ACM Marketsphere 2026

ACM MarketSphere is RVCE ACM's flagship finance and strategy case hackathon, run in a multi-round, elimination-style format on Unstop. MochaTrade is a YC-backed startup building self-custodial access to US stock and crypto perpetual futures for global traders. In partnership with MochaTrade, this track puts participants in the shoes of an early-stage fintech's leadership team, solving the exact problems a company like MochaTrade faces as it scales from pre-seed to its next stage of growth.Teams should expect the cases to evolve as the event progresses, and should be ready to think on their feet and adapt in real time rather than treating either round as something to solve in advance. Depth of thinking and adaptability under new information are weighted just as heavily as arriving at a solution.Note: These are the tracks for the PPT Screening round, exact details about problems statements will be released after the registration deadline. Participants are requested to wait until the exact details about problem statements are released before starting the PPT preparation.Tracks (choose one):#TrackIn one line1Market Entry & Regulatory StrategyChoosing where and how MochaTrade should go global next.2Growth & Monetization StrategyTurning trust and access into sustainable trading volume.3The Flash-Crash SimulationSurviving the first 60 minutes of a market meltdown.4Build vs. Partner: The Infrastructure DilemmaRent the plumbing, or build it, and own the risk?5Founding a Category vs. Fighting IncumbentsIs MochaTrade a new market, or a crowded one in disguise?6Hiring the Next TenThree founders built the product. Who builds the company?Eligibility:Open to all students.Inter-college teams: AllowedInter-specialization teams: AllowedTeam size: 3 to 4 membersRegistration Fee: FreePrize Pool: ₹20,000 total 1st Prize - ₹ 10,0002nd Prize - ₹ 6,0003rd Prize - ₹ 4,000Timeline:Registration Closes: 18th Sept, 11:59 PMPPT (Round 1) Submission Closes: 21st Sept, 12:00 AMShortlist Notification: 22nd SeptRound 2 (Offline): 25th Sept 4:00 pm to 26th Sept 4:00 pmResults Announcement: 26th Sept by judgesNote:  Offline event will be held at RV College of Engineering, BengaluruRules:All code and project work must be original and built during the event timeline — submission of pre-built/ready-made projects (built before the competition) is strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification.Teams must not share code, ideas, or resources with other participating teams during the competition.Each team may compete in only one track.Team composition (members) cannot be changed after registration closes.The organizing committee's/judges' decisions are final and binding.Teams must adhere to all submission deadlines, late submissions will not be accepted or evaluated.Any misconduct, misbehavior, or violation of these rules during the event may lead to disqualification at any stage.