Lexcelerate’26: Legal Startup Idea Pitching Contest at HPNLU Shimla [Hybrid; Cash Prizes Rs 20,000]

Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla is one of India’s national law universities, established to advance excellence in the study and practice of law. The university combines rigorous academic training with engagement on contemporary legal and policy questions, and places emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, critical inquiry and public service.

The Legal Innovation and Incubation Cell (LIIC) is a student-driven initiative at HPNLU that works at the intersection of law, technology, entrepreneurship, policy and design. Through innovation projects, startup incubation, collaborative research and publications, the Cell encourages students to build practical solutions for legal practice and institutional processes rather than treating legal education as interpretation alone.

Lexcelerate’26 is a Shark Tank style pitching platform for legal startups and innovators, where participants turn real problems in the legal ecosystem into technology-driven ventures. It will be held on 30 September 2026 in hybrid mode, with participants free to attend on campus at HPNLU Shimla or to join online.

The theme for this edition is Access to Justice. Participants are asked to develop solutions that make justice more accessible, affordable, understandable and inclusive. Each pitch is heard by a panel of legal professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts who test the model, question its feasibility and assess its potential for real-world impact.

The announced judging panel comprises Adrika Singh (Founder, Nowlez: AI Munshi), Chirag Mittal (Founder, Resolvify), Adv. Mudit Nagpal (Advocate, Rajasthan High Court) and Dr. Ravi Bhatia (Coordinator, Biotechnology Incubation Centre, HPU).

• The competition is open to everyone, and participation is possible either by coming to the HPNLU campus or through online means.
• Participants may enter individually or in teams of a maximum of three members.
• Each participant or team may submit only one startup idea.
• The idea may be at any stage, including conceptual, prototype or operational.

Participants are required to present a startup concept that addresses an existing challenge in the field of law, justice delivery, legal education, compliance, policy or allied sectors. The concept must be the original work of the participating team, and intellectual property rights in the idea remain with the participants. The organisers advise participants not to disclose highly confidential information during a public presentation.

Every team delivers its pitch before the judging panel using a PowerPoint presentation or pitch deck. The presentation must not exceed 10 minutes in total, including the explanation of the business model, and is followed by a question-and-answer session with the judges. Teams must carry their presentations in accessible digital formats such as PPT, PPTX or PDF, and the organising committee is not responsible for technical issues arising from incompatible files or devices.

The pitch deck should preferably cover:

• Introduction of the startup and the team
• Problem identification
• Proposed legal or business solution
• Market need and target audience
• Innovation and competitive advantage
• Revenue or sustainability model
• Growth potential and scalability
• Implementation strategy and future roadmap

• Originality and innovation of the idea
• Relevance to the legal field
• Feasibility and sustainability
• Market potential and impact
• Clarity and structure of the presentation
• Ability to address questions raised by the judges

The evaluation and decisions of the judging panel are final and binding, and no request for re-evaluation will be entertained. The use of offensive, plagiarised or misleading content during a presentation leads to disqualification.

Organised as part of Lexcelerate’26, Vidhi-Verse is a curated legal innovation and startup exhibition that brings together legal-tech startups, emerging ventures, student innovators and organisations shaping the future of law. From AI-powered legal solutions and online dispute resolution platforms to tools for legal education, access to justice, research and legal practice, the exhibition is designed to let students and visitors experience innovation firsthand and interact directly with founders.

The registration fee is Rs 500 per head for general participants and Rs 350 per head for HPNLU students. Registration closes on 29 September 2026.

Registration must be completed only through the official registration form circulated by the organisers, hosted on the HPNLU ERP portal. A registration is treated as valid only after the prescribed fee has been paid successfully. All official communication about the competition is sent to the registered email address and through the designated communication groups.

A registered team wishing to withdraw must communicate this by email before registrations close. Refund of the registration fee is at the discretion of the organising committee.

Beyond the awards for the top pitches, every participant receives a certificate of participation, 30% off on any course from LawMento and 10% off on Lawctopus Law School courses.

Formal attire is mandatory during the competition rounds, and participants are expected to maintain professionalism and ethical conduct throughout. Any misconduct, disruption, harassment or use of unfair means may lead to immediate disqualification. Participants must make their own travel and accommodation arrangements; the organisers are not responsible for accommodation unless specifically notified otherwise. The organising committee reserves the right to amend the rules, schedule or format at any stage, with changes communicated to participants in due course.