BitMela Launchpad

Build where
money meets AI.

Bring the idea. Build it over four weeks with mentorship from us, then pitch it live on the main stage in Jaipur.

5 finalist teams · 4 weeks of mentorship · Main stage Jaipur · Oct 30
The Challenge

Money × AI, built by you.

Put money and AI together and you get the frontier: money that thinks, agents that transact, tools that didn't exist a year ago.

That's what you'll build. No finished product needed, no expertise required. Just one sharp idea and the drive to build it.

What counts

Three tracks in.

1. Bitcoin

Build something with Bitcoin: a wallet, a tool, anything that makes it more usable, secure, or accessible. At its core, it's about savings, and protecting wealth.

2. UPI

Build something with UPI: a tool, an app, an integration that makes India's fastest money even faster, safer, or more useful. It's about instant payments.

3. Agentic Payments

Build an AI agent that transacts, on Bitcoin, UPI, or both. Agents that pay for their own compute, autonomous commerce, machine-to-machine payments.

Strong in one track but not another? Perfect. Bring the idea, we'll help you fill the gap.

Need a spark?

Ideas to steal.

Starting points, not a checklist. The best entries will be things we haven't thought of yet.

AGENTS

An AI agent that pays for its own compute, data and APIs in Bitcoin, via Lightning micropayments. No human in the loop, no card on file.

TREASURY

A savings copilot that helps a person or small business hold Bitcoin with clear risk guardrails and plain-English reporting.

SECURITY

An assistant that scans a UPI collect request before you approve it, flagging fake QR codes and known scam patterns before money leaves your account.

AUTOPAY

An agent that sets up and manages UPI Autopay mandates on your behalf: recommending spend caps, renewing subscriptions, and flagging ones you should cancel.

Judged on originality, feasibility, and how well the idea fits its track.

Who's involved

Mentors & the room.

Direct mentorship from confirmed builders, with investors and judges from across the industry watching your pitch.

Santosh Vadivelu
Student of Bitcoin

Santosh Vadivelu

Mentor
LinkedIn
Freddie New
CEO, BHODL

Freddie New

Mentor
LinkedIn
Harish BV
Co-founder, Unocoin

Harish BV

Speaker
LinkedIn
Raj Maitra
General Head, Bitshala

Raj Maitra

Speaker
X / Twitter

Also expect VCs and investors from across the industry in the room.

The Prize

More than a cash prize.

Get mentoredthe real prize

Weekly guidance from our mentors to get you ready for the big stage in Jaipur.

A cash prize poolcash

A cash prize pool starting at ₹2,00,000, split across the top teams.

The main stagevisibility

A live slot in front of the founders, investors and builders shaping money in India. Real visibility, not a résumé line.

A demo spaceshow it off

A dedicated spot at Bitmela for teams with a working prototype to show it off to the whole festival floor.

How it works

From idea to main stage.

1
SUBMITAUG 7 TO AUG 28
Fill out a short form with your idea, plus a video of 90 to 120 seconds pitching it.
2
TOP 5BY SEPT 14
Entries judged on originality, feasibility, and how genuinely money and AI come together. Five teams advance.
3
BUILDSEPT TO OCT
Four weeks of mentorship to turn your idea into a working prototype and sharpen your pitch for the stage.
4
PITCHOCTOBER 30
All five teams pitch live on the Bitmela main stage in Jaipur. Winners announced the next day, October 31.

One sharp idea is all it takes.

Submissions close August 28, 2026. Follow X and Instagram for updates.

Apply Now
Who can enter

Open to anyone who builds, anywhere in India: student, builder, early founder, first timer. Enter solo or as a team of up to 4. The only thing that matters is the strength of your idea.

Your product, or your next hire?

Back the Launchpad and get both: your tool in front of India's best builders, and direct access to the talent building at the frontier of Bitcoin and AI.

Become a Partner
Questions

Good to know.

Do I need to know Bitcoin?

No. Bitcoin is simply money built for the internet: fast, global, and not controlled by any single company or government. If you're strong on AI but new to Bitcoin, bring the idea and we'll help you with the Bitcoin side.

Do I need a team?

No. Enter solo or as a team of up to 4, whatever suits your idea.

Who's eligible to apply?

Open to Indian residents only.

Do I need a finished product to apply?

No. Stage one is just a short form and a 90 to 120 second video pitching your idea. If you're selected, you build the prototype during the four weeks of mentorship.

Does it cost anything to enter?

No. Entering is free.

What exactly do I submit?

A short form with your idea, plus a video of 90 to 120 seconds pitching it.

How are entries judged?

On originality, feasibility, and how genuinely money and AI come together in your idea.

Where and when is the final?

Live on the main stage at Bitmela in Jaipur on October 30, 2026. All five teams pitch that day, and winners are announced on October 31.

Is travel to Jaipur covered?

Food and accommodation in Jaipur are covered for finalists. Travel to and from Jaipur is not.