About the Challenge
FoundersForge is a robotics-focused startup ideation hackathon where innovation meets entrepreneurship. Participants will explore the intersection of hardware, automation, AI, and product design to create solutions that can evolve into real, scalable robotics startups.

The challenge invites teams to build prototype concepts, MVPs, or full pitch decks that address real-world problems through robotics—whether in healthcare, disaster response, manufacturing, accessibility, agriculture, or everyday life.

Your mission:

  • Identify a meaningful problem

  • Design a robotics-based solution

  • Develop a technical concept or prototype

  • Build a compelling business model around it

FoundersForge isn’t just about hacking together a cool idea—it’s about shaping the next generation of robotics founders.

Requirements

What to Build

Create a robotics-based startup concept that solves a real-world problem. Your project may include:

  • A hardware prototype (physical or simulated)

  • A robotics system concept (sensors, actuators, control logic)

  • A software stack (CV, ML, SLAM, automation, UI, etc.)

  • A market-ready startup idea with customer focus

  • Any innovation using robotics, drones, prosthetics, automation, or mechatronics

Projects can be:
✓ Fully functional
✓ Partially functional
✓ Concept-heavy with simulations
✓ Pitch-based with technical depth

As long as it’s robotics + startup, it fits.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$200+ in prizes
+ other prizes
FounderForge's Winner
1 winner

FREE DOMAINS FOR TOP 10 PARTICIPANTS

CIRTIFICATES FOR ALL 10 WINNERS
10 winners

A cirtificate indicating your podium on the hackathon!

GRAND WINNER CERTIFICATE
1 winner

ONE GRAND WINNER WINS A SPECIAL MERIT CIRTIFICATE

Grand Prize
$200 in cash
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Mukund MV
President Synertech

Shaan Soni

Shaan Soni
President @Zynova

Praneetha Kotla

Praneetha Kotla
Lead Robotic Process Automation Developer, ERP Smartlabs

Yug Mehta

Yug Mehta
Vice President @Zynova

Yamini Pradeepika

Yamini Pradeepika
Senior Proserv Delivery Tech Lead @Amazon Web Services

Samaresh Kumar Singh

Samaresh Kumar Singh
Principal Engineer @HP

Suresh K Palus

Suresh K Palus
Lead Software Engineer @Paramount

Judging Criteria

  • Innovation & Originality
    How unique is the idea? Does it present a new approach or solve a problem in a way that hasn’t been explored before—especially in robotics, automation, or human-machine systems?
  • Technical Complexity
    Does the project demonstrate real engineering depth? Judges look for hardware integration, robotics algorithms, mechanical design, AI/vision systems, simulation accuracy, or real-world prototyping.
  • Feasibility & Real-World Impact
    Can this robotics startup idea realistically work and scale? Does it solve a genuine pain point in industries, daily life, healthcare, disaster response, or sustainability?
  • Implementation & Execution
    How well was the idea converted into a demo or prototype? This includes: Working code Hardware demos or simulations MVP-level proof of concept Clear validation of the concept

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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