NERDS 1.0: AI Hackathon for School Teams with ₹75,000 in Prizes — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions founders most often ask about NERDS 1.0: AI Hackathon for School Teams with ₹75,000 in Prizes — who qualifies, the funding amount, required documents and how the application works.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is NERDS 1.0?
NERDS 1.0 is an AI hackathon organised by Kokos AI for school students in India. It pairs roughly two months of AI training and project mentorship with a competitive final round, and it is presented as the country's first AI hackathon aimed at the school segment.
Who is eligible to take part in NERDS 1.0?
Only school students. Entries are accepted as teams of two to four members, and every member must be a school student. College students, working professionals and independent founders are not eligible. No particular state, board or type of school is listed as a requirement.
Can I register on my own?
No. Individual registrations are not accepted. You need a team of at least two and at most four members to enter NERDS 1.0.
How much can a winning team receive?
Prizes worth a total of ₹75,000 are on offer for the winning teams. The programme does not specify how that amount is divided among winners or between first, second and other positions.
What is the last date to register?
Registration closes on 31 July 2026. Entries are made through the official Unstop listing for the hackathon.
Where is the Grand Finale and who gets to compete there?
The Grand Finale is held at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, and only the leading 24 teams qualify for it. A precise finale date has not been announced; the one confirmed date in the programme is the 31 July 2026 registration deadline.
What does the two-month programme actually involve?
The hackathon runs across roughly two months. It begins with AI training delivered by experts and mentorship on the teams' projects, and it ends with the top 24 teams competing at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.
Does NERDS 1.0 take equity or a stake in my work?
No. NERDS 1.0 is a competition with cash prizes, not an investment or incubation programme, and nothing in the programme details mentions equity, ownership or any stake being taken in participants' projects.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
No. Those requirements belong to startup funding schemes meant for registered companies. NERDS 1.0 is a school-level competition, and eligibility rests only on being a school student in a team of two to four members.
How do I apply for NERDS 1.0?
Applications are made online through the official Unstop page for NERDS 1.0 (Kokos AI Pvt Ltd). You register your team through that listing before 31 July 2026. No other application route is mentioned.
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