NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru
NMIT Hacks is an MLH-sanctioned student hackathon held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from May 8 to May 10, 2026, with cash prizes and no entry fee.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (8 May 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
NMIT Hacks is a student hackathon that carries Major League Hacking (MLH) sanction and takes place at NMIT in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The 2026 edition is a fully in-person build sprint lasting 48 hours, opening on May 8, 2026 and finishing on May 10, 2026.
The event is aimed squarely at students who want to build something real in a short window. Coders, designers and aspiring founders from a range of academic backgrounds take part, and the atmosphere is deliberately welcoming to first-timers as well as to people who have hacked before.
Over the three days, teams work on challenges and take advantage of the support built into the schedule: hands-on workshops, curated challenge tracks, several mentoring sessions and an MLH seminar covering Gemini and Copilot. Everything wraps up with project presentations and judging on the final day.
There is no entry fee, and winning teams receive cash prizes — the listed amounts are ₹50,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000, with ₹10,000 track prizes across categories including AI/ML, IoT, Game Dev, Blockchain/Cybersecurity and Open Innovation.
Registration is handled through the official event site, nmithacks.com, and closes on May 8, 2026.
Highlights
- MLH-sanctioned student hackathon hosted at NMIT in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Fully in-person 48-hour event running May 8 to May 10, 2026.
- Registration closes on May 8, 2026, the opening day of the hackathon.
- Cash prizes of ₹50,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000, plus ₹10,000 track prizes.
- Tracks include AI/ML, IoT, Game Dev, Blockchain/Cybersecurity and Open Innovation.
- No entry fee; mentorship, workshops and an MLH seminar on Gemini & Copilot are included.
Who can apply
NMIT Hacks is open to students, and entry is not tied to one stream, one college or one skill level. If you are a student who wants to build, you can register — you do not need to have attended a hackathon before.
- Participant type: students, consistent with standard MLH event norms that open participation to university and college students.
- Background: participants come from a mix of academic disciplines; technical and design-oriented students both fit.
- Skill level: both experienced coders and newcomers are catered for.
- Sector: no industry restriction — the challenge tracks span AI/ML, IoT, Game Dev, Blockchain/Cybersecurity and Open Innovation.
The published details do not set an age limit, a minimum team size, or a requirement that you be enrolled at one particular institution. There is also no DPIIT recognition or MSME registration requirement, since this is a hackathon rather than a government funding scheme.
NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru 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 NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru closed on 8 May 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
NMIT Hacks pays out in cash, and it costs nothing to enter — there is no entry fee, so any prize money a team wins is pure upside.
- Listed prize amounts for the event are ₹50,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000.
- Separately, ₹10,000 track prizes are awarded across categories including AI/ML, IoT, Game Dev, Blockchain/Cybersecurity and Open Innovation.
Cash is not the only thing on offer. Participants get industry mentorship, hands-on workshops, curated challenges and several mentoring sessions spread across the three days, along with an MLH seminar on Gemini and Copilot.
The strongest projects are judged on the final day, with the top entries going into a demo round, and the prizes are positioned to help those projects move forward.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Assessment happens on the ground over the course of the hackathon rather than through a written screening round.
- Teams build their projects across the three days, supported by workshops, curated challenges and multiple mentoring sessions.
- Judging takes place on the final day, when projects are presented.
- The best entries are taken forward into a top-10 demo round.
The published material does not set out the individual judging criteria or the composition of the judging panel.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru, 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.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is NMIT Hacks?
It is a student hackathon sanctioned by Major League Hacking (MLH), held at NMIT in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The event runs fully in person for 48 hours, opening on May 8, 2026 and finishing on May 10, 2026. Teams build projects across the three days with the help of workshops, mentoring sessions and curated challenges, then present their work to judges at the end.
When and where is the hackathon held?
It runs from May 8 to May 10, 2026 at NMIT in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The format is in-person, so participants need to be physically present for the three days rather than joining remotely.
Who is eligible to take part?
NMIT Hacks is open to students. There is no restriction to a particular academic stream, and the event is designed so that both seasoned coders and people attending their first hackathon can take part. MLH events of this kind generally open participation to university and college students. The published details do not mention an age limit or a specific institution requirement.
Is there a fee to participate?
No. The event carries no entry fee, which means any prize money a team wins comes with no cost of participation attached.
How much prize money is on offer?
The listed prize amounts are ₹50,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000. On top of that, there are ₹10,000 track prizes across categories including AI/ML, IoT, Game Dev, Blockchain/Cybersecurity and Open Innovation. How the track prizes are split between teams is not published in the available details.
Does the programme take equity in my project?
No. NMIT Hacks is a competition, and the awards it gives out are prize money rather than an investment. Nothing in the programme takes equity or an ownership stake in what you build.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
No. Those conditions belong to government startup funding schemes. NMIT Hacks is a student hackathon, and it does not list DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or company incorporation as an entry requirement — eligibility centres on being a student.
What do participants get apart from prize money?
Participants get industry mentorship, hands-on workshops, curated challenges and multiple mentoring sessions across the three days, plus an MLH seminar covering Gemini and Copilot. Teams also get the chance to reach the top-10 demo round on the final day.
What kind of projects can I build?
Projects are built around the event's challenge tracks, which include AI/ML, IoT, Game Dev, Blockchain/Cybersecurity and Open Innovation. Teams work on solutions to those challenges during the hackathon.
How do I register, and what is the deadline?
Registration is done through the official event website, nmithacks.com. Registration closes on May 8, 2026, which is the opening day of the hackathon, so it is best to sign up before the event begins.
How do I apply for NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
Alternatives to NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru
Not sure NMIT Hacks 2026 — MLH Student Hackathon in Bengaluru is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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