SquidHack 2026 — 24-Hour Hackathon, ₹1.1L Prize Pool, Indore — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a hackathon-style event that runs for 24 hours at SAGE University, Indore. Student teams from across India first submit an idea online, then shortlisted teams build their project on campus during the event and present a working prototype to judges. The prize pool is ₹1,10,000 across six categories, and the first-round deadline is July 15, 2026.

The total cash pool is ₹1,10,000, divided into six awards: ₹50,000 for the Winner, ₹25,000 for the 1st Runner Up, ₹15,000 for the 2nd Runner Up, ₹10,000 for the Most Innovative Idea, ₹5,000 for the Best Women Led Team and ₹5,000 for the Best Social Impact Project.

Any UG, PG or Dual Degree student enrolled at a recognised Indian university or institution can take part, provided they hold a valid college ID. Teams may have 1 to 4 members, members can come from different colleges, and students from any branch or specialisation are allowed. Every team must include at least one female member.

The first round closes on July 15, 2026. You need to register on Unstop and submit your Problem Statement PPT before that date to be considered for the grand finale.

Yes, there are two separate charges. Round 1 registration costs ₹100 per team. Teams that are shortlisted for the offline grand finale pay a further ₹1,500 per team to confirm their final round slot.

No. SquidHack 2026 is a student competition and does not list DPIIT recognition or MSME registration among its requirements. What matters is enrolment as a UG, PG or Dual Degree student, a valid college ID, and a team of 1 to 4 members that includes at least one female member.

No. Teams have to build their project from scratch during the hackathon itself, and pre-built projects are not permitted. Mentors are available on site to help teams work through technical hurdles.

In Round 1, yes — you select your own problem statement and decide your own PPT format, covering the problem, your proposed solution and the expected impact. For the offline finale, the organisers publish the problem statements two days before the event and teams choose from that list; each statement has a limited number of slots.

The judging panel scores the final presentation and demo on five weighted criteria: Innovation & Creativity (30%), Technical Implementation (25%), Problem Relevance (20%), User Experience & Design (10%) and Scalability & Impact (15%).

Register through the SquidHack listing on Unstop at https://unstop.com/hackathons/squidhack-sage-university-sageu-indore-madhya-pradesh-1703351, pay the ₹100 per team registration fee, and upload your Problem Statement PPT before the July 15, 2026 deadline.

No. SquidHack 2026 — 24-Hour Hackathon, ₹1.1L Prize Pool, Indore is competition and is non-dilutive — the provider does not take an equity stake in your startup.

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