Opportunity brief
Date of Event: 21st November 2026
Registration Fees: 150 per participant
Event Description:
Emporia 4.0 is an overnight startup simulation in which teams build and scale a new company through four funding stages: Seed, Angel, Series A & B, and Corporate Brand. Pitch your vision. Raise the capital. Build the brand.
Emporia 4.0 mirrors the real challenges of building and scaling a business. Each team is given a randomly assigned industry (for example Technology, Healthcare, Education, Food or Cosmetics) and must create a brand-new startup in it. Over the night, teams move through product development, marketing, sales and brand building, pitching to a jury at every stage.
It is more than a competition. It is a launchpad where emerging ideas gain exposure, meet mentors and partners, and practise securing the resources they need to make a real-world impact.
No prior business experience is needed. Plan_First provides templates, financial sheets and guides for pitching and expansion.
Rules and Regulations:
Eligibility:
Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students from any recognized institution. Teams of 2-4. Cross-college teams are allowed. Only qualifier-selected teams can attend the on-site round.
Performance Guidelines:
- Work must be started during the hackathon; pre-built projects are disqualified.
- Open-source libraries and APIs are allowed if declared.
- The final prototype must be demoed live and supported by a public code repository.
- Teams get a short pitch slot, followed by Q&A with judges.
Judging Criteria:
- Innovation (25%)
- Technical complexity and execution (25%)
- Real-world impact and feasibility (20%)
- Working prototype and demo (20%)
- Presentation and Q&A (10%).