📌About the Event

Youth Ideathon 2026 is a national innovation and entrepreneurship competition for Indian school and college students. Organised by IIT Delhi, ThinkStartup and the Management & Entrepreneurship Professional Skills Council, it invites students to submit innovative startup ideas individually or in teams of up to five. Participants progress through online idea submissions, video pitches, regional championships and a national finale at IIT Delhi.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Mode: Hybrid
• Initial rounds: Online idea submission, orientation and video pitching
• Regional round: In-person regional championships across 10 regions
• Grand finale: National finale at IIT Delhi
• Participation: Individual or teams of up to five students
• Key themes:
  • AI and chip innovation
  • Sustainability
  • Space technology
  • Next Billion Innovation Challenge
  • Supporting girl entrepreneurs
  • EdTech
  • Open innovation
• Final round: The top 12 teams pitch their ideas before investors and experts.

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📅 Important Dates

• Registration and idea submission opened: July 24, 2026
• Idea submission deadline: September 30, 2026
• Regional championships: November 17–27, 2026
• Top 100 teams announced: November 30, 2026
• National grand finale: December 15, 2026

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• Open to students studying in Classes 8–12 across India.
• Open to undergraduate and postgraduate college students.
• Students may participate individually or in teams of up to five members.
• Participants must submit an original startup or innovation idea.
• One account should be used per participant.
• Participants below 18 years must provide their parent’s or guardian’s contact details and consent.
• Submitted ideas must not infringe intellectual-property rights or contain unlawful or abusive material.
• Participants retain ownership of their ideas while allowing the organisers to display and evaluate their submissions.
• The top 1,000 school teams and top 1,000 college teams qualify after the initial idea-screening round.
• Qualified teams must submit a short video pitch.
• Video pitches are assessed through jury review, public engagement and social scoring.

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Confirmed cash prize pool: ₹10 lakh
• Total prizes and awards announced: Up to ₹25 lakh
• Certificates for eligible participants and shortlisted teams
• Live entrepreneurship masterclasses for the top 600 teams
• Opportunity to participate in regional pitching championships
• Incubation opportunities through a network of 20 incubators
• Mentorship from entrepreneurs, industry experts and startup professionals
• Opportunity for the final 12 teams to pitch before investors
• Recognition for participating teachers, mentors, schools and colleges