Open Innovation Hackathon 2026 — ₹1.2L Prize Pool, Hyderabad — Frequently Asked Questions

The organisers list a total prize pool of ₹1,20,000, which is ₹1.20 Lakh, and the top team's award is stated at ₹1.20 Lakh. Beyond the cash prize, winner and runner-up certificates are given, and every eligible participant receives a participation certificate. Judges may also hand out special recognition for outstanding innovation, technical excellence or social impact.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from any recognised Indian college or university can participate. Every branch and discipline is welcome, so there is no restriction on what you are studying. You must carry a valid college ID during the event, since it is held offline at the campus in Hyderabad.

Registration closes on 21 August 2026. The hackathon itself runs the next day onwards, on 22–23 August 2026, so you need to have your team registered before the deadline to take part in the build.

A team must have between 2 and 4 members. Inter-college and inter-department teams are explicitly allowed, so you can build with friends from a different institution or a different branch. One person can register with only one team, and team composition cannot be changed after the registration deadline unless the organisers approve it.

No. This is a competition with cash prizes, not an investment programme, so no equity stake is taken in your idea or project and there is nothing to repay. The rewards are the prize money, certificates and any special recognition the judges decide to give.

There are none. The organisers have not set predefined themes, so teams have complete freedom to identify a real-world problem and build a solution in any domain. The output can be a software product, a hardware build or a hybrid of the two.

Yes. Pre-existing ideas are permitted. What the organisers expect is that the implementation and development work primarily happens during the hackathon itself, so the project you present should be built largely within the 24-hour window.

Teams are expected to bring their own laptops and any development equipment or hardware components they need for their build. Internet access for research and development is provided at the event, and each participant should carry a valid college ID.

Any form of plagiarism, cheating or copying another team's work leads to immediate disqualification. Teams are also expected to maintain professional and ethical conduct throughout the event.

Judging focuses on three things: innovation, technical excellence and social impact. Teams present a working prototype or proof of concept, and the judges' decision is final and binding.

No such registration is mentioned in the eligibility rules. This is a student hackathon, so what matters is your enrolment at a recognised college or university, the size of your team and a valid college ID at the venue.

Applications are made through the official Unstop listing for the Open Innovation Hackathon, hosted by Malla Reddy Deemed to be University. Registration on that page closes on 21 August 2026.

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