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PRODID:-//KnowAFest//Campus Events//EN
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UID:eventsphere-65386@www.knowafest.com
DTSTAMP:20261008T171022Z
DTSTART:20260326T183000Z
DTEND:20260328T182959Z
SUMMARY:iStart Hackathon 2026
LOCATION:Knowledge Institute of Technology\, Salem
DESCRIPTION:<p>iStart Hackathon’26 is a 24-hour non-stop innovation chall
 enge organized by iStartKIOT MX Incubator Foundation\, Knowledge Institute
  of Technology\, Salem. The event aims to bring together college students\
 , student startups\, and tech enthusiasts from various institutions to ide
 ate\, build\, and present impactful solutions to real-world problems.<br /
 >\n<br />\nThe hackathon focuses on fostering innovation\, entrepreneurshi
 p\, and startup development under the vision of Innovate India 2047. Parti
 cipants will submit their ideas in Stage 1 (online screening)\, and shortl
 isted teams will compete in a 24-hour offline hackathon to develop working
  prototypes and business models.<br />\n<br />\nSelected teams will receiv
 e cash prizes\, mentorship\, incubation support\, and potential seed fundi
 ng opportunities. The event serves as a launchpad for transforming innovat
 ive ideas into scalable startups.<br />\nStage 1: Idea Submission &amp\; S
 creening (Online Mode)<br />\n<br />\n1. Event Announcement &amp\; Registr
 ations Open<br />\n📅 From: 01 March 2026<br />\nParticipants from vario
 us colleges register and submit their innovative ideas through the officia
 l registration portal.<br />\n<br />\n2. Last Date for Idea Submission<br 
 />\n📅 12 March 2026<br />\nTeams must submit their problem statement\, 
 proposed solution\, innovation impact\, and basic implementation plan befo
 re the deadline.<br />\n<br />\n3. Screening &amp\; Shortlisting Process<b
 r />\n📅 13 March 2026 – 18 March 2026<br />\nAll submitted ideas will
  be evaluated by an expert panel based on:<br />\n<br />\nInnovation &amp\
 ; Creativity<br />\n<br />\nFeasibility<br />\n<br />\nTechnical Implement
 ation Plan<br />\n<br />\nScalability &amp\; Startup Potential<br />\n<br 
 />\nSocial / Industrial Impact<br />\n<br />\n4. Shortlisted Teams Announc
 ement<br />\n📅 20 March 2026<br />\nSelected teams will be invited to p
 articipate in the 24-hour offline hackathon (Stage 2).<br />\n<br />\n🔹
  Stage 2: 24-Hour Non-Stop Hackathon (Offline – KIOT Campus\, Salem)<br 
 />\n<br />\n5. Reporting &amp\; Registration Confirmation<br />\n📅 27 M
 arch 2026 – Morning<br />\nTeams complete verification and onboarding fo
 rmalities.<br />\n<br />\n6. Hackathon Inauguration &amp\; Problem Briefin
 g<br />\n📅 27 March 2026 – Forenoon<br />\nOfficial inauguration and 
 final instructions by organizers and mentors.<br />\n<br />\n7. 24-Hour De
 velopment Sprint Begins<br />\n📅 27 March 2026 (Start)<br />\nTeams beg
 in prototype development\, coding\, hardware building\, model designing\, 
 and business validation.<br />\n<br />\nMentors will provide:<br />\n<br /
 >\nTechnical Guidance<br />\n<br />\nBusiness Model Support<br />\n<br />\
 nStartup &amp\; Pitch Assistance<br />\n<br />\n8. 24-Hour Development Spr
 int Ends<br />\n📅 28 March 2026<br />\n<br />\n9. Final Demonstration &
 amp\; Jury Evaluation<br />\n📅 28 March 2026<br />\nTeams present:<br /
 >\n<br />\nWorking Prototype / Model<br />\n<br />\nTechnical Architecture
 <br />\n<br />\nBusiness Plan<br />\n<br />\nMarket Strategy<br />\n<br />
 \nImpact &amp\; Scalability<br />\n<br />\n10. Valedictory &amp\; Prize Di
 stribution<br />\n📅 28 March 2026<br />\nWinners announced.<br />\nTop 
 teams receive:<br />\n<br />\n₹25\,000 Cash Prize Pool<br />\n<br />\nMe
 ntorship<br />\n<br />\nIncubation Support<br />\n<br />\nSeed Funding Opp
 ortunities</p>
URL:https://www.knowafest.com/istart-hackathon-2026
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