Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals
Synapse is a two-round machine learning contest hosted by the Scaler School of Technology in Bengaluru, with a ₹30,000 cash prize pool and an offline 10-hour final.
- Funding amount
- ₹30,000 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Scaler School of Technology (Academic)
- Application deadline
- Closed (23 Apr 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Synapse is a machine learning contest organised by the Scaler School of Technology in Bengaluru. It is structured as a two-round skills test built around one idea: how well can a data scientist clean messy data, engineer useful features and tune a model when the clock is running?
The contest is pitched at students and AI/ML practitioners across India rather than at registered companies. Teams of two or three take on curated and deliberately untidy datasets — first remotely over a three-day online qualifier, then shoulder to shoulder on the Scaler campus in Bangalore for a single long day of building.
There is ₹30,000 in cash spread across the top three places, along with the chance to meet working industry professionals during the offline final. Individual registration for the qualifier shuts on 23 April 2026, and the private Kaggle link is circulated a day before the round opens, on 22 April 2026.
Highlights
- Two-round machine learning contest by the Scaler School of Technology, Bengaluru — an online qualifier plus an in-person final.
- Total cash prize pool of ₹30,000: ₹15,000 for the winner, ₹10,000 for the runner-up and ₹5,000 for the second runner-up.
- Round 1 runs 23–25 April 2026 on a private Kaggle leaderboard; individual registration closes on 23 April 2026 and the Kaggle link goes out on 22 April 2026.
- The 25 highest-ranked qualifier teams win a Golden Ticket; the offline final takes place 17 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, in Bangalore.
- Open to students and AI/ML enthusiasts anywhere in India, with teams of two or three; cross-campus teams are allowed.
- Skills expected: Python, Pandas, Scikit-Learn and familiarity with Kaggle submission formats.
Who can apply
The contest is open to students enrolled in any technology or closely related college programme, to data science students, and to AI/ML enthusiasts located anywhere in India. Which institution you come from does not matter — participants from different colleges are welcome to team up, and cross-campus teams are actively encouraged.
A team needs two or three participants; solo entries are not permitted.
Applicants should already be reasonably comfortable with Python, Pandas, Scikit-Learn and the usual Kaggle submission workflow, including how to format and upload a submission.
No DPIIT recognition or MSME registration is required to take part — this is a student-facing competition, not a funding scheme for registered entities.
Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals 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 Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals closed on 23 Apr 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
What Synapse offers is prize money rather than investment. The competition carries a total cash pool of ₹30,000, divided among the three best-performing teams:
- Winner — ₹15,000
- Runner-up — ₹10,000
- Second runner-up — ₹5,000
On top of the cash, teams that make it to the offline round get networking access to industry professionals present at the event, and lunch on the day of the final is provided at the venue.
Because this is a competition, nothing is diluted or repayable. Prizes are awarded outright to the highest-ranked teams; there is no equity component and no money to return.
About the provider
Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals is offered by Scaler School of Technology, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by Scaler School 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
Entry to Synapse runs across two rounds, and progression is decided by leaderboard standing rather than by an application review.
Round 1 — the Online Qualifier, 23–25 April 2026
Everyone registers individually first and then forms a team of two or three. Once formed, teams receive access to a private Kaggle competition loaded with a curated three-day qualifier dataset. Models are built and trained remotely, submissions are scored on a public leaderboard, and the 25 highest-ranked teams earn a Golden Ticket into the final round.
Round 2 — the 10-Hour Offline Finals, 17 May 2026, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Qualifying teams come together in person at the Scaler School of Technology, Bangalore. A large, complex, uncleaned dataset is revealed live at the venue, and the day is spent working it. The top 5 teams on the private leaderboard then go through a rapid 10-minute code audit in front of the judging panel and deliver a 3-minute pitch explaining their model architecture. Lunch is served on-site.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals, 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
Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹30,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What is Synapse?
Synapse is a machine learning competition run by the Scaler School of Technology in Bangalore. It is staged in two rounds — an online qualifier followed by an offline final — and is designed to test data cleaning, feature engineering and model tuning under serious time pressure.
How much money can a team win at Synapse?
The contest has a total cash pool of ₹30,000. The winning team takes ₹15,000, the runner-up gets ₹10,000 and the second runner-up receives ₹5,000. Teams that reach the offline final also get networking access to industry professionals, and lunch is provided at the venue on the day of the final.
What is the last date to register?
Individual registration closes on 23 April 2026, which is also the day Round 1 begins. The private Kaggle link for the online qualifier is shared on 22 April 2026, one day before the round opens, so teams have it in hand ahead of time.
Who is allowed to participate?
Students pursuing any technology or related college programme, data science students, and AI/ML enthusiasts from anywhere in India can take part. There is no restriction based on which institution you attend, and members of a team may come from different colleges. Teams must have two or three members — solo entries are not accepted.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to enter Synapse?
No. Synapse is a student-facing competition rather than a government or institutional funding scheme, so DPIIT recognition and MSME registration are not part of the entry requirements. What matters is that you meet the team-size rule and have the technical skills to compete.
Can I compete alone, or do I have to be in a team?
You cannot compete alone. Every team must have two or three participants. Registration is done individually first, and teams are then formed using the email IDs that members registered with.
What technical skills do I need before signing up?
You should be comfortable with Python, Pandas and Scikit-Learn, and you should understand how Kaggle submissions work. Beyond that, the contest rewards exploratory data analysis, predictive modelling and algorithm optimisation on difficult, real-world datasets.
How does a team get from the qualifier to the final round?
Round 1 is an online qualifier held 23–25 April 2026 on a private Kaggle competition with a curated three-day dataset. Models are trained remotely and submissions are ranked on a public leaderboard. The 25 top-ranked teams receive a Golden Ticket to the offline final.
What happens at the offline final?
The final is a single 10-hour contest on 17 May 2026, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, at the Scaler School of Technology in Bangalore. A large, complex and uncleaned dataset is revealed live at the venue. The top 5 teams on the private leaderboard then undergo a 10-minute code audit by the judging panel and give a 3-minute pitch on their model architecture.
Does Synapse take equity or expect the prize money back?
No. Synapse is a competition, and the prizes are outright cash awards to the best-performing teams. There is no equity stake involved and nothing has to be repaid.
How do I apply for Synapse?
Registration is individual and is done through the competition listing on Unstop. After registering, you form a team of two or three using the registered email IDs, and every invited member must accept the team invitation for the team to count. All participants are also required to join the official WhatsApp group, which carries critical updates and instructions. The private Kaggle link for Round 1 follows on 22 April 2026, and registration closes on 23 April 2026.
Who is eligible to apply for Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals?
Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
Who offers Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals?
Synapse Kaggle Competition — ₹30,000 Prize Pool, Bengaluru Finals is offered by Scaler School of Technology, an academic institution. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
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