Hacknauts 2026 — National Level Hackathon at GNDEC Ludhiana

Hacknauts 2.0 is a premier 24-hour national level in-person hackathon hosted by Causmic Club at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (GNDEC), Ludhiana. Hacknauts brings together developers, designers, innovators, and dreamers for 24 hours of relentless building, rapid experimentation, and creative problem solving.

About Hacknauts 2.0 & Mission Briefing

HACKNAUTS 2.0 is a 24-hour national level hackathon for builders who believe the impossible is just a problem waiting to be solved. Hosted by CAUSMIC CLUB at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana.

The Mission Code: EXPLORE. BUILD. LAUNCH. Explore beyond the obvious, build beyond the expected, and launch beyond the limits.

Duration: 24 Hours Non-Stop
Team Size: 2 to 4 Members
Format: In-Person Hackathon
Venue: Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Gill Road, Ludhiana, Punjab (30.86N 75.86E)

Open Innovation Tracks & Problem Statements

HACKNAUTS 2.0 features an unbounded Open Innovation Arena with no rigid rails or pre-written problem statements. Participants can build and launch applications across any technology domain, including:

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML)
Web3, Blockchain & Decentralized Apps (dApps)
Cloud Computing, DevOps & Scalable Backend Systems
Mobile & Full-Stack Web Development
Internet of Things (IoT) & Embedded Hardware Solutions
Cyber Security, Privacy & Fintech Innovations
Open Domain & Social Impact Technology

Official Prize Pool & Builder Bounties (₹2,51,000+)

A comprehensive haul designed to fund and accelerate top student builders, featuring direct cash bounties, developer API licenses, and learning memberships:

1st Place (Champion Orbit): ₹21,000 Direct Cash Bounty + 2-Year CodeCrafters VIP Membership (~$720 value/member) + 3 Mos ElevenLabs Pro Voice AI ($297/member) + Official Champion Trophy & Certificate of Excellence.
2nd Place (1st Runner Up): ₹15,000 Direct Cash Bounty + 1-Year CodeCrafters VIP Membership (~$360 value/member) + Official Certificate of Merit.
3rd Place (2nd Runner Up): ₹11,000 Direct Cash Bounty + 6-Month CodeCrafters VIP Membership (~$180 value/member) + Official Certificate of Merit.
Best All-Girls Crew: ₹3,000 Special Category Cash Bounty celebrating exceptional women in tech.
Best Freshers Crew: ₹3,000 Special Category Cash Bounty dedicated to standout rookie 1st year student teams.
ElevenLabs Voice AI Track Bounty: Scale Tier 3-Month Acceleration License ($897 value / member, 1.8M credits/month) for the best voice AI application.
Tin Computer Autonomous Growth Credits: $299 in Tin Computer credits (one month of Growth plan) for every eligible Hacknauts 2.0 team!
Universal Perks for All Verified Hackers: Official swag kits, verified digital & physical certificates, 131k ElevenLabs credits, CodeCrafters access, 24-hour catering & meals, fast-track mentorship.

Mission Timeline & Flight Schedule

21 Aug: Registration Opens on Devfolio
30 Aug: Mission Tracks & Problem Statement Domains Released
1 Sept: Official Pitch Deck PPT Template Out on Canva
10 Sept: PPT Submission Phase Commences on Tally
30 Oct: Registration & PPT Submission Closes (23:59 IST)
9 Nov: Selected Teams Announcement & Physical Verification
14 Nov: Hacknauts Starts — 24-Hour In-Person Hacking at Base Station (GNDEC Ludhiana)
15 Nov: Submissions Locked, Crew Pitches, Evaluations & Splashdown Awards

Mission Backers, Sponsors & Track Partners

Hacknauts 2.0 is powered by visionary organizations across the technology ecosystem:

Devfolio — Official Hackathon Platform Partner (Devfolio Application Portal). Powering hacker profiles, submissions, and nationwide builder credentials.
ElevenLabs — Official Track Partner (ElevenLabs Voice AI Tools & APIs). Providing developer grants, low-latency audio models, and voice bounties.
CodeCrafters — Official Interactive Learning Partner (CodeCrafters). Mastery challenges rebuilding Redis, Git, SQLite, Kafka, and Docker with 1-year and 2-year VIP memberships for winners.
Tin Computer — Official Autonomous Growth Partner. Tin Computer is an autonomous growth agent that ships growth work through a project's connected tools. Every eligible Hacknauts2.0 team gets $299 in Tin Computer credits, one month of the Growth plan.
Causmic Club — Official Host & Student Developer Community (Causmic Club).
Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College — Base Station Venue & Institutional Partner (GNDEC Ludhiana).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible to participate?

Any undergraduate, graduate, or diploma student enrolled in an accredited institution is eligible. Teams must consist of 2 to 4 members.

Is there any registration or entry fee?

No, registration and participation in Hacknauts 2.0 is 100% free of cost.

Are food and accommodation provided?

Yes, selected in-person participants receive meals, beverages, snacks, Wi-Fi access, and rest areas throughout the 24-hour event at GNDEC Ludhiana.

What should I bring to the event?

Bring your student ID card, laptop, charger, extension boards, and any development hardware or components required for your hack.

Contact Mission Control & Base Station Coordinates

Location: Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (GNDEC), Gill Park, Gill Road, Ludhiana, Punjab, India (141006). Coordinates: 30.86N 75.86E.

Email: hacknauts@gmail.com

Community WhatsApp Group: Join Hacknauts 2.0 Crew Chat

Instagram: @HACKNAUTS