Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool
A 24-hour national hackathon at KPRIET, Coimbatore on 10–11 September 2026, with hardware and software tracks, a ₹60,000 prize pool, industry mentorship and registration open to student teams of 3–6.
- Funding amount
- ₹60,000 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (7 Sept 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Y-Hack '26 is a 24-hour national hackathon hosted on the KPRIET campus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is run by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) student chapter at KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, and it is built around a simple premise: hand student teams a hard engineering problem and give them one overnight stretch to ship a working prototype.
Two tracks run in parallel, and each team chooses one.
- Hardware Track — problem statements reach teams on 1st September 2026, well ahead of the event, so hardware teams can study the challenge and plan their builds in advance.
- Software Track — problem statements are handed out on the spot on 10th September 2026, and teams build their software solutions during the hackathon itself.
The build happens over 10th and 11th September 2026 at the Bhaskara Block (MI Classrooms) on the KPRIET campus. Mentors are available throughout the 24 hours, and every team closes out the event with a short final presentation lasting 5–10 minutes.
Prizes are drawn from a ₹60,000 pool that is split among the winning teams. Beyond the winners' circle, everyone who takes part receives an official Y-Hack '26 T-shirt, a participant kit, a participation certificate, and food and refreshments as specified for each day.
The event is backed by industry partners, including ROBOTOAI TECHNOLOGIES, which works in AI and robotics, and AUSWEG INFO CONTROLS PVT. LTD., an engineering firm active in industrial automation, control systems, IoT, embedded technologies and smart manufacturing.
Registration closes on 7th September 2026. The fee is ₹500 for IEEE members and ₹600 for non-IEEE members, and teams sign up through the Google Form linked on the official event page.
Highlights
- 24-hour national hackathon on 10th and 11th September 2026 at KPRIET, Coimbatore
- ₹60,000 prize pool split among the winning teams
- Hardware and software tracks — hardware problem statements arrive on 1st September 2026, software ones on the spot on 10th September 2026
- Student teams of 3–6 members from the same institution; registration closes 7th September 2026
- Every participant gets a T-shirt, participant kit, participation certificate and food, plus on-site industry mentorship
- Registration fee: ₹500 for IEEE members and ₹600 for non-IEEE members
Who can apply
Y-Hack '26 is open to student teams, not individual applicants or companies.
- Team size is 3 to 6 members.
- Every member must belong to the same institution — inter-college teams are not permitted.
- Participants must be students of engineering and technology institutions across India.
- A person can be part of only one team.
- A valid college ID card has to be carried to the event.
- Projects must be created during the hackathon. Pre-built or previously completed projects are strictly prohibited.
Teams compete in either the Hardware Track or the Software Track, and each team brings its own laptops, chargers, development boards and the hardware its build requires.
Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 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
The most recent application window for Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool closed on 7 Sept 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Y-Hack '26 is a prize competition rather than a grant or an investment programme, so nothing is taken in return for the money awarded.
- A total prize pool of ₹60,000, distributed among the winning teams.
- Every participant receives an official Y-Hack '26 T-shirt, a participant kit and a participation certificate.
- Food and refreshments are provided as specified for each day of the event.
- Teams get industry mentorship on site, along with exposure to partner companies active in AI, robotics and industrial automation.
Participation itself carries a registration fee: ₹500 for IEEE members and ₹600 for non-IEEE members.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
There is no multi-round screening here — teams are judged on what they build during the event. The sequence runs as follows.
- Register: Submit your team's entry through the Google Form and pay the applicable fee before 7th September 2026.
- Get your problem statement: Hardware teams receive theirs on 1st September 2026 and can plan ahead; software teams receive theirs on the spot on 10th September 2026.
- Build on site: Teams work through the 24 hours of 10th and 11th September 2026 at the Bhaskara Block (MI Classrooms), KPRIET, with mentors available throughout.
- Present: On the closing day, each team gets 5–10 minutes for a final presentation.
- Judging: Entries are assessed on the working prototype or demo, the source code (a GitHub repository or a ZIP file), and the project documentation or presentation.
- Results: The judges' decision is final and binding.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 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
Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹60,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What is Y-Hack '26?
Y-Hack '26 is a national-level 24-hour hackathon organised by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) chapter at KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology (KPRIET) in Coimbatore. Student teams from engineering and technology institutions across India build working prototypes over 10th and 11th September 2026 in either a hardware or a software track, with mentorship available throughout and industry partners supporting the event.
How much prize money is on offer?
The total prize pool is ₹60,000, and it is distributed among the winning teams. Because this is a competition, the award is a prize — no equity, stake or repayment is involved.
Who is eligible to apply for Y-Hack '26?
Teams of 3 to 6 students, all of whom must belong to the same engineering or technology institution in India. Inter-college teams are not allowed, and each participant can be part of only one team. Every member also needs to carry a valid college ID card to the event.
Can I enter alone, or team up with students from a different college?
No. The hackathon accepts teams only, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 members, and every member must come from the same institution. A solo entry or a mixed-college team does not meet the eligibility rules.
What is the difference between the hardware and software tracks?
In the Hardware Track, problem statements are released on 1st September 2026, which gives teams time to analyse the challenge and prepare their design before arriving. In the Software Track, problem statements are revealed on the spot on 10th September 2026 and solutions are developed during the hackathon. A team picks one of the two tracks.
When and where does the hackathon take place?
The event runs for 24 hours across 10th and 11th September 2026 at the Bhaskara Block (MI Classrooms) on the KPRIET campus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
What does registration cost, and when does it close?
Registration is open until 7th September 2026. The fee is ₹500 for IEEE members and ₹600 for non-IEEE members, and teams register through the Google Form linked on the official event page.
Can we submit a project we already built, or use open-source code?
Pre-built or previously completed projects are strictly prohibited, so the work has to be done during the hackathon. Open-source libraries, APIs, frameworks and publicly available datasets are allowed, provided they are properly attributed.
What should participants bring, and what do they receive?
Each team must bring its own laptops, chargers, development boards and any other hardware the project needs, along with a valid college ID card. On the other side, every participant receives an official Y-Hack '26 T-shirt, a participant kit, a participation certificate, and food and refreshments as specified for each day.
How are projects judged, and how do we apply?
On the closing day each team gets 5–10 minutes for a final presentation. Judges look at the working prototype or demo, the source code (a GitHub repository or a ZIP file) and the project documentation or presentation, and their decision is final and binding. To take part, register via the Google Form on the official event page before 7th September 2026.
What is the application deadline for Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool?
The application deadline for Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool is Closed (7 Sept 2026). Deadlines can be revised, so reconfirm on the official source before applying.
Does Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool take equity?
No. Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool is competition and is non-dilutive — the provider does not take an equity stake in your startup.
Is DPIIT recognition required for Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool?
No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 Prize Pool, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.
How do I apply for Y-Hack'26 — 24-Hour National Hackathon with ₹60,000 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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