The AI Product Showdown
A founders-track hackathon for the next generation of AI product builders. Ship a real product, pitch to an incubation panel, and unlock a ₹5,00,000 catalyst grant opportunity.
The Founders Track
Everything you need to go from idea to funded product.
₹5,00,000 Catalyst Grant
Post-incubation grant opportunity to fuel your first product build, GTM and team hires.
Fully Funded MAANG/IBM Certifications
Industry-recognised certifications, entirely sponsored — no out-of-pocket cost.
Academy Incubation & Mentorship
Direct incubation inside The Skillians with 1:1 mentorship from founders and MAANG leaders.
Build in one of three tracks
Pick your lane. Ship in 4 weeks. Pitch on Demo Day.
AI Products
Ship an AI-first product with a real user, real workflow, real wow moment.
Agentic Workflows
Build agents that automate a painful, repeated task inside a business.
Vertical GenAI
Pick a niche — legal, healthcare, edtech, ops — and dominate it with GenAI.
How the 5 weeks unfold
- Week 0Applications open. Submit your idea + team.
- Week 1Shortlisted teams onboarded. Mentor matching begins.
- Week 2–4Build sprint with weekly reviews from MAANG mentors.
- Week 5Demo day + Founders Track pitch to the incubation panel.
- PostSelected teams move into incubation with the grant opportunity.
Who should apply
The AI Product Showdown is built for ambitious builders — not just seasoned founders.
- Students, freshers and early-career builders (0–3 yrs)
- Solo builders welcome — team formation supported
- No prior startup experience required
- Bring curiosity, ship velocity and a real problem to solve
Ready to build the next AI-first product?
Applications for the Founders Track are open. Talk to a Skillians counsellor to reserve your spot.