AI Innovation Challenge 2027

1. Overview and theme

The ZIVOX AI Innovation Challenge 2027 is an online challenge for people who want to build real things with artificial intelligence. The theme is “Beyond Prompts — Build with AI” — the emphasis is on working software and considered design, not on a clever prompt alone.

You will design and build a project during the development window and submit it for evaluation. The strongest entries are judged on how well they solve a real problem, how sound the engineering is, and how well the result is presented.

The challenge is organised by ZIVOX in association with InternzValley.

2. Schedule

• Registration opens20 February 2027
• Registration closes10 March 2027
• Project development & submission11 March – 10 April 2027The build window opens the day after registration closes.
• Final submission deadline10 April 2027Submissions close at the end of this day. Late entries cannot be evaluated.
• Evaluation11 April – 5 May 2027
• Winners announcement6 May 2027
• Certificates & recognition completedby 20 May 2027

3. Prizes and participant benefits

The total cash prize pool is ₹16,000, distributed among the overall Top 3 winners:

• 1st place₹8,000
• 2nd place₹5,000
• 3rd place₹3,000

The prize pool is not split across categories or special mentions — it is awarded to the three highest-ranked overall entries.

Participant benefits. Every eligible participant can expect:

• Digital participation certificates, subject to eligibility and participation requirements.
• Achievement badges.
• Project showcase opportunities.
• Mentorship and expert guidance, subject to availability.
• Recognition and exposure opportunities.

Certificates and badges are issued after evaluation closes. Mentorship places are limited and are allocated at the organisers’ discretion.

4. Eligibility criteria

To take part you must:

• register during the registration window (20 February – 10 March 2027);
• submit a project that you or your team created during the build window;
• follow the rules and the code of conduct on this page.

5. Team formation

You may enter as an individual or as a team. If one person holds several roles, list them once on the team entry rather than creating duplicate records.

• One person registers the team and acts as the point of contact.
• Every member must be listed at registration; names cannot be added after the build window closes.
• Each person may belong to only one team.

6. Registration instructions

Registration opens on 20 February 2027. There is no registration link on this page yet, and deliberately so — a dead link would be worse than none. Until then you can ask to be notified when it opens.

1. Use the notification form below, or check back here from 20 February 2027.
2. When registration opens, complete the registration form with your details and your team.
3. You will receive a confirmation once your entry is recorded.
4. Registration closes on 10 March 2027. Entries submitted after that date cannot be accepted.

7. Project and submission requirements

Your project must be built during the development window (11 March – 10 April 2027). It should be something that demonstrates working use of AI, not a proposal or a mock-up.

A complete submission is expected to include:

• a working project or a hosted demonstration that the evaluators can access;
• a short written description of the problem it solves and who it is for;
• an explanation of how AI is used, and which models or services are involved;
• the source, if it is code — private repositories may be shared with the organisers;
• a note of anything that is incomplete or simulated.

The final deadline is 10 April 2027. Submissions received after the deadline cannot be evaluated.

8. Judging criteria

Entries are evaluated by a panel appointed by the organisers. Judging looks at:

• Relevance to the theme — is AI genuinely central, not decorative?
• Problem and impact — does it address a real need, and is the benefit clear?
• Technical quality — does it work, and is it built sensibly?
• Design and usability — can a first-time user understand and use it?
• Clarity of presentation — is the description honest, specific and complete?

The judges’ decision is final.

9. Rules and code of conduct

• Projects must be created during the challenge window. Pre-existing work cannot be submitted as new.
• Do not use another person’s code, assets or data without permission and correct attribution.
• Do not submit content that is unlawful, harmful, harassing or infringing.
• Treat organisers, mentors and other participants with respect. Harassment is grounds for removal.
• Do not attempt to manipulate evaluation, the platform, or other participants’ submissions.
• The organisers may disqualify an entry that breaks these rules, and may withhold a prize in that case.
• ZIVOX may cancel, postpone or amend the challenge. If that happens it will be announced on this page.

10. Intellectual property and AI tool disclosure

You keep ownership of your project. By entering, you grant ZIVOX a limited licence to review, store and display your submission for the purposes of judging, announcing results and showcasing entries. That licence does not transfer ownership to us.

You confirm that you have the right to submit everything included in your entry.

You must disclose the AI tools, models and services you used. Disclose anything that generated code, copy, imagery or data in your project. Automated assistance is allowed — concealing it is not.

11. Registration notification

Ask us to contact you when registration opens on 20 February 2027. Choose email or WhatsApp. We use the contact detail only for this notification.

12. Frequently asked questions