Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 16th October 2026: The School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi), in collaboration with AIFUL Corporation, Japan, is organising AiHack 2026, the second edition of its industry-academia hackathon, from 16–18 October 2026 at the IIT Mandi campus in Kamand, Himachal Pradesh. The three-day event will bring together 200 participants to address real-world business challenges through predictive analytics and data-driven innovation.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2025, which witnessed the participation of 200 students, AiHack 2026 will focus on “Predictive Analytics in Consumer Finance.” With a cumulative prize pool exceeding ₹2.5 lakh, the competition will challenge participants to develop predictive models and actionable business solutions using real-world datasets provided by AIFUL Corporation, Japan.

The hackathon aims to bridge classroom learning and industry practice by encouraging students to understand complex business contexts, navigate data-related challenges, apply analytical techniques and translate their findings into meaningful business recommendations.

Commenting on the significance of the initiative, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, said “At IIT Mandi, we believe that technological innovation must be rooted in real-world problem-solving. AiHack provides students with an opportunity to apply their analytical knowledge to authentic business challenges while engaging with international industry expertise. Our continued collaboration with AIFUL Corporation reflects our commitment to strengthening industry-academia partnerships and promoting experiential learning.”

Bridging Classroom Learning and Real-World Business Challenges

Unlike conventional academic exercises, AiHack challenges participants to approach data analytics from both technical and managerial perspectives. Students will work with industry datasets to develop predictive models relevant to consumer finance, while evaluating the practical implications of their proposed solutions.

Prof. Anjan K. Swain, Chairperson, School of Management, IIT Mandi, said “AiHack reflects our commitment to making management education truly experiential and industry oriented. The challenge is not merely to build predictive models but to understand the business problems behind the data and develop an appropriate business solution. Hosting AiHack for the second consecutive year demonstrates the value of sustained engagement between the School of Management, IIT Mandi, and AIFUL.”

Representing AIFUL Corporation, Mr. Daiki Machida, General Manager, Group Data Analytics Department, said “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with IIT Mandi through the second edition of AiHack. Predictive analytics has become increasingly important in consumer finance, and this competition provides students with an opportunity to work on challenges directly relevant to industry. We look forward to the innovative perspectives and analytical approaches that participants will bring to the competition.”

International Industry Engagement 

The event will feature participation from a delegation of data analytics professionals representing AIFUL Corporation, Japan. On 15 October, ahead of the hackathon, Mr. Daiki Machida, General Manager; Mrs. Tsukamoto Minori, Section Manager; and Mr. Harsh Tiwari, Data Scientist, from the Group Data Analytics Department, will be present.

On 16 October, the industry delegation will include Ms. Yang Ye, Section Manager, along with Mr. Akshat Tiwari, Mr. Prateek Raj and Mr. Mahesh Kumar, Data Scientists from the Group Data Analytics Department. Their participation will provide opportunities for interaction between students and industry professionals working on contemporary applications of analytics in consumer finance.

Beyond the competition, AiHack 2026 seeks to strengthen India-Japan industry-academia engagement by creating opportunities for talent identification, collaborative research, industry-sponsored projects and future partnerships. Through this initiative, the School of Management, IIT Mandi, aims to nurture professionals capable of combining analytical expertise with business understanding and responsible decision-making.

About AiHack 2026

AiHack 2026 is a three-day industry-academia hackathon organised by the School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, in collaboration with AIFUL Corporation, Japan, from 16–18 October 2026. Centred on Predictive Analytics in Consumer Finance, the event brings together 200 participants to develop data-driven solutions using real-world industry datasets, with a cumulative prize pool exceeding ₹2.5 lakh.

About IIT Mandi:

Indian Institutes of Technology Mandi is one of the top second-generation IITs located in Kamand Valley, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is one of eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and recognized as one of Institutes of National Importance. IIT Mandi's permanent campus about 14 km (8.7 mi) from Mandi consists of the South and North campuses connected by a narrow neck. The South campus is on the left bank of the Uhl River below Kamand village. The North campus is along the Kataula Khad opposite Salgi village. A transit campus at Government Post graduate College, Mandi was handed over by the Himachal Pradesh Government on 16 November 2009. The Kamand campus ground-breaking ceremony, to mark the start of construction, was held on 13 April 2012. On 25 April 2015, IIT Mandi became the first of all the new IITs to completely shift B. Tech students to its permanent campus in Kamand. Since its inception the institute has been involved with more than 275 Research and Development (R&D) projects worth more than ₹120 crore. In the past 10 years, the institute has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with as many as 11 international and 12 national universities.

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