The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), nodal agency for promoting the startup ecosystem in Kerala, is organising large-scale hackathons across all 14 districts of the state to identify promising innovative ideas and student-led startups emerging from campuses.

The hackathons will act as a primary platform to identify local innovation clusters in each district and develop practical solutions for challenges in priority sectors. “Both idea-stage teams and existing startups are eligible to participate in the hackathons,” KSUM said in a media release.

Registrations can be made at: https://iedcstartupsummit.in/cluster-level-hackathon

The initiative is being conducted as a prelude to IEDC Startup Summit 2026, scheduled for March 7, 2026 at Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirappally.

‘Visa to Entrepreneurship’

The major highlights of the summit is the launch of an innovative  programme ‘Visa to Entrepreneurship’.

“Under this initiative, selected student startups emerging from the hackathons and the summit will receive comprehensive, year-long support.”

During the period, KSUM will provide all essential services required to navigate various stages of startup growth and address technological and administrative challenges.

The programme will also offer mentorship and market linkages, empowering students to cross key milestones on their entrepreneurial journey.

Student teams comprising two to five members can present both technical and non-technical ideas.

The objective is to move beyond standalone academic projects and nurture ideas into startups capable of creating real market impact, offering  students exposure  to real-world business challenges and market validation.