Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams
Pixel Whisper - Design by Voice is a two-person technical competition by Chennai Institute of Technology where student teams crack an inverse coding challenge and then rebuild a UI using only spoken instructions.
- Funding amount
- ₹5,000 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Chennai Institute of Technology (Incubator)
- Application deadline
- Closed (22 Jul 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Pixel Whisper - Design by Voice is a technical contest run by Chennai Institute of Technology for teams of two students. The format puts programming ability, logical reasoning, verbal communication, teamwork, creativity and UI/UX judgement under one clock, and pays out cash prizes to the strongest team.
The event is short and intense: two rounds of 30 minutes each, adding up to 60 minutes of competition time.
Round 1 — Inverse Coding Challenge. Each team gets a problem statement along with the output a program is expected to produce. Working backwards from that output, the team has to write a program which delivers the required result. Judges weigh correctness, how sound the logic is, efficiency, and whether the team finished inside the time limit. Only the teams that qualify move ahead.
Round 2 — Design by Voice. The two members split roles. The Designer is shown a UI; the Builder never sees it. The Designer is restricted to speaking — no keyboard, no mouse — while the Builder reconstructs the interface from those spoken instructions alone. Communication, teamwork, accuracy and completion all feed into the score.
The prize pool stands at ₹5,000, split as ₹3,000 for the winner and ₹2,000 for the runner-up.
Entries close on 22 July 2026, and registration happens through the competition's official Unstop page.
Highlights
- Two-person technical competition organised by Chennai Institute of Technology
- Two 30-minute rounds: an inverse coding challenge and a voice-only UI recreation
- Total prize pool of ₹5,000 — ₹3,000 to the winner, ₹2,000 to the runner-up
- Open to UG and PG students of recognised Indian colleges, from any department
- Inter-college and cross-department teams are allowed
- Registration closes on 22 July 2026 through the official Unstop listing
Who can apply
Pixel Whisper is a student-only competition, so eligibility turns on your enrolment and your team, not on a company or a funding history.
- Team size: exactly 2 participants. Solo entries and larger teams are not accepted.
- Student status: you must be enrolled at the undergraduate or postgraduate level at a recognised Indian college or university.
- Department: there is no restriction on stream — students from any department or specialisation can take part.
- Team composition: teams may be inter-college and cross-department, so the two members need not come from the same institution or the same course.
- Geography: participating institutions must be based in India.
Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams 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 Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams closed on 22 Jul 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Pixel Whisper is a prize competition rather than a grant or investment programme. The reward is cash prize money for the top two finishers, not capital for a business.
- Total prize pool: ₹5,000.
- Winner: ₹3,000.
- Runner-up: ₹2,000.
Because the reward is a competition prize, there is no equity, stake or repayment attached to it.
About the provider
Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams is offered by Chennai Institute of Technology, a startup incubator. It is delivered directly by Chennai Institute of Technology as a competition. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Assessment happens entirely through the two judged rounds of the event — there is no separate screening, pitch or interview stage described.
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Round 1 — Inverse Coding Challenge (30 minutes). Teams are given a problem statement and the output a program must generate. They write a program that produces that result. Scoring covers correctness, the quality of the logic, efficiency and finishing within the time limit. Qualifying teams advance; the rest are eliminated.
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Round 2 — Design by Voice (30 minutes). Qualifying teams take on the UI task. The Designer views the design and describes it verbally to the Builder, who cannot see the original and must recreate it from those instructions. The Designer is not allowed to use the keyboard or mouse. Marks depend on communication, teamwork, accuracy and completion.
The whole competition runs for 60 minutes.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams, 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
Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹5,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is Pixel Whisper - Design by Voice?
It is a technical competition conducted by Chennai Institute of Technology for teams of two college students. It runs in two parts: a coding round where you work backwards from a given output, and a design round where one teammate describes a UI out loud and the other rebuilds it without ever seeing it. The event is designed to test programming, logic, communication, teamwork, creativity and UI/UX ability together.
How much money can a team win?
The total prize pool is ₹5,000. The winner takes ₹3,000 and the runner-up receives ₹2,000.
Who is allowed to enter?
Undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at recognised colleges and universities in India can enter. There is no restriction on department or specialisation, so a student from any stream is welcome to take part.
How many people should be on a team?
Exactly two. Teams of one or of three or more are not permitted, so you need to register with a partner.
Can my teammate be from a different college or a different department?
Yes. Inter-college and cross-department teams are allowed, so your partner does not have to study at the same institution or in the same course as you.
What happens in each round of the competition?
Round 1 is the Inverse Coding Challenge: you receive a problem statement plus the output a program should produce, and your team writes code that generates it. It lasts 30 minutes and is judged on correctness, logic, efficiency and timely completion; only qualifying teams advance. Round 2 is Design by Voice: the Designer sees a UI design and may only speak, while the Builder recreates the interface from those verbal instructions without seeing the original. That round also lasts 30 minutes and is scored on communication, teamwork, accuracy and completion. Between them, the event takes 60 minutes.
Does the competition take equity or a stake in anything?
No. It is a competition with cash prizes, not an investment or funding programme, so there is no equity, stake or repayment involved.
Do I need DPIIT or MSME registration to apply?
No. The eligibility criteria are based on being a college student in a two-member team, and DPIIT or MSME registration forms no part of them.
What is the deadline, and how do I register?
Registration closes on 22 July 2026. Applications are made through the competition's official Unstop page.
Who is eligible to apply for Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams?
Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
Who offers Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams?
Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams is offered by Chennai Institute of Technology, a startup incubator. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
How do I apply for Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams?
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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Not sure Pixel Whisper – Design by Voice: ₹5,000 Prize Pool for Student Teams is the right fit, or already applied? These are other grants open to Indian startups that founders shortlist alongside it.
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