Ideathon 6.0

Overview:

• Ideathon 6.0 is a Business Plan Competition organized by the Faculty of Commerce & Management, Kalinga University.
• Event Dates: 23–24 November 2026.
• The competition aims to nurture creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills among early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Participants can develop business ideas, present them before a panel, and compete for cash prizes and certificates.
• The competition is open to school, college, and university students from across the globe.

Eligibility:

• Category A – School Students: Classes IX–XII.
• Category B – College/University Students: Undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and research scholars.
• International participation is allowed.
• Maximum team size: 5 members.
• Maximum presentation time: 15 minutes per team.

Competition Themes:

• AI, DeepTech and Emerging Technologies.
• AI for MSMEs and Digital Business Transformation.
• Climate-Tech, Green Energy and Net Zero Solutions.
• Circular Economy, Waste-to-Wealth and Sustainable Consumption.
• Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Innovation.
• HealthTech, Preventive Healthcare and Mental Wellness.
• Cybersecurity, Digital Trust and Online Safety.
• Smart Mobility, Traffic Management and Smart Cities.
• FinTech, Digital Finance and Financial Inclusion.
• E-Governance, E-Commerce and Digital Marketing.
• Future Education, EdTech and Gamified Learning.
• SpaceTech, DroneTech and Disaster Management.
• Social Innovation, Swachh Bharat and Community Development.
• Water Conservation, Sanitation and Sustainable Living.
• Women Safety, Accessibility and Inclusive Design.
• Tourism, Hospitality, Culture and Creative Economy.
• Advanced Manufacturing, Production and Industry 5.0.
• Fitness, SportsTech and Active Lifestyle.
• Blockchain, IoT and Smart Infrastructure.
• Vision India@2047: Innovations for a Developed India.
• Open Innovation: Any Other Creative, Social or Business Idea.

Competition Structure:

• Round 1 – Business Plan Submission.
• Round 2 – Final Presentation.

Round 1 – Registration Fee:

• Indian Team: ₹200.
• International Team: USD 5.
• Teams must pay the applicable registration fee and submit their Business Plan in PDF format.
• Maximum Business Plan length: 50 pages.
• Business Plans must be submitted to ideathon@kalingauniversity.ac.in.
• A panel will screen the submitted business ideas.
• Selected teams will advance to Round 2.

Round 2 – Registration Fee:

• Indian Team: ₹1,500.
• International Team: USD 15.
• Shortlisted teams must enrol for Round 2 and present their detailed business plans before a panel of judges.

Presentation Mode:

• Hybrid – Online/Offline.
• Selected teams may present their business plans physically or virtually.
• Final Presentation Dates: 23–24 November 2026.

Business Plan Format:

• Participants may use their own template or follow the suggested business plan template.
• Executive Summary.
• Industry Overview.
• Market Analysis & Competition.
• Sales & Marketing Plan.
• Management Plan.
• Operating Plan.
• Financial Plan.
• Appendices & Exhibits – Optional.

Executive Summary Requirements:

• Company introduction.
• Mission and vision.
• Product/service offering.
• Target market and demographics.
• Competition and market opportunity.
• Operational plan.
• Technology adoption.
• IPR considerations.

Industry Overview Requirements:

• Current industry scenario.
• Industry position.
• Existing competitors and major players.
• Industry revenues and trends.
• Government influences.
• Target market and geography.
• Market size.
• Estimated sales volume.
• Competition strategy.
• SWOT analysis.

Market Analysis & Competition Requirements:

• Product/service offering.
• Unique Selling Proposition.
• Advertising platforms.
• Pricing strategy.
• Distribution and shipping.
• Key bottlenecks and solutions.

Management Plan Requirements:

• Organisational structure.
• Ownership details.
• Key executives and roles.
• Remuneration.
• Internal/external professionals.
• Advisory board.
• HR policy highlights.

Operating Plan Requirements:

• Business location.
• Office/warehouse requirements.
• Labour requirements.
• Manufacturing process.
• Equipment and machinery.
• Raw materials and suppliers.

Financial Plan Requirements:

• Projected income statement.
• Projected cash flow.
• Balance sheet projections.
• Venture capital/fundraising.
• Loans/debt and sources.

Appendices & Exhibits:

• Machinery/lease quotations.
• Office/warehouse plan.
• Market research.
• Target-market information.
• Owner credit information.
• Product/service list.
• Sources and uses of funds.

Important Dates:

• Round 1 Registration Opens: 1 August 2026.
• Round 1 Registration Closes: 17 September 2026.
• Shortlisted Teams Announced: 19 September 2026.
• Round 2 Registration Opens: 21 September 2026.
• Round 2 Registration Closes: 7 November 2026.
• Final Business Plan Presentation: 23–24 November 2026.

Prizes:

• Winning Team: ₹25,000.
• First Runner-up: ₹15,000.
• Second Runner-up: ₹10,000.
• 2 Business Plans with Potential: ₹5,000 each.
• Total Prize Pool: ₹1,20,000 worth of prizes.
• The panel will select the best business plan teams from Category A – School and Category B – College/University.

Why Participate:

• Present your business idea.
• Showcase your entrepreneurial thinking.
• Compete for ₹1.20 lakh worth of prizes.
• Participate in a global competition.
• Receive certification.
• Present your business plan before a panel of judges.
• Engage with an ecosystem focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable startups.

Terms & Conditions:

• Teams must achieve a minimum score of 50% to be eligible for the reward.
• Maximum team size is 5 members.
• Maximum presentation time is 15 minutes per team.
• Round 1 requires submission of the Business Plan in PDF format.
• Selected teams must enrol for Round 2.
• Final presentations may be conducted online or offline.

Organiser:

• Faculty of Commerce & Management, Kalinga University.
• Kalinga University is located in Smart City of New Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• The brochure states that the university has been ranked in the NIRF 2025 101–150 band for the fourth consecutive year and has NAAC B+ accreditation.

Contact:

• Dr. Satvik Jain, Assistant Professor: +91-8800328488.
• Dr. Divya Nandini Sharma, Assistant Professor: +91-6261763882.
• Ms. Angel Mary Xess, Assistant Professor: +91-7024116975.
• Mr. Abhishek Jaiswar, Assistant Professor: +91-8303561035.
• Email: ideathon@kalingauniversity.ac.in.