RBIH TechSprint 2026 — Equity-Free Bank Pilot for EDD & Mule Account Detection

The RBIH TechSprint 2026 is an innovation challenge run by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH). It targets one of the most stubborn operational problems in Indian banking: Enhanced Due Diligence, or EDD. Today those checks are largely manual, scattered across systems and hard to monitor, and the program is looking for fintech teams that can digitise and automate the whole workflow — with mule account investigation sitting at the centre of the brief.

The challenge builds on RBIH's existing MuleHunter.AI ecosystem, which partner banks and multiple data sources already use to flag suspected mule accounts. Instead of asking participants to start from zero, the TechSprint asks them to extend that foundation so promising technology ends up running inside live bank processes rather than sitting in a demo.

The problem statement is deliberately specific. Teams are expected to work on an intelligent pre-EDD triage engine paired with a unified digital platform for EDD case management and enforcement. That means an end-to-end, mobile-first system covering case allocation, investigation, approval and CBS-integrated freeze/unfreeze actions — supported by audit trails, in-app notifications, configurable escalations and automated MIS. An AI/ML layer is expected to ingest alerts from every existing source, de-duplicate cases, score and prioritise them, and filter out false positives before a human investigator is involved.

Everything about the program points towards production readiness. The aim is banking-grade, deployment-ready technology that can be wired into a partner bank's live EDD process, improving how flagged cases are handled from end to end and strengthening the wider fight against financial crime.

• Equity-free participation — no stake is taken in your startup
• Rolling applications, reviewed on a continuous basis
• Pan-India and open to Indian fintech startups with an existing working product
• Focus areas: Enhanced Due Diligence, mule account detection, transaction monitoring and account risk scoring
• Direct collaboration and pilot with a partner bank's EDD and fraud teams
• Pathway to integration into a partner bank's live EDD workflow

This TechSprint is meant for Indian fintech startups that already have a working product — it is not aimed at idea-stage teams. Your solution should sit in fraud detection, transaction monitoring or account risk scoring, and it must map onto the EDD and mule-account problem statement the program has defined.

Beyond the product itself, RBIH assesses whether you can integrate with a bank's existing EDD and AML systems, and whether your team is equipped to work with real transaction and investigation workflows. Selected teams operate alongside a partner bank's EDD and fraud teams, so readiness to work inside that embedded sprint environment is part of the bar.

• Eligibility is pan-India — fintech startups from any region can apply.
• Your product must be relevant to the TechSprint's EDD and mule-account detection problem statement.
• Teams should be prepared for direct collaboration with partner bank EDD and fraud functions.
• The stated eligibility criteria do not include a DPIIT or MSME registration requirement.

RBIH TechSprint 2026 — Equity-Free Bank Pilot for EDD & Mule Account Detection is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

RBIH TechSprint 2026 — Equity-Free Bank Pilot for EDD & Mule Account Detection accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

The TechSprint is not structured around a cash prize or an investment. Its value is delivered as an equity-free bank pilot opportunity and hands-on collaboration rather than money changing hands — no equity is taken from participating startups.

What selected fintechs actually get:

• An equity-free pilot with a partner bank, matched to the startup's solution and its EDD requirements.
• Direct, intensive collaboration with that bank's EDD and fraud teams.
• Access to real-world investigation workflows and data, letting teams test and refine their product against genuine banking scenarios.
• An embedded sprint environment where the solution is configured, developed and hardened until it is banking-grade.
• A concrete route to integration into the partner bank's live EDD workflow — effectively a first customer and a working proof of concept.
• Exposure to RBIH's wider financial innovation ecosystem, along with mentorship, networking, market access and incubation support.

The benefits are non-monetary in nature: the program offers a platform for deployment and collaboration rather than direct funding or investment.

RBIH TechSprint 2026 — Equity-Free Bank Pilot for EDD & Mule Account Detection is offered by Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, a government body. As a government-backed competition, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Applications are accepted through RBIH's official online portal and reviewed on a rolling basis, so there is no single cut-off date to plan around.

Screening happens continuously. A committee weighs the submitted details about your product, your current deployments and your team's capabilities against the problem statement and the technical requirements. The criteria that matter most are whether you have an existing working product, how relevant it is to fraud detection and mule account identification, and whether you can integrate with bank AML systems.

Shortlisted fintechs move into a matching phase. Here RBIH pairs each startup with a partner bank whose specific EDD challenges and technology environment align best with what the startup has built, so that the relationship is genuinely synergistic.

Selected teams then enter an intensive, embedded sprint. Working directly with the assigned bank's EDD and fraud teams, they configure, develop and test their solution using real investigation workflows. Final selection is validated through that direct interaction and the potential for real-world impact.

The program closes with a joint review of deployment outcomes alongside the partner bank, with integration into the bank's live EDD infrastructure as the end goal.

Before you apply to RBIH TechSprint 2026 — Equity-Free Bank Pilot for EDD & Mule Account Detection, 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.