TLDR: Google Cloud, in partnership with Hack2skill, has announced the second edition of its Gen AI Exchange Hackathon, aiming to transition generative AI from experimental stages to practical applications across India. With a substantial prize pool of ₹65 Lakhs, the hackathon invites students, startups, and IT professionals to develop AI solutions for critical industry and social challenges, leveraging Google Cloud’s advanced AI stack. Key industry partners like JK Cement, LetsVenture, Nasscom, and EaseMyTrip are collaborating to ensure problem statements are rooted in real-world impact.
Google Cloud, in collaboration with Hack2skill, has officially launched the second edition of its highly anticipated Gen AI Exchange Hackathon. This initiative is designed to propel generative artificial intelligence beyond theoretical experimentation into tangible, real-world applications across India. The hackathon forms a crucial part of the broader Gen AI Exchange program, which also encompasses the Gen AI Academy and a series of in-person AI Labs, all geared towards equipping developers and startups with essential hands-on skills.
Building on the remarkable success of its inaugural edition, which saw over 38,000 registrations, more than 850 solution submissions, and over 20 winners, this year’s hackathon promises an even more impactful experience. Enhancements include expanded mentorship, deeper collaboration with prominent industry bodies, and a sharper focus on problem statements that address both pressing social needs and critical industry challenges.
Participants, including students, startups, researchers, and IT practitioners from across India, are encouraged to form teams of up to five members. They will harness the power of Google Cloud’s cutting-edge AI stack, featuring technologies such as Gemma, Gemini, Vertex AI, and Gemini Code Assist, to design innovative prototypes. The hackathon journey will involve several stages: initial registration, prototype submission, refinement with expert mentorship, and a final live showcase before a distinguished jury of industry leaders.
This year’s problem statements are strategically structured around two distinct tracks. The student-focused themes delve into aspects of everyday life, such as exploring how AI can provide confidential, stigma-free wellness support for youth mental health, or developing solutions to help India’s artisan economy reach new digital markets. The professional track, on the other hand, targets high-impact industry use cases, with specific challenges to be unveiled soon.
According to Harsh Dattani, Program Manager at Google, the core objective of this program is to “build solutions that solve for India because the problem statements that are sourced… they have been sourced after careful evaluation of what has been going on in the community what has been going on in the society. and so that you can create actual meaningful solutions which has the potential to create a tangible impact.” This emphasis ensures that the solutions developed are not just innovative but also deeply relevant and scalable.
Adding significant credibility and real-world relevance to the program, this year’s hackathon is being shaped in close collaboration with esteemed industry partners including JK Cement, LetsVenture, Nasscom, and EaseMyTrip. These organizations represent diverse sectors of India’s innovation economy, from heavy industry and manufacturing to investment ecosystems and technology advocacy. Their involvement guarantees that the problem statements are pertinent and address challenges demanding scalable, real-world solutions.
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Submissions will be rigorously judged based on innovation, feasibility, scalability, and overall impact. To recognize and reward talent, the hackathon features a substantial prize pool of ₹65 Lakhs (approximately 6.5 million Indian Rupees). Registrations for the Gen AI Exchange Hackathon are currently open, with prototype submissions commencing on September 3, 2025, and running until September 14, 2025. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic experimentation and practical industry adoption of generative AI.
