IDEAHackathon2026
INNOVATION | DEVELOPMENT | EXECUTION | ADVANCEMENT
Not just a hackathon — a Buildathon. Create market-ready fintech products with mentorship from industry leaders and showcase at the Global Fintech Fest.
In collaboration with
BeyondPrototyping—BuildforProduction
Following the success of previous editions, IDEA Hackathon 2026 elevates from a standard 24-hour hackathon to a Buildathon. This new format focuses on creating market-ready fintech products — not just prototypes. The brightest minds across India will go through a rigorous Iterative Development Process that culminates in a showcase at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) in 2026.
FourPhasestoGlory
From ideation to the Global Fintech Fest showcase — a rigorous journey that transforms your ideas into production-ready fintech solutions.
Phase 1: Ideation & Screening
Feb 8 - Feb 28
Submit your PPT and 1-minute video pitch. Broad outreach, defining the 'Why,' and filtering for potential. ~350 teams expected to participate.
MoreThanJustaHackathon
Beyond Prototyping
Shift focus from 'Proof of Concept' to 'Production-Ready Code'. Build solutions that can be deployed in real banking environments.
Pan-India Impact
Leverage online and offline marketing to attract 350+ top-tier teams from engineering colleges across the country.
Talent Pipeline
Identify high-potential developers for Union Bank integration and hiring opportunities. Top performers get internship interviews.
Global Showcase
Position your solutions at the Global Fintech Fest. Winning teams get to launch their products to a global audience.
Expert Mentorship
Get guidance from Knowledge Partners and Tech Partners. Technical mentors work directly with teams to debug code and optimize architecture.
Incubation Track
Post-event support including Security Audits (VAPT), UI/UX Refinement, and Scalability Testing to make your product enterprise-grade.
PoweredbyIndustryLeaders
Union Bank of India
THE CLIENT
Approves problem statements, provides branding guidelines, and selects winners for the Global Fintech Fest showcase. Senior leadership presence for the Final Grand Jury.
Industry Expert
THE ANALYST
Refines requirements into actionable problem statements, conducts need analysis sessions, evaluates business logic and regulatory compliance of solutions.
Technology Enabler
THE ENABLER
Provides API access, conducts technical webinars, assigns mentors for debugging and architecture optimization, conducts code audits for security and scalability.
WinBig.BuildBigger.
Total Prize Pool
1st Place
- GFF Showcase
- UBI Integration Opportunity
- Incubation Support
2nd Place
- GFF Showcase
- UBI Integration Opportunity
3rd Place
- GFF Showcase
- UBI Integration Opportunity
More Prizes & Incentives
FrequentlyAskedQuestions
Still have questions?
Contact us at csi@somaiya.eduReadytoBuildtheFutureofFintech?
Join 350+ teams from across India. Win ₹17.75 Lakhs in prizes. Showcase at the Global Fintech Fest.
Registration deadline: February 21, 2026 • Phase 1 submissions close Feb 21