Amazon India today announced the launch of Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024, a nationwide competition that invites innovators to contribute groundbreaking ideas and AI-powered solutions that can significantly impact the growth and success of small and medium businesses (SMBs) in e-commerce. The hackathon is part of the lead-up to Amazon Smbhav 2024, the fifth edition of the company’s flagship annual summit in India. Whether you're a college student with a game-changing idea, a tech enthusiast working from a small town, or an entrepreneur with a first-hand understanding of local business challenges, this hackathon offers you the opportunity to drive meaningful change in the e-commerce landscape.
It invites innovators across India to contribute to the growth of India’s digital economy. Aligned with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Viksit Bharat,' the hackathon aims to harness India's innovative spirit and drive digitisation, unlocking new growth opportunities for SMBs.
Harnessing India’s innovative spirit
Amazon has partnered with Startup India, National Innovation Foundation (NIF) - India, and the NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council (NIFientreC) for this hackathon. Open to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age (including students, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, service providers, working professionals, SMBs, and the broader e-commerce ecosystem), the hackathon seeks to harness India's innovative spirit.
What the hackathon entails
Participants will tackle challenges such as leveraging social media for product listings, streamlining multi-channel fulfillment, simplifying cross-border trade, and developing sustainable solutions for e-commerce. The hackathon will progress through multiple phases, from idea submission to prototype development, culminating in a demo day before a distinguished jury panel comprising industry leaders. Throughout the journey, the participants will benefit from expert mentoring sessions to refine their ideas and prototypes. The top three teams will compete for an opportunity to visit Amazon's Seattle headquarters and receive cash prizes worth up to ₹10 lakh. The winners will be recognised at the Amazon Smbhav 2024 Summit, taking center stage among thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and global leaders.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, MoS (I/C) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, says, “MSMEs are the backbone of India's economy, contributing significantly to employment generation and economic growth. However, many of these enterprises face challenges in scaling up and accessing new markets.”
By bringing them the power of technology through initiatives like the Amazon Smbhav Hackathon, we aim to empower MSMEs with digital tools and e-commerce solutions. This will enable them to expand their reach, enhance efficiency, and unlock new growth opportunities. Such collaborations are crucial for fostering an ecosystem that nurtures entrepreneurship and drives innovation across India's MSME sector.
Amit Nanda, Director, Selling Partner Services, Amazon India, says, "The collaboration between NIF, NIF-ientreC, Startup India, and Amazon exemplifies how the private sector can synergize with the government to transcend boundaries and realize collective objectives. The Amazon Smbhav Hackathon presents a transformative opportunity for grassroots innovators, students, entrepreneurs, professionals, and SMBs across India to unleash their creativity and shape the future of e-commerce.”
Through such pioneering initiatives and symbiotic partnerships, we can propel India's emergence as a global leader in innovation and cutting-edge e-commerce solutions, fortifying our nation's digital economy.
Important dates to note for hackathon participants
- The application window for the hackathon opens on October 14
- Last date for idea submission is November 14
- Shortlisted ideas will be announced on November 18
- Prototype submission deadline is November 24
- Virtual Demo Day will be held on December 5-6
- Winners will be announced at Amazon Smbhav 2024 on December 10
The Amazon Smbhav Hackathon is an open call to innovators to dream big, disrupt the status quo, and build the future of e-commerce. For more information and to register, please visit here: https://bit.ly/Smbhav_Hackathon2024.
What is Amazon Smbhav?
Since the inaugural edition in 2020, Amazon Smbhav has evolved into a marquee industry event bringing together government leaders, industry experts, MSMEs and the larger ecommerce ecosystem to ideate, plan, inspire, and unleash the true potential of a Digital India in the 21st century. The first four editions were attended by over 1,95,000 participants and focused on helping SMBs unlock growth opportunities, learn about new technologies/innovations, and explore other avenues. Amazon Smbhav 2024 is scheduled to take place on December 9 and 10 this year at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. It will continue to focus on SMB digitisation, exports, innovation, and sustainability, with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
