Hack4Hack India Startup Challenge 2026
Apply to the Hack4Hack India Startup Challenge 2026. Top 25 startups fly to Mumbai for the finale (flights and stay covered for 2 founders), the top 3 win ₹10 lakh, ₹5 lakh and ₹3 lakh and a fully sponsored trip to San Francisco (15–20 January 2027) to meet angel investors. Round 1 closes 30 November 2026.
Apply to the India Startup Challenge · Application fee ₹10,000 · Round 1 closes 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Prizes: ₹18 lakh
- 1st place: ₹10 lakh + San Francisco trip, 15–20 Jan
- 2nd place: ₹5 lakh + San Francisco trip, 15–20 Jan
- 3rd place: ₹3 lakh + San Francisco trip, 15–20 Jan
How it works
- 19 Oct 2026: Round 1 opens. Apply online with your pitch deck, product and traction.
- 30 Nov 2026: Round 1 closes. Applications close at 11:59 PM IST. Judges review every startup.
- 1–5 Dec 2026: Online pitching. Every startup that applied in Round 1 pitches online to the judges. The top 25 are selected for Mumbai.
- 10 Dec 2026: Top 25 announced. The 25 startups selected for Round 2 in Mumbai are announced.
- 19–20 Dec 2026: Round 2: Mumbai. Two days of pitching to judges and investors in Mumbai. Flights and stay covered for 2 founders per startup.
- 15–20 Jan 2027: San Francisco. 2 founders from each of the top 3 startups fly to San Francisco, fully sponsored, to meet angel investors.
What finalists get
- Flights to Mumbai, covered
- 2 founders from each of the 25 finalist startups fly to Mumbai for Round 2.
- Stay in Mumbai, covered
- Two days, 19–20 December 2026, with your stay taken care of.
- ₹18 lakh in prizes, no equity
- ₹10 lakh, ₹5 lakh and ₹3 lakh for the top 3. We take no equity for the prize money.
- San Francisco, 15–20 Jan 2027
- A fully sponsored trip for 2 founders from each of the top 3 startups.
- Meet angel investors
- We introduce the top 3 to angel investors in San Francisco.
- Pitch on stage in Mumbai
- Present to judges, founders and investors at the finale.
Who can apply
Startups from anywhere in India, registered or not. Registered startups add their registration number and upload the certificate.
What you need to apply
- Details of every founder and co-founder
- Registration certificate (only if your startup is registered)
- Pitch deck (PDF, up to 10 MB)
- Product: problem, solution, customer and business model
- Product demo video: a 1–3 minute screen recording (YouTube, Loom or Drive link)
- Live demo, website or app links, if you have them
- Traction and funding so far
- Co-founders and team
- ₹10,000 application fee, paid at the end
Judging criteria
- Problem & market
- Is the problem real, painful and big enough?
- Product
- How well does your product solve it, and how far along is it?
- Traction
- Users, revenue, pilots, growth: proof that people want it.
- Team
- Why you are the right people to build this.
- Business model
- How you make money and how it scales.
- Pitch
- Clear, honest and convincing deck and answers.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply to the India Startup Challenge?
Startups from anywhere in India, at any stage from idea to revenue. Registered and not-yet-registered startups can both apply.
Does my startup need to be registered?
No. Registered and not-yet-registered startups can both apply. If your startup is registered, the form asks for your registration number and a copy of the certificate.
How much is the application fee?
The Round 1 application fee is ₹10,000 per startup, paid online when you submit. The fee keeps the challenge for founders who are serious about building.
What are the prizes?
The winner gets ₹10 lakh, the runner-up ₹5 lakh and the third-placed startup ₹3 lakh. All three also get a fully sponsored trip to San Francisco from 15 to 20 January 2027, where we help them meet angel investors.
Do winners give up any equity?
No. The prize money is equity-free: winners keep 100% of their company.
When will the top 25 be announced?
On 10 December 2026, after the online pitching from 1 to 5 December.
How are startups selected?
Every startup that applies in Round 1 pitches online to the judges from 1 to 5 December 2026. Judges score each pitch on problem and market, product, traction, team, business model and pitch, and the top 25 are invited to Round 2 in Mumbai.
When is the online pitching?
Online pitching runs from 1 to 5 December 2026, and every startup that applied in Round 1 gets to pitch. We email you a pitching slot after Round 1 closes.
When and where is Round 2?
Round 2 is in Mumbai on 19 and 20 December 2026. Flights and stay are covered for 2 founders from each of the top 25 startups.
When is the San Francisco trip?
The top 3 teams travel to San Francisco from 15 to 20 January 2027. The trip is fully sponsored for 2 founders per startup, and we help them meet angel investors there.
How many founders can travel?
Up to 2 founders per startup. Flights and stay are covered for 2 founders from each of the top 25 startups for Round 2 in Mumbai, and for 2 founders from each of the top 3 startups for the San Francisco trip.
What is the last date to apply?
Round 1 closes on 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.
What do I need to apply?
Your founder and startup details, a pitch deck as a PDF, your product, traction and team, a product demo video, any other links you have (website, live demo, app), and your registration certificate if your startup is registered. Your answers save as you go, so you can finish later.
Can I change my application after submitting?
Your draft saves automatically and you can edit it until you pay. After you submit, contact us if something needs to change.