OpenAI Build Week — Global AI Hackathon with ₹92L Prize Pool
A week-long virtual hackathon run by OpenAI with a $100,000 (about ₹92L) prize pool, held July 13–21, 2026 and open to Indian developers, teams and startups.
- Funding amount
- ₹92L (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (21 Jul 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
OpenAI Build Week is a week-long, entirely virtual hackathon run by OpenAI. Builders anywhere in the world are invited to create applications on top of OpenAI's platform, and a total prize pool of $100,000 — roughly ₹92,00,000 — is set aside for the strongest entries.
This is a competition rather than a funding scheme. Prizes are cash awards, so there is no equity angle: taking part does not dilute a founder's stake and no investor relationship is created. What it does offer is a short, concentrated window to ship something new and put it in front of the organisers' judges.
Indian developers, teams and startups are explicitly welcome. The hackathon carries no geographic restriction, so a team in Bengaluru or a solo builder in Pune competes on exactly the same terms as anyone else.
The build window runs from July 13 to July 21, 2026. Everything happens online — participants work remotely and hand in their projects through Devpost, the platform hosting the event. Registration closes on the final day of the event, July 21, 2026.
It suits people who already build with AI — developers, entrepreneurs and product tinkerers working on machine learning and productivity tools — and who can pull a working project together inside a single week. The full format, rules and judging detail are published on the official Devpost listing.
Highlights
- Fully virtual hackathon run by OpenAI, held July 13–21, 2026.
- Total prize pool of $100,000 — roughly ₹92,00,000.
- Registration and project submission close on July 21, 2026.
- Open worldwide with no geographic limits; Indian individuals, teams and startups can enter.
- Projects are built on OpenAI's platform and submitted through Devpost.
- Judged on innovation, technical execution and impact; cash prizes with no equity taken.
Who can apply
OpenAI Build Week is open globally. There is no geographic restriction, and Indian individuals, teams and startups are welcome to enter.
- Who can take part: individual developers, teams and startups. No team-size limit is stated, and both solo and group participation is allowed.
- Stage and sector: there is no funding-stage, revenue or industry filter. The hackathon is pitched at builders working with AI, machine learning and productivity tools.
- Location: participants can be based anywhere in the world and work remotely.
- Indian registrations: DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or an Indian registered entity are not part of the stated eligibility requirements.
OpenAI Build Week — Global AI Hackathon with ₹92L 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 OpenAI Build Week — Global AI Hackathon with ₹92L Prize Pool closed on 21 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
OpenAI Build Week is a prize competition, so what participants stand to gain is cash and recognition rather than a grant, loan or investment.
- Total prize pool: $100,000, equal to about ₹92,00,000 — the figure behind the ₹92L headline.
- Prizes are cash awards attached to a competition, so nothing here involves equity. Winning does not hand OpenAI a stake in a startup and does not dilute founders.
- The split of the pool by rank is not published in the available details. The official Devpost listing is the place to check the final breakdown.
- Alongside the money, entrants get a week-long sprint on OpenAI's platform and the chance to have their work assessed by the event's judges.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
OpenAI Build Week is decided by judging rather than by an application-and-interview funnel.
- Register and build: participants sign up and work on their project remotely during the hackathon window, July 13 to July 21, 2026.
- Submit: projects are handed in through Devpost, the platform hosting the event.
- Judging: entries are assessed on innovation, technical execution and impact, the criteria described for this event.
- Prizes: winning entries share the $100,000 pool.
The organisers note that the exact format and the finer points of judging are set out on the official Devpost page, so treat that listing as the authoritative version.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to OpenAI Build Week — Global AI Hackathon with ₹92L 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
OpenAI Build Week — Global AI Hackathon with ₹92L Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹92L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What is OpenAI Build Week?
It is a week-long virtual hackathon organised by OpenAI. Participants build applications using OpenAI's platform, work remotely, and submit their projects through Devpost. The event runs from July 13 to July 21, 2026 and carries a prize pool of $100,000 for the best entries.
How much funding or prize money is on offer?
The total prize pool is $100,000, which works out to roughly ₹92,00,000 — that is where the ₹92L figure comes from. How that pool is divided between ranks is not detailed in the available information, so check the official Devpost listing for the final prize breakdown.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is July 21, 2026 — the same day the event ends. The build window itself opens on July 13, 2026 and runs through to that closing date, so both registration and project submission need to be completed by July 21, 2026.
Who is eligible to participate?
Participation is open globally, with no geographic restrictions, so Indian teams and individuals can take part on the same footing as anyone else. Individual developers, teams and startups are all in scope, and no team-size limit is stated. There is no stage, revenue or sector filter either.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to enter?
No. DPIIT recognition and MSME registration are not part of the stated eligibility for this hackathon, and there is no requirement to be an Indian registered entity. It is a global competition, so the entry conditions are the same for participants in India as for those elsewhere.
Does OpenAI Build Week take equity in my startup?
No. This is a competition with cash prizes rather than an investment, so no equity changes hands and founders are not diluted by taking part. There is no accelerator intake or investment relationship attached to the prizes.
What kind of projects should I build?
The hackathon is aimed at participants building with OpenAI's platform, and it suits developers, entrepreneurs and creators working in AI, machine learning and productivity tools. Entrants build an application during the event and submit it through Devpost.
How are entries judged?
The judging criteria described for the event are innovation, technical execution and impact. The organisers direct participants to the official Devpost page for the exact format and the fuller details of how judging is carried out.
How do I apply for OpenAI Build Week?
Registration happens through the official Devpost page for the event at https://openai.devpost.com/. You sign up there, build during the hackathon window, and submit your project on the same platform before the deadline of July 21, 2026.
Is the hackathon online or in person?
It is entirely virtual. The event runs online from July 13 to July 21, 2026, participants work remotely from wherever they are based, and projects are submitted via Devpost.
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