Day 1
Ideate and design
- Kick-off and rules
- Hands-on with Google AI tools
- Pick your problem
- Mentor rounds
Startup Buildathon India 2026
Build Your Next Big Thing.
Take your AI startup idea from concept to market with Google AI, expert mentors, and a community of builders.
- 13 Nov Applications close
- 20–21 Nov City Buildathons in 10 cities
- 23, 25, 27 Nov Regional Showcase in 3 cities
- 2 December Grand Finale, Google Bengaluru
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About the Buildathon
Build your startup with
Google AI and Google Cloud
A nationwide buildathon for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs with a startup idea they want to build and scale. Over the course of the program, you'll turn that idea into a working product — backed by Google's AI stack and infrastructure, hands-on mentorship, startup grant and credits, and access to investors.
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10
City Buildathons
20–21 November · two days to build
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3
Regional Showcases
23, 25 and 27 November
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1
Grand Finale
2 December · Google Bengaluru
What you get
Founder Starter Pack
Top 10 teams get,
USD 100,000
$10,000 per team
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USD 5,000
in cash
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USD 5,000
in Google AI & Cloud Credits
Subject to terms and applicable taxes
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Access to Google experts
Hands-on help with Google AI and Google Cloud
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Mentors, VCs and industry leaders
Feedback on your product and your plan
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Access to startup support programs
Eligible to be considered for Google's partners & startup programs
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A working product
Built your AI product with initial customer validation and traction
Who can apply
- Existing early-stage startups with a new product idea
- Aspiring entrepreneurs with a startup idea
- Solo founders, or teams of two or more
- Must be building an AI-powered solution
Build with Google AI
Build a new product with Google AI and deploy it on Google Cloud
Models
- Gemini
- Gemini Omni
- Nano Banana
- Gemini Live
- Lyria
- Gemma
Tools
- Google AI Studio
- Google Antigravity
- Google Agent Skills
Deploy
- Google Cloud
What we look for
What our mentors and evaluators look for
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01
Founder profile
Who you are and why you built this
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02
Product potential
A clear problem, and a product that solves it well
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03
Market viability
A real market and a way to reach it
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04
Technical architecture
A well-built product that can scale
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05
Use of Google AI
How deeply Google AI and Google Cloud powers the product
How it works
Four stages. Your road to Google, Bengaluru.
Selected teams hear from us by 18 Nov
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1
Online Application
23 Oct – 13 Nov
Online
Apply and then submit your idea, solution, architecture, and pitch deck.
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2
City Buildathon
20–21 Nov
10 cities
Two days to build. Technical and non-technical jurors score your product.
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3
Regional Showcase
23, 25, 27 Nov
3 cities
Top teams present to business mentors and investors.
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4
Grand Finale
2 Dec
Google, Bengaluru
Finalists present at Google.
Top 10 winner announcement.
Two days in your city
Idea on day one. Working product on day two.
Day 2
Build and showcase
- Build your product
- Submit
- Present to the jury
- Shortlist announced
City Buildathons · 20–21 November
10 cities. Pick the one closest to you.
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Ahmedabad
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Bengaluru
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Chennai
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Delhi
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Hyderabad
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Jaipur
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Kochi
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Kolkata
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Mumbai
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Pune
Stage 3 · Regional Showcases
Three cities. One step from the Grand Finale.
Top teams from the City Buildathons present to business mentors and investors. Finalists go on to Google, Bengaluru.
23, 25 and 27 November
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Regional Showcase
Gurugram
23 Nov 2026
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Regional Showcase
Mumbai
25 Nov 2026
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Regional Showcase
Hyderabad
27 Nov 2026
Stage 4 · Grand Finale · December
Finalists present at Google, Bengaluru
Interested in hearing from the shortlisted teams?
If you are interested in attending the regional showcase and grand finale and hearing from the shortlisted team in person, show your interest here.
This form is for investors / ecosystem enablers / government bodies interested in attending, not Buildathon applications. Sharing interest does not guarantee admission.
FAQs
Questions,
answered
Still have a question? Write to us at support+Buildathon-GDMxGCS@hack2skill.com.
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Early-stage startups with a new AI product idea, aspiring entrepreneurs with an AI startup idea, solo founders, teams of two or more, and anyone building an AI-powered solution with the intention of building business around it can apply.
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No. Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea are welcome.
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No, the program is free.
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The last date for application submission is 13th Nov 2026.
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If you are shortlisted for the city Buildathon, you'll receive a confirmation email from us post the evaluation phase with further details.
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The total prize pool is USD 100,000. Each of the top 10 teams wins USD 5,000 in cash and USD 5,000 in Google AI & Google Cloud credits.
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The evaluation team will review the founder's profile, potential of your product, idea, market viability, technical architecture and use of Google AI and cloud infrastructure.
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No limit
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Top teams present at a Regional Showcase on 23, 25 or 27 November. Finalists go to the Grand Finale at Google, Bengaluru, in December.
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Yes, you must bring a laptop to the Buildathon. Day 1 focuses on ideation and design, while Day 2 focuses on building the product and presenting it to industry experts. Further details will be shared with shortlisted startups.
Ready to build your startup?
Applications close on 13 November.