Unstop TA Hackathon

TA Hackathon is India's first hackathon created exclusively for Talent Acquisition and HR leaders. For years, TA teams have used hackathons to discover talent—this one flips the script and challenges the TA community to solve its own hiring problems.

The challenge is simple: most companies still take 40+ days to close a hire, and every TA leader knows it. We've turned that challenge into one focused case study. Your task is to rethink hiring faster and smarter—and present your solution in a 3-minute video.

The top six teams will pitch their solutions live at TechHR India on 6th August before a jury and fellow HR leaders. Two winners will take the stage—one selected by the jury and one chosen by the audience.

Quick Facts

• What: India's first TA Hackathon for HR and Talent Acquisition professionals
• Organized by: Unstop and People Matters
• Who can enter: Working professionals across India in Talent Acquisition, HR, and people roles - solo or in teams of up to 3
• Prize pool: ₹1,50,000 (₹1,00,000 Jury Winner + ₹50,000 Audience Winner)
• Submission deadline: 3rd August, 11:00 AM IST
• Grand Finale: 6th August, live at TechHR India 2026, Delhi
• Format: 3-minute video submission; top 6 teams pitch live on stage

TA Hackathon 2026 Eligibility: Who Can Apply

TA leaders, recruiters, HRBPs, HR-tech professionals, people analytics experts—and anyone who's looked at a hiring process and thought, "There's a better way." Working professionals across India in Talent Acquisition, HR, and people roles are eligible to participate.

• Team size: Solo participation or teams of up to 3
• Independent recruiters and professionals between roles: Welcome
• Location: Open to working professionals across India

TA Hackathon Prize Money: ₹1.5 Lakh Cash Rewards & Certificates

• Earn a title no one else can claim - winner of India's first TA Hackathon
• Pitch your solution live at TechHR India before CHROs and industry leaders
• Win ₹1,50,000 in cash prizes, along with a winner's trophy
• Complimentary TechHR passes for all shortlisted teams
• Get featured by Unstop and People Matters

Evaluation Criteria

• Problem Framing — Did you identify the real hiring bottlenecks and their root causes?
• Solution & Feasibility — Is your solution practical within a real team's budget and constraints?
• Innovation & Differentiation — Does your idea bring a fresh perspective beyond the obvious?
• Impact & Storytelling — Can you back your solution with measurable impact and present it memorably?

Rules & Guidelines

• Submit a video in MP4 format, up to 3 minutes long.
• We evaluate the idea, not the production quality - a phone recording is absolutely fine. Focus on the strength of your solution.
• Shortlisted teams must attend TechHR India on 6th August to pitch live (complimentary passes will be provided).
• By participating, you agree that your videos and photos may be used by Unstop and People Matters for event coverage and winner promotions during and after the event.

TA Hackathon Stages, Dates & Submission Process

Stage 1 — Online Submission

• Register and build your team.
• Unlock the case study.
• Record and submit a 3-minute video presentation by Monday, 3rd August, 11:00 AM IST.
• The top 4 teams qualify directly for the Grand Finale.
• Shortlisted teams receive complimentary passes to People Matters TechHR India.
• Results will be announced on Monday, 3rd August, by 5:00 PM IST.

Stage 2 — Grand Finale: The Live Pitch

Six teams compete on stage:

• 4 teams shortlisted through the online submission round
• 2 wildcard teams shortlisted on-site at TechHR India

Each team gets a 5-minute live presentation followed by a jury Q&A. The audience votes live on Unstop alongside the jury's evaluation. Two winners are announced—a Jury Winner and an Audience Winner.

Prizes

• Jury Winner — ₹1,00,000 per team, a winner's trophy from Unstop, and on-stage felicitation. (T&Cs apply.)
• Audience Winner — ₹50,000 per team, a winner's trophy from Unstop, and on-stage felicitation. (T&Cs apply.)
• All Finalists (6 Teams) — Certificate of Recognition from Unstop and People Matters.
• All Participants — Participation Certificate from Unstop and People Matters.