Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 Prize Pool
Iris Hacks IV is a two-day online hackathon with a $400 prize pool (around ₹36,800), open worldwide to beginners and experienced builders alike.
- Funding amount
- ₹36,800 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (9 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Iris Hacks IV is a weekend hackathon that runs entirely online. It is organised by Iris Hacks and takes place across August 8 and 9, 2026, with registration closing on the final day of the event.
The format is deliberately open-ended. Machine learning and artificial intelligence sit at the centre of the event, but the organisers also welcome projects built around other ideas. That means you can bring any project you are genuinely excited about and use the weekend to push it forward.
Newcomers are explicitly catered for. Someone entering their very first hackathon is as welcome as a seasoned builder, and you can take part either on your own or as part of a team of any size. There are no geographic restrictions either — participants from anywhere in the world can join, including founders and students in India.
Work is submitted through Devpost, which is also where you register. The overall prize pool stands at $400, which is roughly ₹36,800. The organisers have not published how that pool is divided between winning entries, so the exact payout per rank is unconfirmed.
Highlights
- Online hackathon run by Iris Hacks on August 8–9, 2026
- Total prize pool of $400, roughly ₹36,800
- Registration closes on August 9, 2026 — the final day of the event
- Beginner-friendly and open to participants worldwide
- Machine learning and AI are the headline themes, but other project ideas are welcome
- Solo entries and teams of any size can both take part
Who can apply
Iris Hacks IV is open to participants worldwide — the organisers list no country or regional restrictions, so Indian participants enter on exactly the same terms as everyone else.
- Who can take part: individuals working solo, or teams of any size.
- Experience level: none required. The hackathon is described as beginner-friendly and is pitched as a good entry point for first-timers.
- Where you can be based: anywhere in the world.
- Entity type: nothing specified. You do not need a registered company, and DPIIT or MSME registration does not appear anywhere in the stated criteria.
In short, the only thing you need is a project idea and a Devpost account to register and submit through.
Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 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 Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 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
This is a competition rather than a grant or an investment scheme, so the reward takes the form of cash prizes instead of funding tied to a business.
- Total prize pool: $400, equivalent to approximately ₹36,800.
- Breakdown by rank: not published — the organisers have not shared how the pool is split between winners.
- What it means for you: prize money of this kind is non-dilutive. You are not handing over equity, a stake in your project, or any ownership rights.
Beyond the cash, the event provides a structured weekend to build something new and to submit it to a hackathon audience through Devpost.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 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
Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹36,800. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is Iris Hacks IV?
It is an online hackathon organised by Iris Hacks. Participants build a project over the weekend of August 8–9, 2026 and hand it in through Devpost. The event is designed to be beginner-friendly and open-ended, with machine learning and AI as the headline themes.
How much can I win at Iris Hacks IV?
The total prize pool is $400, which works out to about ₹36,800. The organisers have not published a rank-wise breakdown, so it is not clear how much goes to each winning place.
When does the hackathon run and when is the deadline?
The event runs online from August 8 to August 9, 2026. Registration closes on August 9, 2026, which is also the last day of the hackathon, so you need to sign up before that date.
Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone, anywhere. There are no geographic restrictions, so participants from India and every other country can take part. You can enter alone or as part of a team of any size, and no prior hackathon experience is needed.
What kind of project am I expected to build?
Any project you are passionate about. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are the main focus areas, but the organisers explicitly welcome other themes as well, so the brief is deliberately open-ended.
Does Iris Hacks IV take equity in my project?
No. This is a hackathon competition with cash prizes rather than an investment programme, and there is no mention of equity, a stake, or any ownership claim over what you build.
Do I need DPIIT or MSME registration to apply?
No. Iris Hacks IV is a global online hackathon rather than an Indian government funding scheme, and neither DPIIT nor MSME registration features anywhere in its eligibility criteria.
Can I enter as a team, and is there a size limit?
Teams of any size are allowed, and solo entries are equally fine. No upper limit on team size has been stated.
How do I register and where do I submit my project?
Both registration and project submission happen on the official Devpost page for the event: https://iris-hacks-iv.devpost.com/. Make sure you register before the August 9, 2026 deadline.
How do I apply for Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 Prize Pool?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
Alternatives to Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 Prize Pool
Not sure Iris Hacks IV — Online Beginner-Friendly Hackathon with ₹36,800 Prize Pool is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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