NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 Prize Pool
A 36-hour AI hackathon run nationwide by NexVerse-IITM New Delhi, with a ₹21,000 cash prize pool and entries closing 31 July 2026.
- Funding amount
- ₹21,000 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (31 Jul 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
NexHack 2.0 is a 36-hour AI hackathon run at national scale by NexVerse-IITM New Delhi. Instead of a months-long programme, it compresses the entire journey — idea, build and demo — into one 36-hour stretch, which is exactly what appeals to people who work fast.
The event is a competition rather than an investment scheme. A total cash prize pool of ₹21,000 is on offer, shared among the winners chosen by the judging panel. The whole event sits inside a calendar running from 1 July to 26 September 2026, with the 36-hour core build taking place somewhere inside that window.
Entries close on 31 July 2026. Registration happens through the competition's official listing on Internshala, so there is no separate corporate application to file.
Participation is open right across India — students, professional developers and self-taught AI enthusiasts are all welcome. You do not have to turn up with a team already in place: squads can be assembled on the spot, or you can come with people you have already partnered with. The organisers have not fixed a team size.
Industry experts stay involved on both sides of the table, mentoring participants during the build and then judging what they produce. Their scoring centres on how original the solution is, how well the technical work is executed, and the real-world impact it could deliver.
Highlights
- 36-hour AI hackathon with nationwide participation, hosted by NexVerse-IITM New Delhi
- Cash prizes worth ₹21,000 in total, awarded by an expert judging panel
- Entries close on 31 July 2026; the event calendar runs 1 July to 26 September 2026
- Open to anyone holding Indian nationality, including students and working developers
- Teams can be pre-formed or assembled on the spot, with no fixed team size
- Judged on innovation, real-world impact and technical implementation
Who can apply
Eligibility for NexHack 2.0 is deliberately wide. The only stated requirement is Indian nationality — entry is not restricted by course, degree, employer or years of experience.
Who the organisers invite
- Students at schools, colleges and universities anywhere in India.
- Working developers who want to test an idea under serious time pressure.
- AI enthusiasts who can put together a working prototype.
Team rules
- You can enter as part of a pre-assembled team.
- You can also find teammates on the spot and build a squad at the event.
- No specific team size has been announced, so there is no stated minimum or maximum.
What is not asked for
- No DPIIT recognition.
- No MSME or Udyam registration.
- No incorporated company or particular entity type.
The programme is a competition judged on what you build, and nothing in its eligibility conditions mentions registration or incorporation requirements.
NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 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 NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 Prize Pool closed on 31 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
NexHack 2.0 is a prize-based competition, so the reward is cash rather than capital. Nothing is given up in exchange for it.
- Total cash prize pool of ₹21,000, distributed among the winners identified by the judging panel.
- Mentorship from industry experts while the 36-hour build is running.
- Evaluation and feedback from an expert panel, scoring on innovation, real-world impact and technical implementation.
- A working prototype produced inside a single 36-hour sprint.
Because the money comes as prize money and not as an investment, the award is non-dilutive — no equity is taken from participants and there is nothing to repay.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
There is no written screening round here; selection and ranking happen through the hackathon itself.
- Register — sign up through the official competition page on Internshala before the 31 July 2026 deadline.
- Build — work through the 36-hour build window, which falls inside the event calendar of 1 July to 26 September 2026, with mentorship available from industry experts.
- Present and be judged — a panel of industry experts reviews the solutions produced.
- Scoring — entries are assessed on innovation, real-world impact and technical implementation.
- Prizes — the ₹21,000 cash pool is awarded to the winners chosen by the panel.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 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
NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹21,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is NexHack 2.0?
It is a 36-hour AI hackathon run at national scale by NexVerse-IITM New Delhi. Participants get one 36-hour window to build an AI solution, with industry experts mentoring them along the way and then judging the output. It is a competition, so what you take away is prize money, feedback and a finished prototype rather than funding.
How much prize money is on offer?
There is a total cash prize pool of ₹21,000, which is shared among the winners selected by the judging panel. The organisers have not published a breakdown of how that pool is split between winning entries.
When does registration close, and when does the hackathon take place?
Entries close on 31 July 2026. The wider event calendar runs from 1 July to 26 September 2026, and the core 36-hour build period falls somewhere inside that window.
Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone who is an Indian national can take part. The organisers explicitly welcome students, developers and AI enthusiasts from across India, and there is no stated restriction based on your course, qualification, employer or experience level.
Do I need to have a team before I apply?
No. You can join as an individual and put a team together on the spot at the event, or you can register with a team you have already assembled. No specific team size is mentioned, so there is no stated minimum or maximum number of members.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
No. The eligibility stated for NexHack 2.0 is Indian nationality, and nothing in the requirements calls for DPIIT recognition, MSME or Udyam registration, or an incorporated company. It is an individual- and team-level competition rather than a scheme for registered businesses.
Does NexHack 2.0 take any equity in my project?
No. This is a hackathon with cash prizes, not an equity investment. Winners receive prize money without giving up any stake, and there is nothing to repay — the award is non-dilutive.
How will my project be judged?
A panel of industry experts reviews the solutions built during the hackathon. The published criteria are innovation, real-world impact and technical implementation, so a genuinely new idea that is well engineered and solves a real problem scores best.
How and where do I apply?
Registration is done through the official NexHack 2.0 competition page on Internshala, at https://internshala.com/competitions/nexhack-2-0/, and it must be completed before the 31 July 2026 deadline.
What is the application deadline for NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 Prize Pool?
The application deadline for NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 Prize Pool is Closed (31 Jul 2026). Deadlines can be revised, so reconfirm on the official source before applying.
How do I apply for NexHack 2.0 — 36-Hour National AI Hackathon, ₹21,000 Prize Pool?
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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