2025 Applications Open
The NexGen Luminary Awards
Recognizing and celebrating the brilliant startups and students reshaping the future of computer education and technology.
Recognizing and celebrating the brilliant startups and students reshaping the future of computer education and technology.
We honor excellence across six distinct tracks that span startup innovation and outstanding student achievement in computer education.
For early-stage tech startups demonstrating exceptional innovation, traction, and potential to disrupt their industry.
Recognizing undergraduate and postgraduate students who have built meaningful tech projects or launched startups while still in school.
For organizations and individuals making computer science and digital skills accessible to underrepresented communities.
Honouring projects at the frontier — AI, ML, quantum computing, and systems-level engineering that push boundaries.
For tech ventures and student projects that use code to solve pressing social, environmental, or civic challenges.
The highest honour — awarded to one startup or individual per year whose work transcends a single category and sets a generational benchmark.
Our application is designed to be thorough but respectful of your time. Here's how to move from candidate to Luminary.
Review all six award tracks carefully. You may apply to one primary category — if in doubt, our panel will consider reassigning to the best-fit track.
Complete the online form with your project overview, team background, impact evidence, and a 3-minute video pitch. No lengthy PDFs — we value clarity and honesty.
Shortlisted applicants are reviewed by a panel of two domain-expert judges who score submissions on innovation, execution, and impact across five dimensions.
Finalists are invited to a 20-minute virtual session with the full panel to demo their work and answer questions from judges.
Winners are announced at the annual NexGen Luminary Summit — a flagship event bringing together 1,000+ students, founders, VCs, and educators.
Apply for an award or nominate someone who deserves to be recognized. Takes about 25 minutes to complete.
From college dorm rooms to VC-backed ventures — our winners reflect the extraordinary depth of talent in India's tech ecosystem.
IIT Bombay · Crop disease detection for smallholder farmers
B.Tech CS, NIT Trichy · Built an offline-first coding IDE for rural students
Delhi · Teaching Python to first-generation learners in tier-3 cities
Our judging panel is drawn from India's most respected technologists, founders, academics, and investors —
ensuring every application receives expert, fair evaluation.
Have a question about eligibility, partnerships, or the judging process? Our team responds within one business day.