Amazon Smbhav AI Hackathon – Cash Prizes upto ₹10L + Trip to Amazon Headquarters, Seattle

Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024 will bring together the brightest minds in tech and participants stand to win cash prizes of up to ₹10 lakh, besides a trip to the Amazon headquarters in Seattle. The application window is open until November 14.

Amazon India today announced the launch of Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024, a nationwide competition that invites innovators to contribute groundbreaking ideas and AI-powered solutions that can significantly impact the growth and success of small and medium businesses (SMBs) in e-commerce. The hackathon is part of the lead-up to Amazon Smbhav 2024, the fifth edition of the company’s flagship annual summit in India. Whether you’re a college student with a game-changing idea, a tech enthusiast working from a small town, or an entrepreneur with a first-hand understanding of local business challenges, this hackathon offers you the opportunity to drive meaningful change in the e-commerce landscape.

It invites innovators across India to contribute to the growth of India’s digital economy. Aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ the hackathon aims to harness India’s innovative spirit and drive digitisation, unlocking new growth opportunities for SMBs.

Harnessing India’s innovative spirit

Amazon has partnered with Startup India, National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, and the NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council (NIFientreC) for this hackathon. Open to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age (including students, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, service providers, working professionals, SMBs, and the broader e-commerce ecosystem), the hackathon seeks to harness India’s innovative spirit.

What the hackathon entails

Participants will tackle challenges such as leveraging social media for product listings, streamlining multi-channel fulfillment, simplifying cross-border trade, and developing sustainable solutions for e-commerce. The hackathon will progress through multiple phases, from idea submission to prototype development, culminating in a demo day before a distinguished jury panel comprising industry leaders. Throughout the journey, the participants will benefit from expert mentoring sessions to refine their ideas and prototypes. The top three teams will compete for an opportunity to visit Amazon’s Seattle headquarters and receive cash prizes worth up to ₹10 lakh. The winners will be recognised at the Amazon Smbhav 2024 Summit, taking center stage among thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and global leaders.

Important dates to note for hackathon participants

• The application window for the hackathon opens on October 14
• Last date for idea submission is November 14
• Shortlisted ideas will be announced on November 18
• Prototype submission deadline is November 24
• Virtual Demo Day will be held on December 5-6
• Winners will be announced at Amazon Smbhav 2024 on December 10

Hackathon Phases:

1. Registration & Idea Submission  (14 October – 14 November) – Register & share your ideas. It all starts with a vision!
2. Prototype Building  (18 November – 24 November) – Turn your ideas into a working prototype with expert guidance from mentors.
3. Demo Day  (05 December – 06 December) – Present your prototype to a panel of industry leaders.
4. Winner Announcement  (10 December) – Get recognized at the Amazon Smbhav Summit 2024 in New Delhi, among thousands of SMBs, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and global leaders.

Why Join?

•  Pioneer AI-powered e-commerce solutions
•  Empower millions of Indian SMBs
•  Learn from industry leaders
•  Solve real-world challenges
•  Compete for incredible prizes
•  Join the Amazon Smbhav Summit
•  Expand your professional network
•  Drive positive change
•  Sharpen your coding, problem-solving, and presentation skills