InnoVenture 2026 — ₹2.25L Prize Pool Hackathon by Amity — Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.