Neurodiversity Hackathon 2026 — ₹2.8L Prize Pool 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 IncludAI Neurodiversity Hackathon 2026 — ₹2.8L Prize Pool closed on 9 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Support here comes as prize money handed out after judging, not as a grant instalment or a loan.
- Total prize pool: $3,000, equal to roughly ₹2,76,000 — up to ₹2.8 lakh.
- Awards are cash prizes, so nothing has to be repaid and no equity or ownership stake is taken.
- The organisers have not published a rank-wise split, so how the pool is divided among the top entries is not specified in the event details.
- Entrants also get to build and showcase a working project on Devpost, the platform hosting the hackathon.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
There is no application screening round of the kind a grant scheme would run. The route to a prize looks like this:
- Register for the hackathon on the official Devpost page before the closing date of August 9, 2026.
- Build your solution during the online hackathon window, which runs from August 1 to August 9, 2026.
- Submit the completed project through Devpost before the deadline.
- Judging follows the criteria and milestones the organisers publish on the official event page. Those criteria are not reproduced in the event summary, so check the Devpost page for the exact scoring detail.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to IncludAI Neurodiversity Hackathon 2026 — ₹2.8L Prize Pool, 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
IncludAI Neurodiversity Hackathon 2026 — ₹2.8L Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2.8L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is IncludAI - The Neurodiversity Hackathon?
It is a virtual hackathon that asks participants to build technology supporting and empowering neurodiverse people. IncludEDU runs it along with the Stanford Neurodiversity, Neuroethics, and Neurotechnology Alliance (NNEA). The whole event happens online, and projects are handed in through Devpost.
How much prize money is on offer?
The cash pool totals $3,000, which works out to about ₹2,76,000 — up to ₹2.8 lakh. The organisers have not published how that amount is divided between first place, second place and any other winning entries, so the individual prize values are not known in advance.
What is the deadline to register or submit?
August 9, 2026. That date is both the last day of the hackathon, which runs from August 1 to August 9, 2026, and the registration deadline. Aim to have your Devpost submission in before that date passes.
Who is eligible to take part?
Practically anyone. The hackathon is open worldwide with no restriction on where you live, and both individuals and teams can enter. Beginners are explicitly encouraged, so you do not need a track record. Students, developers, designers and neurodiversity advocates are all part of the intended audience.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration?
No. Those conditions belong to Indian government grant and seed schemes. IncludAI is a competition run by IncludEDU with Stanford NNEA, and neither DPIIT recognition nor MSME registration is listed as a requirement for entering.
Does the hackathon take equity or need to be repaid?
Neither. The awards are cash prizes drawn from a $3,000 pool, so they are non-dilutive — no stake in your project or venture is taken — and nothing has to be paid back.
What kind of project should I build?
Something that addresses challenges faced by neurodiverse communities. The event names two focus areas, education and machine learning/AI, so projects sitting at the intersection of those two themes fit the brief most directly.
Is there a limit on team size?
No team size restriction appears in the event details, so you can enter alone or as part of a group. If a specific cap matters for your plans, confirm it with the organisers on the Devpost page before you register.
Is the hackathon online or in person?
Fully online. It runs virtually from August 1 to August 9, 2026, participants can work remotely from wherever they are, and submissions go through Devpost. That virtual format is also why there is no geographic restriction on who can join.
How do I apply?
Registration happens on the event's Devpost page at https://includai-2026.devpost.com/. Sign up there, build remotely during the hackathon window, and submit your finished project on the same platform by August 9, 2026.
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