XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 — ₹18.4Cr AI Prize Pool
A worldwide Gemini AI build competition from XPRIZE, running May 19 to August 18, 2026, with a $2,000,000 prize pool that Indian solo entrants and teams can compete for.
- Funding amount
- ₹18.4Cr (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (18 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 is a worldwide contest run by XPRIZE that asks innovators to solve practical, real-world problems by building applications on Google's Gemini AI platform. It is a build-and-submit competition rather than an accelerator: entrants design, develop and ship an AI-powered product, then put it forward for judging.
Since no geographic restriction applies, Indian founders, developers and students take part on the same terms as anyone else in the world. Solo entrants are welcome alongside multi-member teams, so a lone developer with a working prototype is just as eligible as a funded startup with a full engineering bench. The stated audience spans developers, engineers, students and entrepreneurs.
The competition window opens on May 19, 2026 and closes on August 18, 2026. Projects are registered and handed in through Devpost. Details of the judging criteria and the individual competition tracks will be published on the official competition page, so entrants should confirm those specifics there before locking in a submission.
The money at stake is significant — the organisers have put up a $2,000,000 cash pool, with $500,000 going to the top entry. That makes this one of the larger AI-focused build competitions open to Indian participants.
Highlights
- Global AI build competition run by XPRIZE on Google's Gemini platform.
- Total prize pool of $2,000,000 — approximately ₹18,40,00,000.
- Top prize of $500,000, with additional prizes possibly to be announced.
- Runs May 19 to August 18, 2026, with entries submitted through Devpost.
- Open worldwide with no geographic restriction — Indian solo entrants and teams are both eligible.
- Judging criteria and the specific tracks will be detailed on the official competition page.
Who can apply
Entry is open to participants from every country, with no geographic restriction stated — Indian teams and Indian solo entrants are both eligible.
- Who can take part: developers, engineers, students and entrepreneurs.
- Team size: solo participants and teams are both welcome.
- Stage, sector or industry limits: none mentioned. The competition is not restricted by startup stage, industry vertical or company type.
- Entity and certification requirements: no DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or Indian company requirement is mentioned, because the contest is open globally rather than tied to one country's startup registry.
- Nationality or residency: no restriction beyond the global open call.
In short, if you can build on Google's Gemini platform and meet the submission deadline, nothing in the stated eligibility rules excludes you — including the fact that you are based in India.
XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 — ₹18.4Cr AI 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
The most recent application window for XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 — ₹18.4Cr AI Prize Pool closed on 18 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
This is a prize competition, so the reward is cash rather than investment capital. The total pool stands at $2,000,000, which is roughly ₹18,40,00,000.
- Top prize: $500,000 for the best entry.
- Further prizes: the organisers have indicated that additional prizes may be announced, so the final split across tracks and ranks could change.
- Ownership: no equity, stake or ownership share is mentioned anywhere in the competition terms. Prize money of this kind is non-dilutive, so winners keep full control of their company and product.
Nothing in the programme details points to equity investment, mentorship, office space or any other non-cash support being bundled with the prize. The benefit on offer is the cash award itself.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 — ₹18.4Cr AI 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
XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 — ₹18.4Cr AI Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹18.4Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much prize money does the XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 offer?
The competition carries a total cash pool of $2,000,000, which comes to roughly ₹18,40,00,000. The single largest award is $500,000 for the top entry. The organisers have also said that further prizes may be announced, so the final distribution across ranks and tracks may be broader than the headline figure suggests.
Who is eligible to enter this hackathon?
The contest is open to participants worldwide with no geographic restriction, and Indian teams are explicitly eligible. The stated audience covers developers, engineers, students and entrepreneurs, and both solo entrants and teams are welcome to take part.
What is the deadline, and when does the competition run?
The submission window opens on May 19, 2026 and closes on August 18, 2026. That final date is the deadline for getting your project in, so build time and submission time both need to fit inside that window.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
No. Because this is a global competition rather than an India-specific government or institutional scheme, no DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or Indian entity requirement is mentioned. Entrants compete on the same terms regardless of where they are registered, or whether they are registered at all.
Can I apply on my own, or do I need a team?
Both routes are open. Solo participants and teams are equally welcome, so you can enter alone with your own build or put together a group. The organisers list developers, engineers, students and entrepreneurs as the intended participants.
What kind of project am I expected to build?
You are asked to build solutions that address real-world problems using Google's Gemini AI platform. The competition is a global challenge in AI-powered application development rather than a business-plan contest. The specific tracks and judging criteria will be set out on the official competition page, so check there before finalising your idea.
Does the competition take equity in my startup?
No equity or ownership stake is mentioned in the programme terms. This is a cash prize competition rather than an investment deal, so any winnings are non-dilutive and you retain full ownership of your company and product.
How and where do I submit my entry?
Registration and project submission both happen on Devpost through the official competition link, and everything must be in before the August 18, 2026 deadline. The application link for Indian participants is listed on StartupFunds.in alongside the programme details.
Is there any restriction on which Indian state or city I am based in?
No state or city restriction is mentioned. The eligibility rules work at the country level in the sense that entry is open globally, so Indian teams from anywhere in the country are eligible as long as they meet the submission deadline and build on Google's Gemini platform.
Are there other costs or support benefits attached to entering?
The programme details mention only the cash prize pool. There is no reference to an entry fee, and equally no mention of equity investment, mentorship, workspace or other non-cash support being provided to entrants or winners — the benefit on offer is the prize money itself.
How do I apply for XPRIZE Build with Gemini Hackathon 2026 — ₹18.4Cr AI Prize Pool?
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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