ET AI Hackathon 2.0

ET AI Hackathon 2.0 is a broad, national-level AI hackathon run by The Economic Times through the Unstop platform, open to a wider pool than most student-only hackathons - students, freelancers, early-career professionals, and AI enthusiasts can all enter. It moves through three stages: an online AI assessment, a prototype-building phase, and a final live pitch, which puts it closer to a genuine startup-pitch competition than a pure coding sprint by the time teams reach the finale. It is open to a wider group than most student hackathons: anyone aged 18 or older who is a resident of India can take part, as an individual or in a team of one to four, so freelancers and early-career professionals compete alongside students. The three stages, an online AI assessment, a prototype build and a live pitch, mean finalists have to explain a working product to industry experts as well as write code.

1. 01

   Online AI assessment

   An initial online round evaluating AI knowledge and problem-solving, used to filter the applicant pool before the build phase.

2. 02

   Prototype-building round

   Participants build a working AI prototype. Every valid submission at this stage earns a free Certificate of Participation regardless of what happens next.

3. 03

   Final live pitch

   The strongest prototypes are pitched live in front of industry experts and hiring leaders, who decide the final ₹10 lakh prize split.

• Aged 18 or older
• Open to students, freelancers, early-career professionals, and AI enthusiasts - not restricted to current students
• Must be a resident of India to be eligible for the national prize track
• Individual participation or teams of 1-4 members
• Free to enter

What is the current status of ET AI Hackathon 2.0?

Registration for this edition closed on 1 June 2026. If you're reading this well after that date, the 2026 edition itself has likely concluded - check Unstop or the Economic Times' event page for whether a newer edition is open before assuming this window still applies.

Who can enter ET AI Hackathon?

It's open more broadly than most student hackathons - anyone 18 or older, including students, freelancers, early-career professionals, and AI enthusiasts, competing solo or in teams of up to 4. Indian residency is required for the national prize track.

What can you win?

A ₹10 lakh total prize pool: ₹5 lakh plus job or incubation offers for first place, ₹3 lakh plus mentorship for second, and ₹2 lakh plus mentorship for third.

Do you need to build something to get a certificate?

Yes - every participant who submits a valid prototype during Phase 2 receives a free Certificate of Participation, independent of whether their team reaches the final pitch or wins a prize.

How do I prepare for the online AI assessment?

Revise machine-learning fundamentals, Python and basic data handling, and practise short problems on classification, regression and model evaluation. The assessment filters the pool before the build phase.

What makes a strong prototype for the final pitch?

A real problem, a working demonstration, a sensible use of AI where it adds value, and an honest account of limits. The final is a live pitch to industry experts, so the story matters as much as the code.

Can teams include non-students?

The eligibility on this page says the hackathon is open to students, professionals and enthusiasts who meet the age and residency rules.