This phase marks the official start of the hackathon, where teams will register and submit their project proposals. Over the course of two weeks, participants will outline their ideas, highlight the problems they aim to solve, and detail the technologies they plan to use. All submissions must adhere to the format specified by the organizers. This round sets the stage for the competition, offering a first look at the innovative solutions teams are set to develop.

This stage involves a thorough assessment of the ideas by a jury of experts based on their innovation, feasibility, and potential impact. The jury will shortlist a select number of submissions that demonstrate exceptional promise and align with the competition’s goals. This stage is critical as it narrows down the pool of participants to those who will proceed to the more intensive phases of the hackathon, showcasing their innovative solutions to a broader audience and working towards final implementation.

After the evaluation of all project proposals, the top 30 teams will be announced, qualifying for the offline round of the hackathon. Along with this announcement, the rulebook for the second round and all other relevant details will be released, providing teams with the guidelines and expectations for the next stage of the competition. Teams will be required to RSVP by 5th of October 2024.

The second round will be the offline execution phase at MIT, Manipal. It will be a 36-hour coding challenge where teams will code, implement, and present their solutions. Participants are required to stay on the premises for the entire duration of the round. The outcome of the challenge must be a functional working prototype.