Overview Journey Rounds What to build Judging Rules FAQ Event page
Official participant guide

How Hackathon 1.0 works

How Modern Age Coders Hackathon 1.0 worked, the 3 rounds, what to build, what to submit, how entries were judged, the rules and the full timeline. That edition ran in June 2026 and has finished; this is the reference for the format.

Tell me about the next edition See the step-by-step ↓
₹30K
Prize pool
₹500
Entry (India)
$10
Entry (Intl)
3
Rounds
48h
Build sprint
1–4
Team size
What it is

A build-anything hackathon to solve a real problem

Modern Age Coders Hackathon 1.0 was a fully online, worldwide hackathon open to everyone, any age, any country, any skill level. It ran in June 2026 and has finished. Participants registered as individuals and could form a team of up to four once the build round began. This guide stays up as the reference for how the format works.

The single goal: build a working solution to a real-life problem. Not a copy of an existing app, not a slide deck, a real thing that works and helps real people. You'll move through three rounds, and the top 10 builders share a ₹30,000 prize pool. You can use any AI tool, agent or IDE you like. We're looking for the world's best builder, not the fastest typist.

New to hackathons? Don't worry. This guide walks you through every single step.

The journey

Your path from sign-up to winning

Six simple steps. Follow them in order and you'll never be lost.

1

Register

Participants signed up individually and paid the entry fee (₹500 in India / $10 international) before 6 June 2026. Registration for this edition is closed.

2

Join your WhatsApp group

Right after payment you'll be asked to create a WhatsApp group named "Hackathon {Your Name}" and add +91 91233 66161. This is your lifeline, every announcement, idea review, schedule and result is shared in your group.

3

Round 1, pitch your idea

Submit the real-life problem you'll solve and your plan (7–8 June). Our panel shortlists the strongest ideas to move forward.

4

Round 2, build it (48 hours)

The clock starts. Build a working solution in 48 hours (9–11 June), solo or with your team, using any tools. Submit your project, demo video and code link.

5

Round 3, demo live

Finalists present their build live to the judges and answer questions (12–13 June).

6

Win

Judges score every finalist, the top 10 are announced, and prizes + certificates go out. That's it. You're a Hackathon 1.0 builder.

The 3 rounds in detail

Exactly what happens in each round

Each round has a clear job, a clear deadline, and a clear thing to submit. Here's the full breakdown.

Round 1 · Screening7–8 June 2026 · Online

Idea & Problem Pitch

This round is about what you'll build and why it matters, not code yet. You pick a real-life problem and explain how you'll solve it. Our panel reviews every entry and shortlists the strongest, most impactful ideas to advance to the build round.

What you do
  • Pick a genuine real-world problem.
  • Describe who it affects and why it matters.
  • Explain your solution idea & approach.
  • List the tools/tech you plan to use.
What you submit
  • A short write-up (problem + solution, ~150–300 words).
  • Optional: a rough sketch, flow, or wireframe.
  • Your team members (if any), or solo.
  • Submitted via your WhatsApp group / form shared there.

Tip: the clearer and more real your problem, the better. "An app that reminds elderly patients to take medicines and alerts family if missed" beats "a cool AI app".

Round 2 · Build9–11 June 2026 · 48 hours

48-Hour Build Sprint

This is the heart of the hackathon. The clock starts and you have 48 hours to build a working solution. Form your team (up to 4) if you want, use any AI tool, agent or IDE, and ship something real. The core of your project must be built during this window.

What you do
  • Build a working prototype / MVP of your idea.
  • Collaborate with your team (up to 4 total).
  • Use any tools: AI assistants, agents, IDEs, no-code.
  • Keep it focused: working > perfect.
What you submit
  • Your working project (live link or app/APK).
  • A short demo video (2–3 min) showing it work.
  • A link to your code (GitHub) or build.
  • A 3–5 line description of what it solves.

Tip: build the one feature that proves your idea first. A small thing that truly works impresses judges more than ten half-finished features.

Round 3 · Grand Finale12–13 June 2026 · Live

Live Demo Day

The finalists present. You'll demo your build live to the judges, walk them through the problem and your solution, and answer their questions. Then scores are tallied and the top 10 winners are crowned.

What you do
  • Give a short live demo (a few minutes).
  • Explain the problem, solution & impact clearly.
  • Show your project actually working.
  • Answer the judges' questions confidently.
How to prepare
  • Rehearse a tight 2–3 minute walkthrough.
  • Have your demo ready & tested beforehand.
  • Lead with the problem, then the "wow" moment.
  • Be ready to explain your tech choices.

Tip: tell a story, "here's the problem, here's how bad it is, watch my solution fix it". Judges remember stories, not feature lists.

What to build

Pick a problem worth solving

You can build for any track below, or go fully open. The only hard rule: it must solve a real problem real people actually have. Here are the tracks for inspiration:

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Access, diagnosis aids, mental health, fitness, elderly & patient care.

Education & Learning

Tools that help people learn faster, cheaper, or more fairly.

Sustainability & Climate

Waste, energy, water, recycling, awareness.

FinTech & Inclusion

Money, savings, fraud prevention, access to finance.

Daily-Life Automation

AI agents that kill boring, repetitive everyday tasks.

Open / Wildcard

A real problem that fits no box. Surprise us.

What makes a strong project

Tools & AI policy

Use anything to build

This is an AI-friendly hackathon. Every AI tool, autonomous agent and AI-native IDE is allowed and encouraged: Cursor, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Gemini, v0, Bolt, Lovable, Replit Agent, Devin, Kiro, Antigravity, and anything else. No-code and low-code tools are fine too. We want to find the best builder, by any means.

A few fair-play expectations:

Submission checklist

What to hand in

Round 1, idea
  • Problem statement (who + why).
  • Your solution & approach.
  • Planned tools/tech.
  • Solo or team names.
Round 2, build
  • Working project (live link / app).
  • 2–3 min demo video.
  • Code or build link (GitHub etc.).
  • Short description (3–5 lines).

All submissions are made through the link shared in your WhatsApp group. Submit before each round's deadline, late entries can't be accepted because the schedule is tight.

How you're scored

Judging criteria

Every project is scored on four things. Know these and build toward them.

30%

Real-World Impact

Does it solve a genuine problem people actually have? How much does it help?

25%

Innovation

How original and clever is the idea and the approach?

25%

Execution

Does it actually work? Quality, completeness and polish.

20%

Presentation

How clearly you pitch, demo and defend it in the finale.

Rules & eligibility

The ground rules

Who can join

✓ Do

  • Solve a real problem.
  • Use any AI tool, agent or IDE.
  • Build the core during Round 2.
  • Submit on time, every round.
  • Be ready to demo & explain your work.
  • Be respectful in the group & finale.

✕ Don't

  • Submit someone else's project as yours.
  • Miss deadlines (the schedule is tight).
  • Use private data without permission.
  • Have more than 4 people in a team.
  • Register multiple times to game prizes.
  • Spam or harass others in the group.

Judges' decisions are final. Organisers may update the schedule if needed, any changes are announced in your WhatsApp group.

The rewards

₹30,000 across the top 10

The top 5 share ₹20,000 (graduated by rank) and ranks 6–10 each get ₹2,000 (₹10,000). A higher rank never earns less than a lower one. All finalists receive certificates.

Rank 1
₹6,000
Rank 2
₹5,000
Rank 3
₹4,000
Rank 4
₹3,000
Rank 5
₹2,000
Rank 6
₹2,000
Rank 7
₹2,000
Rank 8
₹2,000
Rank 9
₹2,000
Rank 10
₹2,000
Key dates

The schedule

Questions

Frequently asked

What exactly do I have to do?
Register → join your WhatsApp group → Round 1 (pitch a real problem) → Round 2 (build it in 48 hours) → Round 3 (demo live to judges). This guide explains each step above.
Do I need to know how to code?
Helpful, but not required. Any AI tool, agent, IDE or no-code tool is allowed, what matters is shipping a working solution to a real problem. Beginners are welcome and can win.
Do I have to build the project during the hackathon?
Yes, the core build happens during the Round 2 sprint (9–11 June). You can plan and design beforehand, but the working build is created during the event.
Can I take part solo?
Absolutely. Registration is individual. If you'd like to collaborate, you can form a team of up to 4 during the build round.
Where do I submit my work?
Through the link shared in your WhatsApp group for each round. Make sure you've created your group ("Hackathon {Your Name}") and added +91 91233 66161.
What does it cost?
₹500 for participants in India, $10 USD internationally, a one-time individual registration fee.
How and when are winners announced?
After the live finale on 12–13 June 2026. Judges score all finalists on impact, innovation, execution and presentation; the top 10 are announced and prizes + certificates are sent out.
Edition 1.0 · finished

Now you know how it worked.
Want in on the next one?

Hackathon 1.0 finished on 13 June 2026, so registrations are closed. Tell us you are interested and we will let you know when the next edition opens.

Tell me about the next edition Back to event page

Need help? WhatsApp / call +91 91233 66161

Real student projects

What our students actually build

Every one is a real, live project shipped by a Modern Age Coders student. Explore more in Student Labs.

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Parent & student voices

What our families say

Real, verified reviews from Modern Age Coders families. Read hundreds more on our Wall of Love.

★★★★★
“Very good classes. Makes learning very easy and interactive.”
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Parent
★★★★★
“Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me! I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I'm now the topper in my class and can confidently write complex programs with ease.”
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Student
★★★★★
“My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coder IT classes. This is his first online class, and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can see his improvement, and I believe he will grow even more interested in the subject. The teachers are very cooperative and listen to our suggestions. Overall, I am very happy with the class.”
SSonam Oswal
Parent of Dhairya

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