SourceHacks V1 — Online Hackathon With a ₹23,000 Prize Pool
A beginner-welcoming online hackathon where solo entrants or teams of up to ten build projects around education and social good for a ₹23,000 prize pool.
- Funding amount
- ₹23,000 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- 12 Dec 2026
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
SourceHacks V1 is a virtual hackathon organised by SourceHacks, and it is deliberately pitched at people who have never entered one before. First-time builders and seasoned developers share the same playing field, working remotely on ideas that matter to them.
The theme covers social good and education. Teams are expected to design and build something that responds to a genuine problem in one of those two areas, rather than a purely commercial product.
Everything happens online. The build-and-submit window runs from December 11 to December 12, 2026, so participants can work from anywhere in the world without travel or venue costs.
Winners share a prize pool worth ₹23,000, which the organisers equate to about $250 USD. How that total is divided between ranks has not been published.
Entry is handled through the official Devpost listing, and registration remains open until December 12, 2026 — the closing day of the event itself.
Highlights
- Fully online hackathon run by SourceHacks on December 11–12, 2026
- Prize pool of ₹23,000, roughly $250 USD
- Open to entrants worldwide with no geographic restrictions
- Solo entries allowed, or teams capped at 10 members
- Beginner-friendly: designed for first-time hackers as well as experienced builders
- Projects must address education or social good; register via Devpost by December 12, 2026
Who can apply
SourceHacks V1 is open to entrants anywhere in the world, with no geographic restrictions and no country quotas.
- Solo or team: you may take part alone, or as part of a team capped at 10 members.
- Experience level: beginners are actively encouraged to join, and the format is built to be supportive for them. Experienced builders are welcome too, particularly those wanting to collaborate on a project with social impact.
- Typical participants: students, early-career developers and anyone keen on applying technology to positive social outcomes — though nothing in the rules limits entry to these groups.
- Registration status: because the hackathon is open to all, there is no requirement to be a registered company, and no DPIIT or MSME recognition is needed to take part.
- Age or location proof: no such conditions are listed in the programme details.
SourceHacks V1 — Online Hackathon With a ₹23,000 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
Applications for SourceHacks V1 — Online Hackathon With a ₹23,000 Prize Pool are open and the current deadline is 12 Dec 2026. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.
What the funding covers
This is a competition, not a grant or investment scheme. What winners receive is cash prize money.
- Prize pool: a total of ₹23,000, described by the organisers as approximately $250 USD.
- Distribution: the split between first place and other winning ranks has not been specified, so the value of an individual prize is unknown.
- Equity: none is taken. The award is prize money rather than an investment, so no ownership or stake in your project changes hands.
- Beyond the cash: participants gain practical, hands-on building experience inside a beginner-friendly setting, plus a finished project they can show off.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
There are no interviews or pitch rounds. Projects are assessed by judges against three stated criteria:
- Creativity — how original the idea is.
- Technical execution — how competently the project has been built.
- Theme alignment — how directly the project tackles a challenge in education or in social good.
The event follows a build-and-submit format. Teams develop their entries during the hackathon window of December 11–12, 2026 and hand them in before registration closes on December 12, 2026.
The organisers have not published the number of judging rounds, any scoring weights, or how the prize pool is allocated among winners.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to SourceHacks V1 — Online Hackathon With a ₹23,000 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
SourceHacks V1 — Online Hackathon With a ₹23,000 Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹23,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much prize money does SourceHacks V1 offer?
The total prize pool is ₹23,000, which the organisers describe as about $250 USD. They have not said how that amount is divided between first place and the other winning ranks, so it is not possible to state what any single team would take home.
What is the deadline for SourceHacks V1?
Registration closes on December 12, 2026. That is also the second and final day of the hackathon, which runs from December 11 to December 12, 2026, so signing up and submitting both have to happen inside that window.
Who is eligible to take part?
Anyone. The hackathon is open to entrants across the world, with no geographic restrictions or country limits. Beginners are explicitly welcomed, and students and early-career developers are a natural fit, but experienced builders can join as well.
Can I enter on my own, or do I need a team?
Both are allowed. You can compete as a solo participant, or join a team capped at 10 members.
Does SourceHacks V1 take equity in my project?
No. This is a hackathon with a cash prize pool rather than an equity investment programme, so winning does not involve giving up any stake or ownership.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to enter?
No. Those registrations are relevant to Indian startup funding schemes, but SourceHacks V1 is an open hackathon — entry is not tied to your company's registration status, and participants from any country can join.
What kind of project should I build?
Something that addresses a challenge in education or in social good. That is the theme judges score against, alongside how creative the idea is and how well it has been technically executed.
When and where does the hackathon take place?
It is entirely virtual. The event runs on December 11–12, 2026, and because everything happens online you can build from anywhere in the world.
How are the winners chosen?
Projects are judged on creativity, technical execution and how closely they align with the education and social good themes. The organisers have not published the judging rounds or any scoring breakdown.
How do I apply for SourceHacks V1?
Through the official Devpost listing at https://sourcehacksv1.devpost.com/. Registration stays open until December 12, 2026.
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