StudAI Foundry Season 2
StudAI Foundry is a structured AI innovation and hackathon platform where builders move from a meaningful real-world problem to a validated solution blueprint, working prototype and physical final.
Season 2 challenges participants to build intelligent solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through a guided three-lock journey, AI-supported evaluation and human verification.
Season 2 currently lists Chennai on 28 August 2026 and Coimbatore in the first week of September 2026, with ₹1,00,000 allocated to each edition.
What is StudAI Foundry?
Most hackathons begin with an idea and end with a presentation. StudAI Foundry is designed differently. Participants must understand a genuine problem, connect it to an appropriate SDG, design a responsible AI solution, develop a working prototype and prove that the solution can create measurable value.
Every stage strengthens the project before teams reach the physical finals.
A progression from a real problem to an evaluated blueprint, working prototype and physical final — not merely a pitch competition.
Built on the proof of Season 1
StudAI Foundry Season 1 demonstrated that students are ready to move beyond classroom exercises and build practical AI solutions.
700+
participants
100+
colleges
Season 1 showed that participants do not only need competition. They need:
Season 2 expands that model through two equal editions and a stronger connection to the wider StudAI One ecosystem.
The Season 2 challenge
Every Season 2 project must address a real problem connected to one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG must be relevant to the problem — not added only as a label. The AI component must also play a meaningful role in the solution.
Challenge areas map across all 17 SDGs. AI, impact measurement, safety and responsible use must form part of the project — not remain decorative additions.
The three-lock journey
Participants do not submit everything at once. They progress through three structured build locks — each producing structured feedback before the next stage.
Understand the problem worth solving
Teams clarify
Teams receive
Create the complete solution blueprint
Teams develop
Teams receive
Demonstrate that the solution works
Teams submit
What happens next
AI recommendationHuman verificationEdition-specific finalist selection
What every registered team receives
Foundry is not designed only for the teams that win. Every genuine paid team receives access to the structured build journey.
Payment provides access to the complete build journey but does not guarantee physical-final selection. Finalists are selected through evaluation and human review.
AI feedback. Human accountability.
Foundry uses AI to evaluate submissions against structured criteria and provide faster, detailed feedback. However, AI does not independently decide the finalists or winners.
Outcomes beyond the prize
A résumé can list skills. A Foundry project can demonstrate them. Participants leave with practical evidence of their ability to understand problems, use AI responsibly, collaborate, design systems, build products and present outcomes.
Eligible participants may carry their evaluated project evidence into placement-oriented opportunities through the StudAI One ecosystem and StudAI Hire.
Participation does not guarantee employment. Access to opportunities depends on performance, eligibility, consent and available requirements.
Projects with genuine potential may receive further guidance through the StudAI One ecosystem — carrying validated problems, reviewed blueprints and working prototypes toward mentorship, showcase and ecosystem connections.
Startup guidance, incubation or ecosystem support depends on the quality, readiness and potential of the project. Participation does not guarantee funding or incubation.
Two equal editions
Season 2 is conducted through two equal physical editions. Neither edition is secondary — each has its own finalists, jury, prize pool and winners.
Finalists present their work physically before an edition-specific jury, while every paid team receives access to the complete structured journey.
Who can participate?
Foundry is not limited to computer science students. Strong teams combine technical ability with domain understanding.
1–3
members per team
You do not need to begin with a perfect product. You need:
Beyond the teams
Campus Ambassadors represent StudAI Foundry within their institutions and help create stronger student innovation communities.
Ambassadors help to
They can gain
Build an AI and SDG innovation movement on your campus.
Institutions can participate by
Institutional value may include
StudAI Foundry Season 2
Start with a real problem. Improve through structured feedback. Build a working AI solution. Present it before the people who can recognise what you have created.
Chennai and Coimbatore · Teams of 1–3 · ₹2,00,000 combined prize pool
