Your idea. A cash-winning possibility.
Submit your concept online. The Jury Award carries ₹50,000; the optional Public Vote Award carries ₹25,000.
Explore the challenge & prizes ↗
DJXHACK / ONLINE CHALLENGE + HACKER IN RESIDENCE
HACK ONLINE.
MAKE IT
IN DOON.
1 October: discover the challenge, theme and submission format.
Before 15 October: submit your idea.
Compete for ₹75,000 in cash prizes and be considered for one of 10 fully funded Hacker in Residence places in Dehradun.
CHALLENGE REVEAL: 1 OCTOBER · 10 A.M.
SUBMIT BEFORE: 15 OCTOBER
ONLINE CHALLENGE
✳
₹75,000 IN CASH PRIZES
✳
10 HACKERS IN RESIDENCE
✳
DEHRADUN, INDIA
01 / START ONLINE. TAKE IT FURTHER.
One challenge.
Two opportunities.
Bring your curiosity and creative ambition. Compete for online cash awards and be considered for one of 10 Hacker in Residence places in Doon.
10 creators. Five days of making.
A separate review and interview process selects 10 creators to experiment, build and showcase together in Dehradun.
Explore life in Doon ↗Cash awards and residency selection are separate. Winning an award does not guarantee a residency place; public votes do not influence selection.
02 / THE TIMELINE
From challenge reveal
to final showcase.
-
1 OCTOBER · 10 A.M.
CHALLENGE OPENS
Discover the theme
The theme, participant brief, submission format and application form go live.
-
15 OCTOBER
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Submit your idea
Complete the official form and send your concept before 15 October.
-
DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
CASH AWARDS
Online winners
₹50,000 Jury Award and ₹25,000 Public Vote Award. Voting dates and rules will be announced.
-
DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
RESIDENCY SELECTION
The selected 10
Submission review and interviews select the hackers-in-residence, independently of online awards.
-
29 OCTOBER–4 NOVEMBER
DEHRADUN
Five days of making
Join the residency for mentored challenges, collaborative experiments and hands-on building.
-
RESIDENCY FINALE
PUBLIC SHOWCASE
Let people experience it
Present what you've made. The exact showcase date and arrival/departure schedule will be announced.
The residency window includes five days of making. Award and selection dates are still to be confirmed.
03 / THE ONLINE CHALLENGE · 1–15 OCTOBER
YOUR CURIOSITY.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
On 1 October at 10 a.m. IST, you’ll discover the theme, submission format and application form. Submit your idea before 15 October.
Join an online challenge for creative minds. Compete for cash prizes and be considered for one of 10 Hacker in Residence places in Doon.
Open to individual creators across India. No XR expertise or finished build required.
TOTAL ONLINE CASH PRIZES
₹75,000
JURY AWARD
₹50,000
For the online jury's winning submission.
PUBLIC VOTE AWARD
₹25,000
For the entry with the most valid public votes. Enter this optional track with an Instagram collaboration Reel with DJXHack. Voting dates and detailed rules will be announced.
The residency has its own selection process. Public votes do not decide the selected 10.
1–15 OCTOBER / YOUR SUBMISSION WINDOW
Discover on the 1st.
Submit before the 15th.
The challenge theme, participant brief, submission format and application form will be revealed on 1 October 2026 at 10 a.m. IST.
You then have until 14 October to develop and submit your idea. No finished prototype is required.
04 / HACKER IN RESIDENCE · DEHRADUN
Log off the usual.
Make room for more.
10 selected creators. Five days of mentored making. A fully funded residency to turn ideas into experiences people can step into.
29 OCTOBER–4 NOVEMBER / DEHRADUN
Space to think. Tools to build.
Settle into a shared workspace and develop your idea alongside mentors.
Good ideas need good company.
Shared meals, new perspectives and on-ground support to keep you focused on making.
Build something people can step into.
Experiment with creative technology, then invite visitors to experience what you've made.
What's covered? Workspace, relevant core technology, food and on-ground support. Travel reimbursement up to ₹5,000 per selected creator.
Funding & travel FAQs ↗05 / THE PEOPLE MAKE IT
Different minds.
One creative playground.
DJXHack began by bringing XR creators together. The residency carries that energy into a deeper, experience-led format.
WATCH THE 1.0 SHOWREEL
DJXHack 1.0
2025 / NOIDAWhere the community began.
WATCH THE 2.0 SHOWREEL
DJXHack 2.0
2026 / DELHI50+ creators. One intense XR build.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND DJXHACK
Meet the team.
Meet the DJXLabs team featured as mentors in our earlier challenge.
Aman Bohra
Curator, DJXHack · Senior XR Developer
DJXLabs
Saumik Trivedi
Partner — Growth
DJXLabs
Chandradip Rana
Creative Lead
DJXLabs
Shubham Dhiman
Tech Lead
DJXLabs06 / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Before you
jump in.
Eligibility, prizes, selection and life in Doon.
Is this an online challenge or a residency?
Both. You start with an online challenge, with ₹75,000 across two cash awards. Separately, submission review and interviews select 10 creators for Hacker in Residence in Dehradun: five days of mentored making within 29 October–4 November.
Do I have to win a cash prize to join the residency?
No. Online awards and residency places are decided separately. Public votes do not influence residency selection, and winning a cash award does not guarantee a place.
Do I need to be an XR developer?
No. Designers, artists, storytellers, developers, filmmakers, architects, students and curious makers across India can take part as individuals. No XR expertise is required. Full eligibility and participation terms will accompany the application form.
Can teams apply?
This edition is designed for individual applicants. Selected creators may collaborate during the residency as ideas move toward production.
Do I need a finished installation to apply?
No finished build is required. Share your concept, supported by a PDF, sketches, storyboards or mockups wherever useful.
How are the 10 creators selected?
Submissions are reviewed, followed by interviews. Winning an online prize does not guarantee a residency place. Review and interview dates will be announced.
Is the Instagram Reel compulsory?
No. The Instagram collaboration Reel is an optional track for the Public Vote Award. Voting dates and detailed rules will be announced.
What does fully funded cover?
Workspace, relevant core technology, food and on-ground support are provided. Travel is reimbursed up to ₹5,000 per selected creator; costs above that cap are your responsibility. Accommodation details and claim instructions will be shared in the participation terms.
When can I apply?
The challenge theme, submission format and application form go live on 1 October at 10 a.m. IST. Submit your idea before 15 October.
How do the residency dates work?
The residency window is 29 October–4 November, with five days of creative challenges, experimentation and making. The detailed schedule and exact showcase date will be announced.
CHALLENGE OPENS 1 OCTOBER · SUBMIT BEFORE 15 OCTOBER
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
STARTS ONLINE.
Discover the theme and submission format on 1 October at 10 a.m. IST.
Develop your idea and submit it before 15 October.