Catalyst Hack 2026
Catalyst Hack 2026 is a fully online technology and innovation hackathon organised by Catalyst Crew Dev Community, in collaboration with Posterwa and AWS SBG PSIT. The hackathon brings together student developers, innovators, designers, and technology enthusiasts to transform meaningful ideas into practical, scalable, and impactful solutions for real-world problems.
Winner: ₹12K • Runner-Up: ₹8K + E-Certificates
Mandatory: Announcements, screening links & PPT portal are shared via WhatsApp.
Official Communication Channel: All registered participants must join the WhatsApp group for deadlines, screening links, and instructions.
Ideate. Build. Impact.
Catalyst Hack 2026 is a fully online technology and innovation hackathon organised by Catalyst Crew Dev Community, in collaboration with Posterwa and AWS SBG PSIT. The hackathon brings together student developers, innovators, designers, and technology enthusiasts to transform meaningful ideas into practical, scalable, and impactful solutions for real-world problems.
Teams progress through an online PPT and idea screening round, a mentor-screening semi-final (₹50/member fee for shortlisted teams only), and a 10-hour final hackathon sprint. Shortlisted teams present their ideas, explain technical feasibility, and build working prototypes for final evaluation. Participants must follow the event rules, submit required deliverables on time, and maintain originality and professional conduct throughout the competition.
10 Innovation Themes
Teams can select any of the 10 official themes below for their Round 1 PPT and final build prototype.
AI for Humanity
Deploy machine learning and AI algorithms to tackle critical human, health, and accessibility challenges.
ClimateTech & Sustainability
Build software solutions for renewable energy optimization, carbon tracking, waste reduction, and ecology.
Future of Education
Pioneer adaptive learning systems, interactive student tools, and inclusive open education platforms.
FinTech & Financial Inclusion
Democratize modern financial services, fraud detection, automated accounting, and secure micro-transactions.
Cybersecurity & Digital Trust
Fortify user privacy, zero-trust systems, data sovereignty, and proactive threat detection engines.
Smart Cities & CivicTech
Engineer civic infrastructure tools, smart traffic coordination, municipal utility tech, and public transparency apps.
AgriTech & Rural Innovation
Empower farmers and rural economies with smart yield forecasting, precision irrigation, and supply chain tracking.
AI Agents & Autonomous Systems
Create autonomous multi-agent swarms, self-correcting workflows, and specialized robotic or desktop assistants.
Blockchain for Real-World Impact
Leverage tamper-proof distributed ledgers, verifiable credentials, and decentralized coordination protocols.
Open Innovation
Have a unique disruptive breakthrough that crosses boundaries? Build any high-impact solution you envision.
The 3-Round Journey
Round 1: Online PPT & Idea Submission
Teams submit a concise 7-slide presentation covering problem understanding, target users, proposed solution, innovation, technology stack, impact, feasibility, and prototype roadmap.
Round 2: Semi-Final (Mentor Screening)
Shortlisted teams participate in an online mentor screening involving a solution pitch, technical discussion, feasibility, scalability, and execution-readiness assessment. Fee payable only after Round 1 shortlisting.
Round 3: Final Hackathon (10-Hour Sprint)
Selected finalist teams participate in a 10-hour online build sprint and submit a working prototype, public repository, documentation, and live final presentation to the judging panel.
7-Slide PPT Submission Guide
To ensure equitable and comprehensive screening in Round 1, all teams must structure their idea presentation strictly according to these 7 slides before the 20 October 2026 deadline.
Title & Team Introduction
Event name, project title, team name, member names, roles, college/branch details, and contact info.
Problem Statement & Target Users
Clear articulation of the real-world pain point, affected user demographic, and why existing solutions fall short.
Proposed Solution
High-level overview of your solution, core value proposition, and how it directly solves the problem.
Key Features & Innovation
Breakdown of 3-5 primary features, novelty, unique angle, and competitive differentiation.
Technology Stack & Architecture
Frontend, backend, database, AI/ML models, external APIs, and system architecture diagram.
Impact, Feasibility & Scalability
Practical utility, measurable positive impact, technical execution feasibility, and roadmap to scale.
Prototype, Future Roadmap & Conclusion
Working demo/mockup screenshots, what will be built in the 8h final sprint, future vision, and conclusion.
Event Timeline & Key Deadlines
Registration Opens
Official registrations open. Form teams of 4–5 members and join the official WhatsApp community group.
Registration & Round 1 PPT Deadline
Final deadline for registration and submission of the 7-slide Round 1 Idea & Architecture presentation.
Round 2: Semi-Final (Online Mentor Screening)
Shortlisted teams present solutions to mentors for feasibility, scalability, and execution review. Mandatory Fee: ₹50 per member, payable only after Round 1 shortlisting.
Round 3: Final Hackathon (10-Hour Sprint & Demos)
Selected finalists participate in an intensive 10-hour live online build sprint, code submission, and final jury pitch.
Prizes & Recognition
Up to ₹20,000 Total Cash PoolCash prize, Official Winner E-Certificate of Catalyst Hack 2026.
Cash prize, Runner-Up E-Certificate of Catalyst Hack 2026.
Official Participation E-Certificates. All prizes and certificates will be released within 15 days after the event.
Official Hackathon Rules
- Each team must consist of 4 to 5 members.
- Team members may belong to different branches, academic years, or colleges (cross-college teams are fully permitted).
- No team member changes are allowed after registration without explicit prior organizer approval.
- Participants must provide accurate registration and contact information.
- All required work and submissions (PPT, code repositories, prototypes) must be completed within the specified deadlines.
- Plagiarism, code copying, or reuse of existing solutions without proper disclosure is strictly prohibited and leads to immediate disqualification.
- AI tools, modern frameworks, APIs, and open-source libraries are permitted subject to published community policy and full disclosure.
- Participants must maintain professional conduct and collaborative spirit throughout the event.
- Any violation of rules or ethical standards will result in immediate disqualification.
Elimination & Disqualification Policy
Teams will face immediate disqualification from Catalyst Hack 2026 under any of the following circumstances:
- Failure to submit deliverables (PPT, prototype, repo) within the specified deadlines.
- Found guilty of plagiarism, unfair practices, or unauthorized reuse of existing code/solutions without disclosure.
- Violation of event rules, code of conduct, or displaying unprofessional behavior.
- Missing mandatory online presentations, mentor screening rounds, or final demonstrations.
- Providing false, inaccurate, or misleading registration/team information.
Catalyst Crew Dev Community
Catalyst Crew Dev Community is the organising developer community behind Catalyst Hack 2026. The community focuses on bringing student developers, innovators, and technology enthusiasts together through collaborative learning, technical activities, community initiatives, and innovation-driven events. Organised in collaboration with Posterwa and AWS SBG PSIT.
Supported By
Contact the Organisers
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for Catalyst Hack 2026?
Register through the official Unstop portal. All registered participants must also join the official WhatsApp group for announcements, screening links, deadlines, and PPT submission portals.
What is the team size requirement?
Each team must have 4 to 5 members. Cross-college, cross-branch and cross-year teams are completely allowed.
Is there any fee to participate?
Registration and Round 1 (PPT submission) is completely FREE. Teams shortlisted for Round 2 (Semi-Final) pay a nominal fee of ₹50 per member.
No team? How can I find teammates?
Fill the team formation form at formstuff.in/f/catalyst-hack-2026-p092v and find teammates based on your skills, interests & ideas.
Is the hackathon completely online?
Yes! Catalyst Hack 2026 is 100% online. All rounds including PPT submission, mentor screening, and the 10-hour final hackathon build sprint take place online.
Can I use AI tools and open-source libraries?
Yes, AI tools, development frameworks, APIs, and open-source resources are permitted. However, usage must follow the event's applicable policies and required disclosure. Teams must demonstrate genuine understanding and contribution.
Judging Criteria
100% TotalUniqueness of idea, creative problem-solving approach, and distinctive technological differentiation.
Depth of the proposed solution, UX considerations, robustness, and architectural completeness.
Clear grasp of the user pain point, market context, relevance, and authenticity of the challenge.
Viability of the chosen tech stack, architecture soundness, and realistic execution capability.
Measurable real-world benefits to end-users, societal or industrial value, and practical utility.
Potential of the solution to grow, handle higher loads, and transition into a viable production product.
Structure, articulation, visual quality of slides, demo delivery, and effective Q&A defense.
Mentors & Evaluation Jury
Ready to compete in Catalyst Hack 2026?
Join the official WhatsApp group to register your team, submit your 7-slide PPT, and receive all live updates.