InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity
An international innovation and technology challenge hosted by Amity University Uttar Pradesh for undergraduate and postgraduate students, with a ₹2,25,000 cash prize pool, six technology tracks and three rounds including an on-campus Grand Finale.
- Funding amount
- ₹2.3L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Amity University Uttar Pradesh (Incubator)
- Application deadline
- Closed (10 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
InnoVenture 2026 is an international innovation and technology challenge hosted by Amity University Uttar Pradesh. It works like a structured student hackathon: undergraduate and postgraduate teams are asked to apply emerging technology to real-world problems, and the format openly favours teams that mix disciplines instead of staying inside a single specialisation.
The 2026 edition is built around one overarching theme: Measuring ROI & Impact of Emerging Technologies: Driving Innovation Through Creativity, Conclusive Thinking, Collaboration for a Sustainable Planet. Solutions may be submitted in one or more of these domains:
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
- Sustainability & Smart Green Solutions
- AR/VR & Next-Generation Technologies
- Automation, Robotics & Productivity
- Digital Transformation & Enterprise Solutions
The challenge unfolds over three narrowing rounds — an online proposal screen, a hybrid jury presentation for the ten strongest teams, and a Grand Finale on campus for the final five. Cash awards add up to ₹2,25,000, with ₹1,00,000 going to the winning team. Because this is a competition rather than an investment programme, the awards are prizes: no equity is taken in a team's idea.
Amity University Uttar Pradesh is a private Indian university with a stated focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship, and it runs national and international student competitions to build industry-academia links.
Highlights
- International innovation hackathon by Amity University Uttar Pradesh, open to UG and PG students worldwide in teams of 2–4.
- Total cash prize pool of ₹2,25,000: ₹1,00,000 for the winner, ₹75,000 for the first runner-up and ₹50,000 for the second runner-up.
- Six submission domains, from AI/ML and cybersecurity to sustainability, AR/VR, robotics and digital transformation.
- Three rounds: an online PDF proposal, a hybrid top-10 presentation, and an on-campus Grand Finale for the top 5 teams.
- Winners also receive trophies, certificates, university recognition, website and social media features, and networking with industry experts.
- Registration runs 31 July 2026 to 11 September 2026, with Round 1 proposals due 25 September 2026.
Who can apply
InnoVenture 2026 is a student-only competition. To take part, you must be enrolled as an undergraduate or postgraduate student at a recognised college or university — anywhere in the world, not only in India.
Fields of study are not a filter. Both technical and non-technical disciplines are invited, and cross-disciplinary or inter-specialisation teams are actively welcomed.
The team rules are:
- Team size of 2 to 4 members.
- Inter-college and inter-specialisation teams are allowed, so you can build a team across institutions.
- Every team must nominate one Team Leader.
- Each participant may belong to only one team.
- No company registration, DPIIT recognition or MSME registration is required — entry rests on student enrolment.
InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity 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 InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity closed on 10 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
The programme is a prize competition, so what teams receive are cash prizes and recognition rather than grants, loans or equity investment.
The 2026 prize structure is:
- 1st Prize — ₹1,00,000, plus the Winner Trophy, Winner Certificate, recognition from Amity University Uttar Pradesh, a feature on the official website and social media, and networking with industry experts.
- First Runner-Up — ₹75,000, plus the Runner-Up Trophy, Runner-Up Certificate and recognition from Amity University Uttar Pradesh.
- Second Runner-Up — ₹50,000, plus a Trophy, Certificate and recognition from Amity University Uttar Pradesh.
The three cash awards together make a total prize pool of ₹2,25,000, shown on the programme listing as up to ₹2.3L. Finalists also get the chance to demo a prototype or proof of concept before a jury.
About the provider
InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity is offered by Amity University Uttar Pradesh, a startup incubator. It is delivered directly by Amity University Uttar Pradesh as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Selection runs across three rounds, each one narrower than the last.
Round 1 — Online Proposal Submission (deadline 25 September 2026): teams submit a PDF of no more than 10 MB covering the problem statement, concept note, proposed solution, innovation highlights, a rough sketch or wireframe, implementation roadmap, expected impact, and business/ROI considerations.
Round 2 — Hybrid Presentation (12 October 2026): the top 10 shortlisted teams present before a jury in a hybrid format, with 10 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A.
Final Round — Grand Finale (13 October 2026): the top 5 teams qualify for the Grand Finale at Amity University Uttar Pradesh, where each team demonstrates a prototype or proof of concept — 12 minutes of presentation and demo, followed by 8 minutes of jury interaction.
Entries are scored against fixed judging weightages:
- Innovation & Creativity — 25%
- Technical Feasibility — 20%
- Sustainability & Social Impact — 20%
- ROI & Business Value Proposition — 15%
- Scalability & Implementation Roadmap — 10%
- Presentation & Team Collaboration — 10%
Registration opens on 31 July 2026 and closes on 11 September 2026. Late submissions are not accepted.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity, 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
InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2.3L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is InnoVenture 2026 and who runs it?
It is an international innovation and technology challenge organised by Amity University Uttar Pradesh. Undergraduate and postgraduate students form teams, pick a technology-driven solution to a real-world problem, and take it through an online proposal round, a hybrid jury presentation and an on-campus Grand Finale. The stated aim is to bring together talented students from different disciplines and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Who is eligible to participate?
The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled at recognised colleges and universities anywhere in the world. Students from every academic discipline may apply — technical and non-technical alike — and cross-disciplinary teams are especially encouraged. Teams must have between 2 and 4 members, and each participant can be part of only one team.
How much prize money is on offer?
The cash awards total ₹2,25,000, listed as up to ₹2.3L. The 1st prize is ₹1,00,000, the First Runner-Up receives ₹75,000, and the Second Runner-Up gets ₹50,000. Each of the three also comes with a trophy, a certificate and recognition from Amity University Uttar Pradesh, and the winning team additionally gets a feature on the official website and social media plus networking with industry experts.
What are the important dates and deadlines?
Registration opens on 31 July 2026 and closes on 11 September 2026. Round 1 proposals are due by 25 September 2026, Round 2 presentations take place on 12 October 2026, and the Grand Finale is on 13 October 2026. The programme listing also carries a deadline of 10 August 2026, so it is worth confirming the exact closing date on the official Unstop page before you plan your submission — late submissions are not accepted.
What technology tracks or themes can we submit under?
The 2026 overarching theme is Measuring ROI & Impact of Emerging Technologies: Driving Innovation Through Creativity, Conclusive Thinking, Collaboration for a Sustainable Planet. Within that, teams may submit solutions in one or more domains: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, Sustainability & Smart Green Solutions, AR/VR & Next-Generation Technologies, Automation, Robotics & Productivity, and Digital Transformation & Enterprise Solutions.
What should our Round 1 proposal contain?
Round 1 is an online proposal submission in PDF format, capped at 10 MB. It should cover the problem statement, a concept note, the proposed solution, innovation highlights, a rough sketch or wireframe, an implementation roadmap, the expected impact, and business or ROI considerations. The submission deadline for this round is 25 September 2026.
How will our entry be judged?
Judging uses fixed weightages: Innovation & Creativity 25%, Technical Feasibility 20%, Sustainability & Social Impact 20%, ROI & Business Value Proposition 15%, Scalability & Implementation Roadmap 10%, and Presentation & Team Collaboration 10%. In Round 2, the top 10 teams get a hybrid presentation slot of 10 minutes plus 5 minutes of Q&A; in the Grand Finale, the top 5 teams get 12 minutes for a presentation and prototype demo plus 8 minutes of jury interaction.
Does the programme take equity, or do we need DPIIT or MSME registration?
No. InnoVenture 2026 is a student competition with cash prizes, not an investment scheme, so no equity stake is taken in a team's idea. There is also no company registration requirement — DPIIT recognition and MSME registration are not part of the eligibility criteria, which are based on being an enrolled undergraduate or postgraduate student.
How big can our team be, and can one person join more than one team?
A team must have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 members, and every team has to nominate one member as Team Leader. Inter-college and inter-specialisation teams are permitted, so you can collaborate across institutions and departments. However, each participant can be a member of only one team.
How and where do we apply?
Applications are made through the official Unstop page for InnoVenture 2026 — International Innovation & Technology Challenge, Amity University AU Noida. Registration opens on 31 July 2026 and closes on 11 September 2026, after which teams submit their Round 1 proposal PDF by 25 September 2026. Late submissions are not accepted, so register early.
How do I apply for InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity?
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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