Communications solutions provider Bharti Airtel and WhatsApp have launched the ‘Airtel IQ’ hackathon. It aims to identify and build new-age business solutions using the WhatsApp Business Platform across five key sectors that can potentially improve livelihoods and contribute to the country's sustainable economic growth. These are e-commerce, edtech, banking and financial services (BFSI), travel and tourism, and contact center operations where start-up entrepreneurs have developed robust businesses. 

Airtel IQ hackathon aims to offer emerging Indian start-ups, Independent Software Vendors (ISV) and the student community an opportunity to leverage technology and drive customer experience and better customer engagement. It is solving business challenges in the age of connectivity, deploying the power of programmable communications to solve customer engagement problems. 
 
Applications will close on October 9, 2022 and participants will be evaluated over three rounds and a finale on December 1, 2022. Up for grabs are prizes worth up to Rs 1 crore, along with business mentorship from leaders at Airtel and WhatsApp across product, engineering and business functions. Winners will also get training engagements and learning modules on WhatsApp Business Platform. 
 
Airtel IQ will also offer winners free conversations on the WhatsApp Business Platform and the WhatsApp API helping them reduce their operating costs. Winners can also leverage Airtel Business’ channel network to achieve reach with enterprises. 

A select few start-ups can join the Airtel Startup Accelerator Program. In addition to the $5,00,000 to $2 million funding, participating start-ups gain access to Airtel’s core platform strengths of data, distribution, network, and payments. 

Commenting on the occasion, Abhishek Biswal, Business head, Airtel IQ said, “India’s start-up ecosystem has seen outstanding growth guided by the Government of India’s vision. Airtel IQ is thrilled to partner with WhatsApp @Meta bringing together our expertise to empower technology entrepreneurs, software publishers and emerging start-ups to build future-ready CPaaS solutions.” 

Ravi Garg, Director of Business Messaging, Meta India, added, “India’s start-up ecosystem has been a cradle of innovations, impacting socio-economic change in the country. Our partnership with ‘Airtel IQ Hackathon’ intends to foster and nurture start-ups in building technology-based solutions towards achieving the Digital India vision.”