AP – AER Mission Hackathon – Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH)
Offered By - Government of Andhra Pradesh
About the Program
The AP-AER Mission Hackathon is a state-wide, deployment-driven innovation challenge designed to identify and scale alternate energy solutions across key sectors in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative focuses on reducing dependency on conventional fuels while ensuring operational continuity through practical, field-ready innovations.
Unlike typical hackathons that emphasize ideation, this program is structured around a sector-first and deployment-focused approach, meaning problem statements are derived from real-world use cases with defined constraints, beneficiary profiles, and implementation pathways. This ensures that only solutions with strong deployment potential move forward toward pilot and procurement stages.
The challenge covers multiple sectors including cooking, mobility, agriculture, and MSMEs, with a clear emphasis on building solutions that are ready for on-ground adoption within the state. Additionally, participants are categorized based on solution maturity, reinforcing the program’s focus on practical implementation rather than early-stage experimentation.
The initiative aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s broader innovation vision, including Swarandhra Vision 2047 and the AP Innovation & Startup Policy 4.0 (2024 – 2029), positioning it as part of a larger ecosystem effort to drive scalable, energy-focused innovations .
This program is best suited for startups or innovators who already have technically viable solutions and are looking to pilot, deploy, or integrate them within government-backed use cases. It may not be suitable for idea-stage participants without a working or validated solution.
Sectors Supported
Alternate Energy
Cooking
Mobility
Agriculture
MSMEs
Funding & Benefits
This program offers a combination of financial support, mentorship, and ecosystem access to help startups grow and scale their solutions effectively.
Mentorship
Beyond funding, programs like this provide credibility, exposure, and strategic support that can significantly accelerate a startup’s growth journey.
Who Can Apply / Eligibility
- Startup stage: Not explicitly specified (deployment-focused solutions expected)
- Sector focus: Alternate energy solutions across cooking, mobility, agriculture, and MSMEs
- Geography: Andhra Pradesh-focused deployment
- Mandatory requirements: Solutions aligned with real-world use cases and deployment readiness
Selection Process
- Technical feasibility & Innovation – 25%
- Safety, Impact & Sustainability – 25%
- Deployment Readiness in AP Context – 30%
- ROI potential & Scalability – 15%
- Documentation & Presentation – 5%
Timeline of the Hackathon
| SI | Stage | Deploy | Validate & Build New |
| 1 | Soft Launch & Applications Opening | 29 March 2026 | 29 March 2026 |
| 2 | Clarification / Query Session | 9 April 2026 | 15 April 2026 |
| 3 | Last Date for Submissions | 20 April 2026 | 30 April 2026 |
| 4 | Pre-Screening & SME Validation | 27 April 2026 | 4 May 2026 |
| 5 | Demo / Pitch Day | 1 May 2026 | 11 May 2026 |
How to Apply
- Visit the official challenge page
- Review problem statements and program details
- Submit application through the portal before the deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- Startup stage: Not explicitly specified (deployment-focused solutions expected)
- Sector focus: Alternate energy solutions across cooking, mobility, agriculture, and MSMEs
- Geography: Andhra Pradesh-focused deployment
- Mandatory requirements: Solutions aligned with real-world use cases and deployment readiness