Hackathons / AWS Campus Hackathon
In association with Amazon Web Services
AI Campus Hackathon
IIT Kanpur · Techkriti 2026
Conceptualize & build AI-powered applications that address real-world problems across campus life, social impact, and sustainability.
₹1,50,000
Cash prizes
About the hackathon
Where Ideas Meet Impact
The AI Campus Hackathon is a student-focused innovation challenge conducted as part of TechKriti, IIT Kanpur's annual technical festival.
Supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), this hackathon invites students to conceptualize and build AI-powered applications that address real-world problems across campus life, social impact, and sustainability.
Participants will go through an online idea submission phase, followed by a shortlisting round, and finally an on-campus build hackathon at IIT Kanpur during TechKriti.
01
Clear problem thinking
02
Practical & feasible solutions
03
Responsible use of AI & cloud
Hackathon tracks
Choose your track
01
Campus Life Simplified with AI
Build AI-driven tools that solve real challenges faced by students, faculty, or universities, from operations to learning experiences.02
Social Impact
Create technology solutions that positively impact communities and society using AI.03
Sustainability & Green Innovation
Develop ideas that address environmental challenges, climate action, or sustainable practices.
Eligibility
Who can participate
College Students
Open to college students across IndiaIndividual or Teams
Participation can be individual or in teams (team size declared during submission)On-Campus Availability
Shortlisted teams must be available to attend the on-campus hackathon at IIT Kanpur
Structure & timeline
The journey
PHASE 1
Online Registration & Idea Submission
- Create your AWS Builder ID & claim your alias
- Join the Techkriti 2026 IIT Kanpur Space
- Read the pinned Welcome Post
- Submit your idea as a post
- Paste your post URL & complete registration
⚡ A working prototype is NOT required at this stage. Only your idea will be evaluated.
PHASE 2
Review & Shortlisting
- TechKriti team reviews all submitted ideas
- Evaluation based on clarity, feasibility & innovation
- Shortlisted teams receive official invitation for onsite round
PHASE 3
On-Campus Hackathon at IIT Kanpur
- Build your solutions in person at IIT Kanpur during TechKriti
- AWS staff present onsite to evaluate projects
- Use AWS Free Tier and supported tools during the hackathon
Evaluation
Judging criteria
30%
Problem Definition
How clearly is the problem articulated? Is the pain point well understood?40%
Technical & Resource Feasibility
Can the proposed solution realistically be built within the hackathon timeframe?30%
Novelty & Innovation
Does the idea go beyond basic implementations and demonstrate originality?
Submission
What you need
- ✓ University details and confirmation of in-person availability
- ✓ Team size and team member details
- ✓ AWS Builder ID aliases for all team members (mandatory)
- ✓ Selected hackathon track
- ✓ Idea Submission URL from the TechKriti space on AWS Builder Center
Rewards
Prizes & opportunities
₹1,50,000+
Cash prizesBuild at IIT Kanpur
Opportunity to build and showcase projects at one of India's top institutesAWS Exposure
Hands-on exposure to AWS tools, workflows, and best practices
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to submit a working product in the online round?
No. Only your project idea is required during the online submission phase.
Is AWS conducting this hackathon?
AWS is the sponsoring and supporting partner. The hackathon is conducted in collaboration with the TechKriti IIT Kanpur team.
What tools can I use during the on-campus hackathon?
Shortlisted participants are encouraged to use AWS Free Tier and supported development tools during the onsite hackathon.
Will mentorship be provided?
AWS staff will be present onsite for evaluation. Additional mentorship details will be shared with shortlisted teams.