LongTable Growth Hackathon – The First 100

Overview

Can you help build India's next IIT–IIM alumni network?

LongTable is a verified alumni networking platform bringing IIT and IIM graduates together through professional connections, communities, events, housing, marketplace opportunities and more.

We're inviting IIT and IIM students and graduates to take on a real startup growth challenge.

Unlike a traditional case competition, this isn't about creating a presentation full of theoretical strategies. It's about developing an idea, testing it in the real world and measuring what actually works.

The Challenge

How would you acquire the next 100 genuine, engaged LongTable users with minimal spending?

Your objective is to develop and execute an innovative, ethical and scalable user acquisition strategy.

You are free to experiment with approaches such as:

• Alumni community partnerships
• LinkedIn and organic social media campaigns
• Professional networking initiatives
• Community-led growth and referrals
• Content marketing and creative outreach
• Any other original, legitimate growth strategy

There is no prescribed solution. We want to discover what works.

Competition Format

• Duration: 7 days
• Mode: Online
• Team size: 1–2 members
• Participation fee: Free

Stage 1: Registration

Register individually or with a teammate through Unstop.

Eligible participants will receive the competition guidelines and a unique LongTable referral link for their team.

Stage 2: The Growth Sprint (7 Days)

• Design and execute your acquisition strategy.
• Use your assigned referral link to introduce interested IIT/IIM community members to LongTable.
• LongTable's independent referral tracking system will measure qualifying registrations, verification and in-app engagement.
• You do not need to submit screenshots as proof of user acquisition.

Stage 3: Results and Evaluation

At the end of the sprint, each team submits a short summary covering:

• Strategy used
• Channels and activities tested
• What worked and what didn't
• How the strategy could be scaled

LongTable will independently evaluate the results using its internal tracking system.

Final results will be announced after the applicable verification and retention measurement periods.

Evaluation Criteria

Teams will earn points for genuine new LongTable users who meet the published eligibility requirements.

Proposed scoring:

• Qualifying new verified user: 1 point
• Qualifying in-app conversation: 2 additional points
• Qualifying user retention: 3 additional points

Maximum: 6 points per qualifying user.

Points are awarded only when the corresponding milestones are independently confirmed by LongTable.

The objective is meaningful, sustainable growth—not artificial downloads.

Rules and Guidelines

• Participants must use their officially assigned referral links.
• Only legitimate, eligible new accounts will qualify for acquisition points.
• Fake registrations, duplicate accounts and manipulated engagement are prohibited.
• Bulk unsolicited messaging, scraping private alumni contact lists or misrepresenting institutional endorsements is prohibited.
• Participants must not offer unauthorized cash rewards or incentives for app installations.
• Paid advertising or other expenses require organizer approval.
• Participants must not impersonate LongTable employees or enter into agreements on the company's behalf.
• The organizer may review and exclude suspicious or invalid activity according to the published rules.
• Participants retain ownership of their original campaign materials unless separate usage rights are agreed.
• Winners will be determined using validated competition results, with documented review of any disputed attribution.

Rewards

• Winner: ₹2,000
• First Runner-up: ₹1,000

Total Prize Pool: ₹3,000

The strongest strategies may also be considered for future paid projects or growth collaborations with LongTable. Such opportunities are not guaranteed.

Why Participate?

• Work on a real startup growth challenge.
• Gain hands-on experience in user acquisition and growth marketing.
• Test your strategies against measurable outcomes.
• Build a practical project for your portfolio.
• Compete with talented IIT/IIM participants.
• Help shape an emerging alumni networking platform.

Bring your strategy. Execute it. Let the results speak.

Organized by LongTable, a product of Lilywilliam Craftedcode (OPC) Private Limited.