Nothing inspires best college students to 'Make Tech Fun Again' and win prizes of up to ₹2 lakh

Nothing has opened a new chapter in the life of India's student entrepreneurs with the introduction of its first student-focused program in the country. London-based technology company introduced the Nothing Incubator, a competition to discover fresh ideas from students who are willing to re-engineer the tech landscape. The initiative is designed to give students a platform to execute their innovative concepts while gaining actual exposure and mentorship.

Unlike traditional contests, Nothing Incubator has a program with form, where it brings mentorship, real-world challenges, and tangible rewards. The company is confident that this will make students think differently about making technology interesting and accessible. The company invites teams from more than 60 of India's top colleges such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and BITS Pilani, among others. 

Who is Eligible

Nothing Incubator program is open to students of over 60 top colleges like IIM Ahmedabad, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, BITS Pilani, FMS Delhi, XLRI Jamshedpur, and SPJIMR Mumbai. Students from any academic stream are invited. Teams may consist of one, two, or three members from the same college. Students from different years and streams are invited according to the program. Individuals must register via their official college email.

Nothing Incubator Competition Topic

The underlying topic of the competition is "Making Tech Fun Again." All the project submissions, whether products, platforms, or ideas, must clearly indicate how they relate to this idea. Not only does the competition emphasize the functionality of the innovation but also its creativity and user experience.

There are two significant rounds prior to the last stage:

Round 1 (July 31 - August 24, 2025): Teams must produce a one-slide pitch for their idea and how it relates to the theme. The most promising ideas are taken to the next level.

Round 2 (September 5 - 14, 2025): Teams shortlisted must submit a three-page detailed plan outlining their target market, cost estimates and growth plan for the next three years.

Grand Finale

Finalist teams will have a live three-minute pitch in front of a panel of jury members consisting of venture capitalists, startup entrepreneurs, and industry experts. The PDF copy of the pitch needs to be uploaded 48 hours before the final round.

Awards and Perks for Students

The winner and runner-up teams will receive the following awards:

Winner: Rs. 2,00,000 cash prize, one Nothing Phone (3) per member for all members, and a certificate

First Runner-Up: A Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and a certificate for each member

Second Runner-Up: A Nothing Phone (3a) and a certificate for each member

In addition, shortlisted students may be eligible for pre-placement interviews or offers based on their performance. Nothing Incubator can be joined by students using the Unstop platform. The program is only offered to full-time students in eligible courses such as BE, BTech, dual degrees, MBA, or PGDM