Empowering Student Builders Through Algorand-Powered Hackathons
The Algorand Hackathon Sponsorship Program is designed to enable Web3 communities, colleges, developers and builders across India to host high-quality, inclusive hackathons with an Algorand-focused blockchain track. Through this initiative, the AlgoBharat team is excited to support community-led innovation through sponsorship, mentorship access, learning resources, and ecosystem visibility—helping transform curiosity into real-world building.
Our vision is to grow a strong, grassroots developer ecosystem by encouraging hands-on learning, open innovation, and collaboration. We are looking to support hackathons that prioritize student and developer readiness, learning outcomes, and meaningful participation—whether you’re an established community or a motivated institution taking its first step into blockchain education.
Hackathon Sponsorship Framework
Sponsorship Overview
This framework is designed to support student/community-led hackathons that foster open innovation, collaborative learning, and creative problem-solving. Our goal is to empower institutions and communities to host inclusive events that welcome participants from all backgrounds and skill levels. While we encourage exploring the potential of the Algorand blockchain, the primary focus is on the educational experience of the students.
Sponsorship Tiers
| Tier | Sponsorship Amount | Event Scale | Key Focus |
| Tier A | $1000 + Swag (ie, $700 hackathon prize pool + $300 operational support) | 75+ participants | A larger-scale event with multiple tracks, including a dedicated Algorand track. |
| Tier B | $500 + Swag (ie, $300 hackathon prize pool + $200 operational support) | 50+ participants | A medium-scale or first-time hackathon focused on learning and community building. |
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for sponsorship, an institution or a Web3 community should demonstrate a commitment to creating an inclusive and well-organized event and a demonstrated student interest in gaining blockchain developer skills.
2.1 Eligibility
- The host must be a recognized student club at a college or university or a Web3/developer community.
- Having an active Algorand Blockchain Club (ABC) is encouraged but not mandatory. Clubs new to the ecosystem are welcome to apply: https://algobharat.in/join-us-university/.
2.2 Developer Interest
- To qualify for Tier A level sponsorship, the host must demonstrate that at least 50 students/developers from their university/community have completed and passed the assessments up to at least Module 3 in the Algorand Blockchain Developer Training Course on NASSCOM in the current year.
- To qualify for Tier B level sponsorship, the host must demonstrate that at least 50 students/developers from their university/community have enrolled in the Algorand Blockchain Developer Training Course on NASSCOM in the current year.
2.3 Hackathon Readiness
- The host should submit a clear event plan, including a proposed date, venue, budget, and marketing strategy.
- The hackathon must be open to all students/developers, regardless of their field of study or technical experience.
- The event must include at least one competition track. While an Algorand-based track is required for full sponsorship benefits, other tracks focused on broader themes like social impact, health tech, or open innovation are also encouraged.
Hackathon Structure & Requirements
Pre-Hackathon Recommendations
A. Educational Workshops
To prepare students and developers, especially first-timers, we recommend hosting workshops before the hackathon. These can be virtual or in-person.
Recommended Content:
- Introduction to Hackathons & Open Innovation
- Team Building and Ideation Session
- Optional: Introduction to Algorand fundamentals and tooling for participants interested in the blockchain track.
B. Problem Statements & Themes
To foster creativity, we encourage a mix of defined challenges and open-ended themes. Institutions and Web3 communities are encouraged to design their own tracks and problem statements.
- Open Innovation: Allow teams to come up with their own ideas and solutions that align with broad themes (e.g., Sustainability, Financial Inclusion, Education).
- Algorand Track: Problem statements can be sourced from Algorand ecosystem partners or designed by the club to focus on real-world utility using the Algorand protocol.
C. Hackathon Execution
- Format: A 24–48 hour event is typical.
- Participation: Encourage a mix of solo participants and teams to foster collaboration.
- Mentorship: Provide a diverse group of mentors, if available, with technical and business expertise to guide teams throughout the event.
Judging Guidance
A transparent judging process is critical. Judges will be briefed to provide constructive feedback and evaluate teams based strictly on below-mentioned criterias:
| Core Judging Criteria | Description |
| Innovation & Creativity | How original and creative is the solution? Does it address the problem in a novel way? |
| Technical Merit & Implementation | How well was the project executed? For the Algorand track, this includes the effective use of the protocol. |
| Potential for Impact | How does the project address a real-world need? Is the solution feasible and scalable? |
| Learning & Collaboration | How much did the team learn and grow? How effectively did they work together? |
| Presentation | How clearly and persuasively did the team present their project and its value? |
Post-Hackathon Recommendations
After the event, the focus should be on celebrating the participants' work and continuing the learning journey. Participants should showcase their work through the following channels:
- GitHub Repositories: Encourage all teams to push their code to a public GitHub repository to build their portfolio.
- Electric Capital: Though not required, inform participants that registering their repository on platforms like Electric Capital is a recommended best practice to gain visibility in the developer community.
- Project Gallery: Create a simple webpage or document to showcase all submitted projects, not just the winners.
- Social Media: Encourage participants to post about their experience and the problem they aimed to solve with their solution.
Apply Now for Hackathon Sponsorship
Submit your application below to help us understand your hackathon plan, your student community’s readiness, and how Algorand can help support in your event. Our team will review applications on a rolling basis and reach out to organizers for next steps.
This form is for student clubs, Web3 communities and institutions applying for Algorand Foundation sponsorship to host a hack competition. Please ensure all information is accurate. The sponsorship program is intended to support student- and other locally-led organizations and communities committed to building blockchain knowledge, skills and community among developers in their regions. We are beginning to see in India, and across the globe, the power of distributed ledger technology to solve the problem of trust that often limits full economic participation and inclusion.
We hope this program helps build greater awareness and a stronger community of Web3 developers who build solutions that create impact, foster innovation, and lead to a culture of open source collaboration.
Applications will be reviewed for eligibility, readiness, and alignment with the objectives of this program.