Opportunity brief
HACK IN HILLS '26 | MANALI ️
Not a Marathon. A Mountain Sprint.
Hosted by Builder Base × Nexido × Web3 India
UPDATE: REGISTRATIONS EXTENDED + TINYFISH BUILDER CHALLENGE INTRODUCED
More time to build. A new challenge to explore.
Hack in Hills '26 registrations and Idea & PPT submissions have been extended by 5 days, until 15 October 2026, 11:59 PM IST.
We're also introducing the TinyFish Builder Challenge, an opportunity for builders to explore AI agents, live-web automation and real-world applications using TinyFish.
TinyFish Builder Challenge Form: https://forms.gle/TCW5jukdGB6bnRm19
About Hack in Hills '26
Hack in Hills '26 is a 24+ hour offline hackathon in Manali, bringing together developers, designers, AI builders, Web3 developers, creators and innovators to build solutions to real-world problems.
The journey starts online with ideas, moves into prototype development and public pitching, and concludes with the Grand Finale in the Himalayas.
What to Expect
- Free registration - Team size: 1–3 members - Top 500 teams shortlisted after Round 1 - Top 40 finalist builders invited to Manali - 24+ hours of offline building - Mentors, speakers, judges and ecosystem networking - ₹50,000 cash bounty pool - AI, Web3, software development and emerging technology -
TinyFish Builder Challenge
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Grand Finale: 20–21 November 2026, Manali
NEW: TinyFish Builder Challenge
What if your AI could go beyond answering questions and actually get work done on the web?
The TinyFish Builder Challenge invites participants to explore web-connected AI agents and build useful automations, research tools and applications using TinyFish.
Participants can explore TinyFish independently or use it within their Hack in Hills projects.
How to Participate
Step 1: Get Started with TinyFish
Visit https://tinyfish.hackinhills.com and create your TinyFish account.
New accounts can access $8 in starting TinyFish credits, subject to TinyFish's terms and eligibility.
Step 2: Connect and Run TinyFish
Connect TinyFish with a supported AI assistant or development environment, such as ChatGPT or Claude, and complete your first successful TinyFish run.
Step 3: Complete the Community Tasks
Follow TinyFish on X: https://x.com/Tiny_Fish
Follow Hack in Hills on X: https://x.com/HackInHills
Share your TinyFish onboarding or builder experience on X using the campaign instructions provided in the form.
Step 4: Submit the Challenge Form
Complete the required onboarding and social tasks and submit your details and requested proof.
Official Form: https://forms.gle/TCW5jukdGB6bnRm19
Build With TinyFish
Builders are encouraged to explore practical applications such as:
- AI agents that interact with websites - Automated research and information gathering - Intelligent browsing and workflow automation - Web-connected assistants - AI-powered productivity and developer tools - Real-world automation applications
The TinyFish Builder Challenge is an additional opportunity. Participation is optional and does not replace the main Hack in Hills Unstop registration or project-submission requirements.
Hackathon Stages & Timeline
Round 1: Idea & PPT Submission
10 September – 15 October 2026
Mode: Online
Submit your hackathon idea using the official PPT template.
Your submission should cover:
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Problem Statement
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Proposed Solution
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Innovation & Uniqueness
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Target Users & Use Case
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Technical Architecture / Tech Stack
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Expected Impact
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Implementation Roadmap
Participants interested in TinyFish may also describe how they plan to use AI agents or web automation in their solution.
Deadline: 15 October 2026, 11:59 PM IST
The Top 500 teams will advance to Round 2.
Round 1 Shortlisting
16–17 October 2026
Submitted ideas will be evaluated on relevance, innovation, feasibility, expected impact and implementation approach.
Shortlisted teams will receive instructions for the next stage.
Round 2A: Prototype Development
18–24 October 2026
Mode: Online
The Top 500 shortlisted teams will develop a functional prototype based on their selected problem statement.
Teams should:
- Build a functional prototype or MVP - Demonstrate the core solution - Maintain a GitHub repository - Show technical feasibility and usability - Prepare a short demo video
Teams participating in the TinyFish Builder Challenge are encouraged to demonstrate a functional TinyFish-powered use case where relevant.
Round 2B: Social Pitch & Outreach
24–27 October 2026
Mode: Online
Shortlisted teams must complete the following:
1. LinkedIn Pitch
Publish a LinkedIn post presenting your project idea, proposed solution, and what makes it unique.
Tag Eren, Builder Base, Nexido and Web3 India.
2. Instagram Reel
Create a short Instagram Reel explaining why your team wants to participate in Hack in Hills '26, what you are building and what makes your project interesting.
Tag Eren.dev, Builder Base, Nexido and Web3 India.
3. Prototype Demo + GitHub
Submit a short demo video showcasing your working prototype and your GitHub repository link.
All required submission links must be provided through the designated Round 2 submission form.
Final submission deadline: 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Final Evaluation & Finalists Announcement
Evaluation: 28–29 October 2026
Projects will be assessed on innovation, problem-solution fit, functional implementation, technical execution, impact, usability and presentation.
Finalists Announced: 30 October 2026
The Top 40 builders will be selected for the Grand Finale in Manali.
Round 3: Grand Finale
20–21 November 2026
Location: Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Format: 24+ Hours | Offline
Finalist teams will build, refine and present their projects in front of mentors and judges while competing for the ₹50,000 cash bounty pool.
Problem Statements
Explore the official Hack in Hills '26 Problem Statements:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L9XKOlZ2y7Icbgwl7zhjNb-v8NOng8eddmJ1hfDTpb8/edit
Teams should carefully review the available tracks and problem requirements before preparing submissions.
Important Links
Official Website: https://hackinhills.com
TinyFish Onboarding: https://tinyfish.hackinhills.com
TinyFish Builder Challenge Form: https://forms.gle/TCW5jukdGB6bnRm19
HIH Participants WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H1T0MGDhYV9CRyNWBagSAz
Ready to Build?
Five extra days. One more reason to start building.
Take your idea from PPT → Prototype → Pitch → Mountain Finale.