Build Challenge Enter the Build challenge

Build what
deserves to leave
the ground.

The Build Challenge is not a pitch competition. It is a proving ground. We are looking for founders who can take a problem, build a real solution, and ship it.
Join Build Challenge Already have traction? Apply to Studio

Before You Apply

This challenge is for builders.
Not dreamers.

We designed the Build Challenge to filter for execution, not ideas. Before you apply, ask yourself these questions honestly.
Apply if
You have a specific problem you are obsessed with solving
You have a clear hypothesis for how to solve it
You have the technical skills to build a working version yourself
You are ready to commit full-time for the build phase
You are comfortable being judged on what you ship, not what you pitch

What You Can Win

Prizes for
builders who ship.

3rd Prize
₹5L
  • Top 3 national recognition
  • Demo Day showcase
  • Studio consideration as finalist
2nd Prize
₹10L
  • Top 3 national recognition
  • Demo Day stage & media feature
  • Priority studio consideration
1st Prize
₹20L
  • India's Best Builder 2026 title
  • Press, PR, keynote feature
  • First in line for HyKr Studio
  • Up to ₹2-4 Cr funding consideration

The Difference

Not another
pitch competition.

Other Challenges
"Tell us your vision"
"Pitch to impress"
"Demo Day = slideshow day"
"Build a prototype, call it progress"
HyKr Build Challenge
"Show us your repo"
"Ship to win"
"Demo Day = live product demos"
"Prove yourself first, unlock everything after"

Themes

Challenge Themes

Theme 1 : AI agents for enterprise
Theme 2 : Developer tools & infrastructure
Theme 3 : Edge AI & On-Device Intelligence
Theme 4 : Robotics & Automation
Theme 5 : Data Infrastructure & MLOps

Problem

Enterprises waste billions on repetitive tasks that could be automated.

Opportunity

Autonomous agents that handle workflows end-to-end.

Examples

Customer support agents, sales automation, document processing, compliance monitoring

Problem

Developer productivity is limited by fragmented, complex tooling.

Opportunity

10x better tools for building, testing, deploying software.

Examples

AI coding assistants, observability platforms, CI/CD optimization, API management.

Problem

Cloud-dependent AI creates latency, privacy, and cost issues.

Opportunity

AI that runs locally on devices with real-time performance.

Examples

On-device voice assistants, real-time video analytics, industrial IoT intelligence.

Problem

Physical labor shortages and costs are rising across industries.

Opportunity

Affordable robotics for logistics, agriculture, manufacturing.

Examples

Warehouse automation, agricultural drones, construction robots, last-mile delivery.

Problem

Most AI projects fail due to poor data quality and infrastructure.

Opportunity

Tools that make AI development reliable and scalable.

Examples

Data labeling platforms, model monitoring, feature stores, synthetic data generation.

Theme 1 : Digital Diagnostics & Imaging
Theme 2 : Healthcare Workflow & Operations
Theme 3: Digital Therapeutics & Mental Health

Problem

Healthcare access and diagnostic accuracy are limited in India.

Opportunity

AI-powered diagnostics that work at scale.

Examples

Radiology AI, pathology automation, point-of-care diagnostics, remote monitoring.

Problem

Hospitals and clinics run on outdated, manual processes.

Opportunity

Software that modernizes healthcare operations.

Examples

Patient scheduling, claims automation, inventory management, clinical documentation.

Problem

Mental health and chronic disease management are underserved.

Opportunity

Evidence-based digital interventions at scale.

Examples

CBT apps, addiction recovery, diabetes management, women's health.

Theme 1 : Construction Tech & Site Intelligence
Theme 2 : Sustainable Built Environment

Problem

Construction is plagued by delays, cost overruns, and safety issues.

Opportunity

Technology that brings visibility and efficiency to job sites.

Examples

Site monitoring drones, project management, supply chain optimization, safety compliance.

Problem

Buildings account for 40% of global carbon emissions.

Opportunity

Technology for greener construction and building operations.

Examples

Energy management, sustainable materials, carbon tracking, smart building systems.

Eligibility

Team Size

1–4 members.

Line Icon
Founder Location

At least one founder based in India.

Line Icon
Line IconStage

Pre-seed or unfunded.(no prior institutional funding)

Line IconCommitment

This isn't a side project. You're all in, full-time.

The Journey

One challenge. Five stages.
Zero shortcuts.

01 Register

Submit your team and idea under one of our 10 themes. Tell us who you are, what you're building, and why it matters.

No vanilla pitch decks. No essays. Just the essentials.

02 Get shortlisted

We review every application. Teams get selected based on:

  • Team profile – Do you have the skills to build this?
  • Idea strength – Is this a real problem worth solving?
  • Theme fit – Does it align with Deep Tech, Health & Bio, or Construction/PropTech?

No vanilla pitch decks. No essays. Just the essentials.

03 Build

No hand-holding. No mentorship calls. No co-build support. You and your team build a working MVP independently.

What you submit:

  • Deadline for submission is 25th April
  • Source code (GitHub/GitLab)
  • 3-minute demo video
  • Design files & documentation

This is where builders separate from talkers.

04 Finals

Our team reviews every submission. Code quality. Product depth. Execution clarity.

10 teams advance to Demo Day.

05 Demo Day

The top 10 teams demo their products live in front of judges, investors, and the startup community.

3 winners announced:

  • 1st Place: ₹20 Lakhs
  • 2nd Place: ₹10 Lakhs
  • 3rd Place: ₹5 Lakhs

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility and team requirements
Themes and ideas
Application and Challenge structure
Build phase and deliverables
Prizes and studio pathway
Confidentiality
Yes, solo founders are welcome to apply, as long as you have the technical skills to build and launch the product on your own. However, building something meaningful is rarely a one-person job, we strongly encourage forming a team. Teams can include up to 4 members.
No, you do not need to be incorporated; early-stage teams and serious side-projects are allowed as long as you are ready to build.
Yes, students, working professionals, and individual builders working on their own projects can all apply, as long as at least one founder is based in India.
Teams without prior institutional funding are the primary target; reasonable grants or small angel cheques are typically fine as long as you are still at a pre-seed stage.
The team that applies is expected to stay committed throughout the entire challenge; mid-way drop-outs or major team reshuffles will not be allowed.
Yes, if your problem and solution sit close to our deep tech, health/bio, or construction/proptech thesis, you can still apply and explain the fit in your application.
You can apply with more than one idea if you'd like, but your application should focus on one killer problem and clearly pick a primary theme for that.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, If you are selected, you'll have from the date of your selection until 25th April 2026 to build and submit your solution. Applying earlier gives you more time in the build phase, so it's in your best interest not to wait until the last minute.
You will typically hear back within about a week of applying via email, so you are not left hanging.
Most of the journey (application, build phase, submissions) is fully remote. Pre-demo interactions may be hybrid or virtual, while Demo Day will be an in-person event at Hykr Studio in Hyderabad.
You are expected to ship a working MVP that users can actually interact with — no "coming soon" splash pages.
By the deadline, you submit a working product, a private GitHub/GitLab repo with source code, a 3-minute demo video, and concise technical documentation.
No — mockups, Figma screens, and pretty slides without a working build will not make the cut.
You are free to choose your stack as long as you can share code privately and run a working demo.
Support for the challenge is intentionally lightweight and founder-driven. You own the pace, problem-solving, and execution end-to-end; any touchpoints from HyKr are bonus nudges, not a crutch.
Not automatically — but you'll definitely have an edge! Winning means your team will be directly considered for the studio and can skip the first few screening steps.
It means winners skip the early screening steps for HyKr Studio and move straight to an Investment Committee–level discussion, entering the process at a more advanced review stage instead of the usual top-of-funnel screening.
Teams that join the studio can receive up to 2–4 Cr INR (250k–500k$) in funding, along with hands-on co-building support, based on standard venture-style terms agreed during onboarding.
Yes, prize money is for winning the challenge; joining the studio is an optional next step for teams that see strong alignment.
Your repository stays private and access is limited to HyKr's internal technical review team for evaluation purposes only.
You are free to use sensible open-source and prior work, as long as you respect those licenses and have the rights to use everything you submit.

Ready to prove
you can ship?

Enter the Build Challenge. Show us what you can build.
Enter Build Challenge