Hack-e-Awadh is a one-day, in-person community hackathon bringing together developers, students and working professionals from Lucknow and across Uttar Pradesh to build practical, meaningful solutions to real-world problems.
Organized by Lucknow AI Labs, the event is designed around focused building, collaboration, rapid prototyping and same-day demos. Teams will receive the challenge tracks at the kickoff and will then have the day to turn their ideas into working projects.
📅 Event Details
- Date: 26 September 2026
- Location: Lucknow, India
- Format: 1-day, in-person hackathon
- Organizer: Lucknow AI Labs
- Team Size: 1–3 members
- Expected Teams: 15–20
🚀 What to Expect
Hack-e-Awadh is built around a simple format:
Arrive → Discover the challenge → Build → Demo → Get judged
Teams will not receive the competition problem statements before the event. The tracks will be revealed during the kickoff, giving everyone the same starting point.
There is no pre-event coding on the competition challenges. Once the tracks are revealed, teams will have the full build window to design, develop, test and present their solutions.
👥 Who Can Participate?
Hack-e-Awadh is primarily intended for:
- Students from Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh
- Developers and software engineers
- AI/ML enthusiasts
- Working professionals
- Open-source contributors
- Builders interested in creating practical products
Eligibility: 18+
Participants will be selected through an application-based, invite-style process. Applications will be reviewed based on previous projects, technical depth, public profiles and demonstrated ability to build.
🏆 Judging & Submissions
Teams will build and submit their projects on the same day.
Required Submission
- Working live demo
- Project presentation/video demonstration
- Public code repository
Projects will be evaluated on factors such as:
- Innovation and real-world impact
- Functionality and technical execution
- Technical depth
- Quality of the final demonstration and presentation
The top teams will advance to the final judging round, followed by live demos and the announcement of winners on the same day.
💰 Prize
That will be Disclosed Very Soon.
📍 Why Hack-e-Awadh?
Hack-e-Awadh is intended to create a focused environment where people can move beyond tutorials and ideas and actually ship something useful in a single day.
The goal is to give students and developers a clear path from problem → idea → working product → live demo, while connecting them with other builders and experienced engineers from the local ecosystem.
Come with an idea. Come without one. Either way, leave with something built.
Updates
🚨 Important Announcement
Submit your ideas ASAP. The Idea Submission Round will close sharply at 8:00 PM today.
Make sure to submit your idea before the deadline. No submissions will be accepted after 8:00 PM.
Problem statements are live! 🚨
Choose your challenge and submit your Presentations. 💙
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Comments
FAQs
Who do I contact with questions?
Reach out through the Commudle event page. https://www.commudle.com/communities/upai-labs/hackathons/hack-e-awadh/channels/join/f6d1b32f-1e9e-4c4d-85ae-1d84c573981c
Will my personal details be shared with companies?
Only with your consent.
Can companies use our code?
Companies may adopt code from their problem statements. If they do, they will credit the team publicly.
Who owns the code we build?
Your team does. All projects are open source under the MIT licence, with authorship retained by the team.
Does the mentor of the winning team get recognised?
Yes. The mentor of the winning team is awarded alongside the team.
What are the prizes?
Prize details to be announced. All participants receive certificates.
How are projects judged?
- Technical depth: 30% - Innovation and impact: 30% - Functionality: 20% - Presentation and demo: 20% The top three teams advance to final demos, and winners are announced the same evening.
Does every team member need to present?
Yes. Each participant presents the part of the build they personally worked on.
What do we need to submit?
A live demo, a public code repository, and a short writeup covering the problem, approach and implementation.
Can we use AI tools and open-source libraries?
Yes. AI coding tools, APIs, frameworks and open-source libraries are allowed. Plagiarised or pre-built projects will be disqualified.
Can we write code before the event?
No. Your idea can be ready, but all code must be written on the day, in a public repository created at the hackathon.
How are mentors assigned?
At kickoff, so that every team receives equal support.
Do mentors judge the teams?
No. The judging panel is completely separate from the mentors.
Who are the hackathon mentors?
Working engineers who join teams for the day. They help with architecture, setup and code and build alongside you.
Do we have to stay for the full day?
Yes. Teams must be present in person from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, including judging.
Is travel or accommodation provided for outstation participants?
No, participants arrange their own travel and stay.
Is food provided?
Yes. Refreshments and a meal will be provided through the day.
What should we bring?
Your laptops, chargers, and any hardware your project needs. Wi-Fi and power points will be provided, and lots of Energy.
Are new problem statements added later?
Some partner problem statements may be revealed at kickoff on the day.
What are company problem statements?
Real problems shared by partner companies. Teams that solve them well may receive opportunities offered directly by those companies, even if they do not win the hackathon. Details are listed with each problem statement.
Can we change our problem statement on the day?
You may refine your approach on the day, but you must stay with the problem statement you were shortlisted for.
Can we bring our own problem instead of a listed one?
No, teams must choose from the listed problem statements. / Yes, teams may propose their own problem within a track.
How many problem statements are there?
Each of the five domain tracks has 2 problem statements. The Open Track contains all problem statements contributed by partner companies.
What are the tracks?
Agriculture, HealthTech, EduTech, Startup Support, Social Impact and Prevention, and an Open Track.
Can we edit our submission after submitting?
Yes, until the deadline. / No, submit carefully.
What are submissions evaluated on?
Problem understanding, feasibility within one day, the team's past building track record, and potential impact.
How will I know if my team is shortlisted?
Shortlisted teams will be notified through Commudle and email on 25 September.
What are the key dates?
Idea submissions close: 24 September 2026, 11:59 PM Shortlist announced: 25 September 2026 Hackathon day: 26 September 2026
How does selection work?
Entry is through an idea submission round, which is an elimination round. Each team picks one problem statement and submits its approach, along with past work and public profiles such as GitHub or portfolios. Only shortlisted teams are invited to the hackathon day.
Can I be part of more than one team?
No. Each participant can be on only one team.
Can team members be from different colleges or cities?
Yes.
Can I participate solo?
No, all participants must be part of a team. / Yes, solo participants may be matched into teams.
What is the team size?
[3 / up to 4] members per team.
Who can participate?
Students, developers and working professionals aged 18 and above. Participants from any city are welcome.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no participation fee.
When and where is it?
Saturday, 26 September 2026, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, in Lucknow. The exact venue will be shared with shortlisted teams.
What is Hack-e-Awadh?
A one-day, in-person hackathon in Lucknow, co-hosted by AI Community Lucknow and Lucknow AI Labs. Teams build a working product in a single day, supported by working engineers as hackathon mentors.
