NovaStark Hacks 2026

About

🚀 About NovaStark Hacks 2026

NovaStark Hacks is a premier national-level software hackathon bringing together India's sharpest student engineers, builders, and problem solvers to build scalable, high-impact prototypes across cutting-edge technology tracks.

🏆 Total Prize Pool: ₹2,70,000+

• 🥇 1st Place (Champion): ₹1,00,000 + Champion Trophy + Winner Credentials
• 🥈 2nd Place (Runner-Up): ₹75,000 + Trophy + Certificate
• 🥉 3rd Place (2nd Runner-Up): ₹50,000 + Certificate
• 🎖️ 4th Place: ₹30,000 + Merit Citation
• 🎖️ 5th Place: ₹15,000 + Merit Citation
• 💼 Direct Hiring & Paid Internships: Sponsored by Main Sponsor Annoting (AI & Computer Vision Data Annotation)

🛣️ 3 Competitive Stages

📍 Stage 1: Online Submission (100% Free Entry)

• Squad Registration Deadline: 7 Dec 2026
• PPT & GitHub Submission Deadline: 10 Dec 2026 (11:59 PM IST)
• Entry Fee: ₹0 (Completely Free)
• Submit your project PPT (architecture, problem statement, tech stack) and public GitHub repo/walkthrough.

📍 Stage 2: Mentorship & Selection Track (Top 150 Squads)

• Shortlist Announcement: 12 Dec 2026
• Hiring Pipeline: All 150 shortlisted teams submit resumes directly to Main Sponsor Annoting for paid internships and direct hiring fast-track.
• Track Fee: ₹2,000 per squad (covers 1-on-1 jury mentorship, Annoting resume review, and two-stage evaluation).
• Part 1 — Mentorship & Improvement Pitch (19 Dec 2026): Live online pitching where jury reviews architecture and gives actionable improvement guidance (Zero elimination).
• Part 2 — Final Selection Pitch (23 Dec 2026): Evaluated re-pitch of the refined prototype to select the Top 50 Grand Finalists.

📍 Stage 3: Grand Finale (Top 50 Squads Offline/Online in Mumbai)

• Top 50 Announcement: 24 Dec 2026
• Grand Finale Date: 09 Jan 2027 (Offline/Online in Mumbai)
• Finale Fee: ₹0 (100% Free Finale — Zero Participation Fee)
• 🚆 Travel Reimbursement: Up to ₹2,000 per person (up to ₹8,000 per squad) for outstation teams traveling to Mumbai from outside Mumbai & surrounding areas (against valid 3AC train/bus tickets).
• 🚗 Transit Support: Pickup & drop assistance from the venue's nearest railway station to the finale venue.
• Perks: Stage demo defense, networking, catering, high-tea, swag kits, verified certificates, and ₹2,70,000+ cash awards.

💡 Innovation Tracks

1. Generative AI & Agentic Systems: LLMs, multimodal agents, autonomous workflows.
2. FinTech & Secure Banking: Decentralized payments, fraud detection, algorithmic systems.
3. HealthTech & Tele-Diagnostics: Predictive analytics, remote care, clinical tools.
4. Sustainability & CleanTech: Smart cities, microgrid optimization, carbon tracking.
5. Open Innovation: Developer tools, EdTech, CyberSec, Web3, and high-impact ideas.

👥 Who Should Join?

• Eligibility: Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and Diploma students across India.
• Team Size: 2 to 4 members per team (cross-college and cross-branch teams are warmly welcomed).
• Pure Software & AI Only: Submissions must be pure software/AI solutions. Physical hardware devices (Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi) are strictly prohibited.

Prizes

• 1st Place (Champion) — ₹1L: Champion Trophy, Winner Certificate, Featured Spotlight & Annoting Hiring Opportunity
• 2nd Place (Runner-Up) — ₹75K: Runner-Up Trophy, Certificate & Annoting Internship Opportunity
• 3rd Place (2nd Runner-Up) — ₹50K: 2nd Runner-Up Certificate & Annoting Internship Opportunity
• 4th Place — ₹30K: Merit Citation Certificate & Annoting Internship Opportunity
• 5th Place — ₹15K: Merit Citation Certificate & Annoting Internship Opportunity

Perks

• • Travel reimbursement up to ₹2,000 per person for outstation teams outside Mumbai
• • Transit assistance: Pickup & drop from venue's nearest railway station
• • Direct resume submission to Main Sponsor Annoting for paid internships & hiring
• • Official Finalist Kit: Custom IDs, badges, vinyl stickers, and notebooks
• • High-tea, meals, snacks, and catering throughout Mumbai finale
• • Verified National Certificates for all participants & finalists

Timeline

1. Round 1: Online Submission (PPT & GitHub Link) (25 Oct 2026 – 10 Dec 2026): Submit project/idea PPT & GitHub repository link. Free entry for all squads. Top 150 teams advance.
2. Round 2: Mentorship & Selection Track (Part 1 & 2) (19 Dec 2026 – 23 Dec 2026): Top 150 squads submit resumes to Annoting. Part 1 (19 Dec): Live online pitch for jury feedback and guidance with zero elimination. Part 2 (23 Dec): Final evaluated pitch to select Top 50 Grand Finalists.
3. Round 3: Grand Finale (Offline in Mumbai) (9 Jan 2027 – 9 Jan 2027): Top 50 squads compete live on stage in Mumbai. Free finale with travel reimbursement up to ₹2,000/person for outstation teams, station pickup & drop, and ₹2,70,000+ prize awards.

Rules

1. Every team must consist of 2 to 4 members. Cross-college and cross-branch multidisciplinary teams are welcome and encouraged.
2. Open to all Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and Diploma students enrolled in any AICTE or UGC recognised institute across India with valid college ID.
3. Round 1 is 100% Free (₹0 entry fee). Squads must submit their project PPT and GitHub repository link by 10 Dec 2026.
4. Round 2 Mentorship Track: Top 150 shortlisted squads pay a fee of ₹2,000 per team for 1-on-1 jury mentorship, Annoting resume review, and two-stage pitch evaluation. This fee is strictly non-refundable.
5. Strictly Pure Software & AI: Submissions must be pure software, web/mobile apps, or AI/ML implementations. Physical hardware devices, microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi), and breadboards are strictly prohibited.
6. Round 3 Grand Finale: 100% Free Finale (₹0 fee) hosted offline in Mumbai on 09 January 2027 for the Top 50 finalist squads.
7. Travel Grant: Outstation finalist teams from outside Mumbai & surrounding areas are eligible for travel reimbursement up to ₹2,000 per person (up to ₹8,000 per squad) against valid 3AC train/bus tickets upon physical venue verification.
8. Transit Support: Scheduled pickup and drop assistance will be provided between the venue's nearest railway station and the finale venue.
9. Code Originality & IP: Projects must be original work created for NovaStark Hacks. The participating team retains 100% Intellectual Property (IP) ownership of their code.
10. Single Team Affiliation: Each participant can be a registered member of only one participating team throughout the event.
11. Finality of Decisions: All shortlisting (Top 150 & Top 50) and winner selections made by the jury and organizing committee are final, conclusive, and non-contestable.
12. Code of Conduct: Ethical, respectful, and professional conduct is mandatory. Any harassment, plagiarism, or tampering leads to immediate disqualification.

Sponsors

Annoting, GitHub, Vercel, Docker, .XYZ

NovaStark Hacks 2026: quick answers

What is NovaStark Hacks 2026?

NovaStark Hacks 2026 is a hybrid hackathon in Mumbai, organized by NovaStark Hacks. A national-level student hackathon: free online round, mentorship round, then a grand finale in Mumbai.

When is NovaStark Hacks 2026?

NovaStark Hacks 2026 runs from 1 Nov 2026 to 9 Jan 2027. Registration is open until 7 Dec 2026. Stages: Round 1: Online Submission (PPT & GitHub Link) (25 Oct 2026); Round 2: Mentorship & Selection Track (Part 1 & 2) (19 Dec 2026); Round 3: Grand Finale (Offline in Mumbai) (9 Jan 2027).

What is the last date to register for NovaStark Hacks 2026?

Registration for NovaStark Hacks 2026 closes on 7 Dec 2026 (11:59 pm IST). Register on Hack4Hack before then; teammates can join with your team code.

What is the prize money at NovaStark Hacks 2026?

NovaStark Hacks 2026 has ₹2,70,000 (₹2.7 lakh) in prizes. 1st Place (Champion): ₹1,00,000 (₹1 lakh), 2nd Place (Runner-Up): ₹75,000, 3rd Place (2nd Runner-Up): ₹50,000, 4th Place: ₹30,000, 5th Place: ₹15,000. ₹2,70,000+ Cash, Champion Trophies, Annoting Hiring/Internships & Travel Grants.

Is NovaStark Hacks 2026 free?

Yes, registering for NovaStark Hacks 2026 is free. Teams shortlisted for the next round confirm their place with a ₹2,000 fee per team.

Who can participate in NovaStark Hacks 2026?

Anyone can take part, in teams of 2 to 4. It starts online and ends in person in Mumbai.

How does NovaStark Hacks 2026 work?

In three stages: a free online submission (PPT and GitHub link), a mentorship and selection round, and a grand finale in person in Mumbai.

Which tracks are there at NovaStark Hacks?

AI / ML, Generative AI, HealthTech, FinTech, Sustainability, Smart Cities and Open Innovation.

Do NovaStark Hacks finalists get travel reimbursement?

Yes. Outstation teams from outside Mumbai get travel reimbursement of up to ₹2,000 per person, and pickup and drop from the venue's nearest railway station.

Does NovaStark Hacks offer internships or jobs?

Yes. The main sponsor, Annoting, offers hiring and internship opportunities to the top teams, and participants can submit their resumes directly.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any registration or participation fee?

Round 1 is 100% Free (₹0 entry fee). The Top 150 shortlisted squads advancing to Round 2 pay ₹2,000 per team for the Mentorship, Resume Review & Evaluation Track. The Grand Finale in Mumbai is 100% Free (₹0 fee) for the Top 50 finalist squads.

What is the team size requirement?

Every team must have 2 to 4 members. Cross-college and cross-branch teams are warmly welcomed!

Are hardware or IoT projects allowed?

No. NovaStark Hacks is purely a software and AI hackathon. Submissions must be pure software applications, AI/ML models, web/mobile apps, or system tooling. Physical hardware, microcontrollers (ESP32/Arduino/Raspberry Pi), and breadboards are not permitted.

Do outstation finalists get travel reimbursement?

Yes! Top 50 finalist teams traveling to Mumbai from outside Mumbai & surrounding areas receive travel reimbursement up to ₹2,000 per person (up to ₹8,000 per squad) based on valid 3AC train/bus tickets, along with pickup and drop assistance from the venue's nearest railway station.

What hiring and internship opportunities are provided?

All Top 150 shortlisted squads will have their resumes directly submitted to Main Sponsor Annoting for paid internships and direct hiring considerations.