Open to startups registered in India

2nd NextGen Hackathon 2026

ACM Fremont Chapter, USA & Soft Computing Research Society

About This Scheme

An online innovation marathon for students and professionals — $1,750 prize pool, teams of 2–4, multiple tech themes.

2nd NextGen Hackathon 2026 is an online innovation marathon organized by the ACM Fremont Chapter, USA in association with the Soft Computing Research Society. This two-day hackathon invites students, professionals, and tech enthusiasts to brainstorm, build, and showcase cutting-edge solutions to real-world challenges.

Who Should Apply Open to all university students (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral), working professionals, and technology enthusiasts. No age or educational background restrictions — participants from Engineering, Design, Business, Sciences, and all other fields are welcome.

Tracks / Themes Participants can choose from the following domains

Format & Timeline The hackathon is entirely online, including registration, idea submission, mentoring, and final presentations. It consists of two rounds:
Judging criteria include innovation & creativity, impact & relevance, technical implementation, user experience (UX/UI), and presentation clarity.
Prizes
Eligibility Teams of 2–4 members. Inter-college/inter-organization teams are allowed and encouraged. Lone wolves are not permitted — participation is strictly team-based.
About the Organiser The ACM Fremont Chapter, USA is a professional chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, focused on fostering innovation and technical excellence.
The Soft Computing Research Society is an India-based research organization that promotes soft computing and related fields through conferences, workshops, and competitions.
How to Apply Submit your idea through the official hackathon website: https://nextgen2026.thescrs.org/. Registration deadline is 12 August 2026.

Benefits

The winning team receives $1,000, the first runner-up $500, and the second runner-up $250 in cash prizes after the final pitch.
This is a competition award, not a loan or equity investment.
All finalists receive Certificates of Recognition.
The fully online programme also includes mentoring, so teams shortlisted to Round 2 get guided feedback on their prototype and pitch before presenting to the judges.

How to Apply

Closed

Quick Info

Amount / Funding

Up to ₹1.61 Lakhs

State / Region

Open to startups registered in India

Ministry / Dept

ACM Fremont Chapter, USA & Soft Computing Research Society

Tracks / Themes Participants can choose from the following domains

Format & Timeline The hackathon is entirely online, including registration, idea submission, mentoring, and final presentations. It consists of two rounds:
Judging criteria include innovation & creativity, impact & relevance, technical implementation, user experience (UX/UI), and presentation clarity.
Prizes
Eligibility Teams of 2–4 members. Inter-college/inter-organization teams are allowed and encouraged. Lone wolves are not permitted — participation is strictly team-based.
About the Organiser The ACM Fremont Chapter, USA is a professional chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, focused on fostering innovation and technical excellence.
The Soft Computing Research Society is an India-based research organization that promotes soft computing and related fields through conferences, workshops, and competitions.
How to Apply Submit your idea through the official hackathon website: https://nextgen2026.thescrs.org/. Registration deadline is 12 August 2026.

Benefits

The winning team receives $1,000, the first runner-up $500, and the second runner-up $250 in cash prizes after the final pitch.

This is a competition award, not a loan or equity investment.

All finalists receive Certificates of Recognition.

The fully online programme also includes mentoring, so teams shortlisted to Round 2 get guided feedback on their prototype and pitch before presenting to the judges.