ET AI Hackathon: Agentic Edition | Presented by Accenture
Economic Times
ET AI Hackathon: Agentic Edition | Presented by Accenture: Stages and Timelines
Phase 1: Technical Assessment
Participants will begin with an online AI-proctored MCQ assessment designed to evaluate their understanding of AI concepts and problem-solving ability. The assessment will consist of 30 questions to be attempted within a 30-minute time limit.
Phase 2: Build Sprint - Prototype Development
Shortlisted teams will enter an intensive build phase to develop an AI-powered solution. Problem statements will be revealed along with the Round 1 results, and each team must choose one challenge to work on. Teams must submit a working prototype (GitHub repository URL), pitch deck (PDF or PowerPoint), and a 2–4 minute demo video.
Phase 3: Grand Finale & Solution Showcase
The top 10 teams will compete in the National Finale, held virtually, where they will present their solutions to Accenture leaders, industry experts, and judges, compete for exciting prizes, and earn national recognition.
All that you need to know about ET AI Hackathon: Agentic Edition | Presented by Accenture
ET AI Hackathon 2026 – Agentic Edition is India’s premier AI innovation challenge for working
professionals with 3+ years of experience who are ready to build, not just experiment. Designed for engineers, developers, architects, data specialists, product leaders, and technology professionals, the hackathon invites participants to create AI-powered solutions that solve real enterprise challenges at scale. Through a multi-stage journey, participants will design and showcase intelligent AI Solutions that combine the power of Agentic AI with human judgment, creativity, and oversight. At its core, the challenge is built around one idea: the most powerful AI solutions are those that reinvent businesses while keeping humans in the lead.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Experience: 3+ years of professional experience
- Educational Background: Candidates from all educational backgrounds are eligible to participate.
- Expertise: Knowledge or hands-on experience with Agentic AI
- Technical Skills: Strong expertise in AI, data, or software engineering (AI/ML, Python, Java Full Stack, .NET Full Stack, Databricks, Snowflake, Google BigQuery, PySpark, Palantir, Graph Databases, etc.)
- Participation: Individual or in teams of 1–4 members
- Team Limit: Each participant can be part of only one team
Competition Structure:
Phase 1: Technical Assessment:
Participants will begin with an online AI-proctored MCQ assessment designed to evaluate their understanding of AI concepts and problem-solving ability. The assessment will consist of 30 questions to be attempted within a 30-minute time limit. Top-performing participants/teams will advance to the next phase.
Phase 2: Build Sprint - Prototype Development:
Shortlisted participants/teams will choose a real-world problem statement that best matches their strengths and develop an AI-powered prototype. The prototype must be submitted through the Unstop platform before the specified deadline. The top 10 teams will be shortlisted for the National Finale.
Phase 3: National Finale:
The top 10 teams will present their solutions virtually to Accenture leaders, industry experts, and judges at the National Finale. Teams will compete for prizes and national recognition.
Rules and Guidelines
- Registration is free.
- Each participant can join only one team.
- Plagiarism is grounds for disqualification.
- Submissions must be uploaded through Unstop before the deadline.
- Public GitHub repository and accessible demo links are mandatory.
- Team formation must be completed before the Phase 1 Technical Assessment
- No changes to team members will be allowed after the deadline
- Participants may use open-source tools and AI models.
- Misconduct will result in immediate disqualification.
Rewards
- Winner: ₹1,00,000 per team
- 1st Runner-up: ₹60,000 per team
- 2nd Runner-up: ₹40,000 per team
- Additional Benefit - Fast-track interview process at Accenture (for eligible candidates)*
Beyond the prize money
- Solve real-world enterprise AI challenges.
- Build practical, production-ready Agentic AI solutions.
- Showcase your innovation to technology leaders and industry experts.
- Gain national visibility through The Economic Times ecosystem.
- Unlock new career opportunities and accelerate your professional growth.
Important dates & deadlines?
-
20 Sep'26, 11:59 PM IST Registration Deadline
Rewards and Prizes?
Winner
The winning team will receive ₹1,00,000 in prize money.
1st Runner-Up
The 1st runner-up team will receive ₹60,000 in prize money.
2nd Runner-Up
The 2nd runner-up team will receive ₹40,000 in prize money.
Potential Interview Opportunities
Top-performing participants may get the opportunity to explore potential interview opportunities with Accenture.