Amazon India announced the launch of the Amazon Smbhav Hackathon 2024 to generate new technological and AI-backed solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the e-commerce sector. This event is part of the company’s annual flagship summit, Amazon Smbhav 2024. Amazon India has partnered with Startup India, DPIIT, National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, and NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council (NIFientreC) for this initiative.
The hackathon is open to Indian citizens above 18 years of age, including students, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, service providers, and professionals working in the broader e-commerce ecosystem. The hackathon aims to address various challenges faced by SMBs in the e-commerce sector such as leveraging social media for product listings, streamlining multi-channel fulfillment, simplifying cross-border trade, and developing sustainable solutions for e-commerce. Dr.
Smbhav hackathon targets e-commerce challenges
Jitendra Singh, MoS (Independent Charge) for Science, Earth Sciences, and other departments, stated, “The 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.”
Participants will be mentored throughout the hackathon, which will progress from idea submission to prototype development, culminating in a demo day. The top three teams will compete for an exclusive visit to Amazon’s Seattle headquarters and cash prizes worth up to Rs 10 lakh.
Amit Nanda, Director of Selling Partner Services at Amazon India, emphasized the importance of continuous innovation, stating, “The e-commerce is rapidly evolving, and so are the needs of small businesses looking to digitize and scale. It’s crucial that we continuously innovate to enable entrepreneurs with tailored solutions that solve their unique challenges. The Amazon Smbhav Hackathon aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across India.”
Applications for the hackathon opened on October 14 and will close on November 14.
Winners will be announced at Amazon Smbhav 2024 on December 10.
