Build what deserves to leave the ground.
India's most impactful startup challenge. Unlike typical pitch competitions, this challenge requires you to build real, working product.
₹10 Lakhs
Top 3 national recognition
Demo Day stage & media feature
Priority studio consideration
₹20 Lakhs
The title: India's Best Builder 2026
The spotlight: Press, PR, keynote feature
The edge: First in line for HyKr Studio consideration
All Finalists win a chance to join HyKr Studio with up to $250,000 USD funding
₹5 Lakhs
Top 3 national recognition
Demo Day showcase
Studio consideration as finalist
The difference
Not another pitch competition.
The Old Way
The HyKr Way
Themes
Challenge Themes
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.
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Hospitals and clinics run on outdated, manual processes.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
CloudMental health and chronic disease management are underserved.-dependent AI creates latency, privacy, and cost issues.
Opportunity
Evidence-based digital interventions at scale.
Examples
CBT apps, addiction recovery, diabetes management, women's health.
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
1-4 members.
At least one founder based in India.
Pre-seed or unfunded.
This isn’t a side project. You’re all in, full-time.
JUDGING CRITERIA
01
Product Execution
30
points
Does it work?
Code quality, architecture, UX
02
Problem-Solution Fit
25
points
Does it solve a real,
painful problem?
03
Market Opportunity
20
points
Is this a big enough market?
Clear path to scale?
04
Team Capability
15
points
Can this team execute?
Domain expertise?
05
Innovation & Differentiation
10
points
What's unique?
Unfair advantage?
The difference
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?
If you make the cut, you're invited to build.
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 March 1, 2026
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
Next steps
What Happens After?
All 10 finalists earn priority consideration for HyKr Studio — with potential funding up to $250,000 USD.
We're not looking for contest winners. We're looking for founders we want to build the next big thing with. If that's you, this is your proving ground.
ABOUT HYKR
Together we soar:
At HyKr, we co-build your business, not just fund it.
$250K-500K
Initial investment per startup in milestone-based tranches.
15-20%
Equity partnership with deep operational involvement.
10-12
Startups per cohort, twice a year.
India → Global
Build here with global standards, scale everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can solo founders apply, and is there a maximum team size?
08
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.
Do we need to be incorporated as a company to participate?
08
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.
Can students or working professionals apply?
08
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.
Are teams with prior grants/angel money allowed, or only completely unfunded teams?
08
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.
What happens if a team member changes or leaves mid‑challenge?
08
The team that applies is expected to stay committed through the entire challenge; mid‑way drop‑outs or major team reshuffles will not be allowed.
Can we apply with an idea that doesn’t perfectly fit any one theme?
08
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.
Can we submit more than one idea or apply to multiple themes?
08
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.
What is the application window and final deadline?
08
Applications are open till 22 February 2026 and submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis during this period. If you are selected, you’ll have from the date of your selection until 1 March 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.
How soon will we hear back after applying, and how will we be informed?
08
You will typically hear back within about a week of applying via email, so you are not left hanging.
Is participation fully remote or are there mandatory in‑person components?
08
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.
What exactly needs to be built during the build phase (MVP expectations)?
08
You are expected to ship a working MVP that users can actually interact with - no “coming soon” splash pages.
What are the mandatory deliverables (working product, source code repo, demo video, documentation)?
08
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.
Are mockups or slide decks alone acceptable?
08
No - mockups, Figma screens, and pretty slides without a working build will not make the cut.
Are there any tech stack or hosting restrictions?
08
You are free to choose your stack as long as you can share code privately and run a working demo
What kind of support do participating teams receive ?
08
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.
If my team wins the competition, are we guaranteed a spot in the HyKr Studio?
08
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.
What does “studio consideration” mean in practice?
08
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.
What is the potential studio funding amount and on what terms (up to 250K USD)?
08
Teams that join the studio can receive up to 250K USD in funding, along with hands‑on co‑building support, based on standard venture‑style terms agreed during onboarding.
Can a team win prize money but choose not to join the HyKr Studio?
08
Yes, prize money is for winning the challenge; joining the studio is an optional next step for teams that see strong alignment.
How is our source code handled and who has access to it?
08
Your repository stays private and access is limited to HyKr’s internal technical review team for evaluation purposes only.
Are there any restrictions on using existing open‑source components or prior work?
08
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.
