*All shortlist announcements and updates are published on the Aurora Discord server first.

Organizer: ProjectGRID
Website: aurora.projectgrid.org
Email: info@projectgrid.org

The Competition IS open to:

• Individuals who are at least 14 years of age at the time of entry ("Eligible Individuals");
• Teams of 1 to 4 Eligible Individuals.

Participation may be restricted where prohibited by applicable local laws. Eligibility is open globally, subject to such restrictions.

The Competition IS NOT open to:

• Individuals under the age of 14 at the time of entry;
• Individuals in jurisdictions where participation or prize receipt is prohibited by local law;
• Employees, representatives, contractors, or agents of projectGRID involved in the design, production, or administration of Aurora;
• Judges, or any individual affiliated with a judging organization.

To officially enter Aurora, all of the following steps must be completed:

1. Join the Aurora Discord → https://discord.gg/9xR5uvRW
2. Submit your Stage 1 entry via the official Stage 1 Google Form → forms.gle/qAvANHiBxDmAuVKx7

Stage 1 - Idea & Business Round

Submit your startup idea via the Stage 1 Google Form. Your submission should cover:

• The problem you're solving
• Your target market and customer
• Your proposed solution
• Your unique angle or differentiation
• Why now is the right time

No code or deck required. Top 200 ideas advance to Stage 2.

Stage 2 - Prototyping Phase

Shortlisted teams build a working prototype, MVP, or high-fidelity demo. Stage 2 submissions must include:

• A working prototype or MVP
• A demo video (screen recording or walkthrough)
• A public GitHub repository or build link
• A written description explaining the product and how it maps to your Stage 1 business case

Top 20 teams advance to Stage 3 and automatically enter Aurora's Incubation Program.

Stage 3 - Shark Tank Round

The final 20 teams pitch live to a panel of judges on 18th May. Teams must be available to present live. Teams unable to present will be disqualified from Stage 3 and prize eligibility.

Stage 4 - Prize & Closing Ceremony

Winners are announced at a live in-person ceremony at IIT Delhi on 21st May. Winners are not required to attend in person.

Eligible submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by projectGRID, which may include investors and industry experts. Judging decisions at all stages are final and binding.

Submissions are evaluated on:

• Business Merit -> Clarity of the problem, market opportunity, and vision
• Originality -> Uniqueness and differentiation of the idea
• Execution -> Quality of the prototype or MVP and how well it reflects the business case
• Presentation -> Clarity, confidence, and persuasiveness of the live pitch

The top 20 teams from Stage 2 enter Aurora's Incubation Program — a long-term support system run by projectGRID. Full details will be shared with shortlisted teams directly.

All submissions remain the intellectual property of the individuals or teams that developed them. By entering, participants grant projectGRID a non-exclusive right to feature their startup concept and submission in promotional, press, and investor-facing materials, with full credit to the founders.

Submissions must:

• Be the original work of the entrant not a copy of an existing company or a prior competition submission;
• Be solely owned by the submitting team, with no third-party rights or conflicts;
• Not violate any intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party.

ProjectGRID reserves the right to disqualify any participant or team for:

• Plagiarism or misrepresentation of work;
• Submitting another team's idea or a previously submitted concept;
• Failure to comply with any of these Official Rules;
• Harassment or misconduct toward fellow participants, judges, or organizers.

All participants are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

1. ProjectGRID reserves the right to amend these rules with prior notice via the Aurora Discord server.
2. ProjectGRID reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, suspend, or modify the Competition or any part of it.
3. If there is any discrepancy between these Official Rules and other materials, these Official Rules shall prevail.
4. Decisions by projectGRID and the judges are final and binding in all matters relating to the Competition.
5. If the expected participation is reached then the prizes shall be modified 

Personal information collected from participants will be used solely for the purpose of operating, administering, and publicizing Aurora. By participating, entrants consent to the use of their name, likeness, and submission for promotional purposes by projectGRID.

For support, join #support on the Aurora Discord — monitored daily by the Aurora team.

Email: info@projectgrid.org
Website: aurora.projectgrid.org
Discord: https://discord.gg/9xR5uvRW

• Problem Validity
  Does this problem actually exist? Is it painful enough that people would pay to solve it? We're looking for real evidence of the problem, not assumptions.
• Market Size & Scalability
  How big is the opportunity? Can this grow beyond a niche? We want to see that the team understands the scale of what they're building toward.
• Business Model
  How does this make money? Is the revenue model logical and sustainable? Bonus points for having thought through unit economics or pricing at this early stage.
• Competitive Differentiation
  What exists today and why isn't it enough? Where does this idea sit in the market relative to alternatives? Does the team have a defensible angle?
• Founder-Market Fit
  Why is this team the right one to solve this problem? Domain knowledge, personal connection to the problem, or unique insight all count here.