Goa gears up for ‘Shackathon’ with strong national participation

Goa Khabar : The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, is all set to host ‘Goa Shackathon’ on May 21 and 22, 2026 at Baga Beach, with preparations underway for beachside workation experience in Goa.

Receiving an overwhelming response from across the country, the event has already attracted over 700 registrations from startups, innovators, creators, designers, remote professionals, students and members of the creative economy.

From these entries, 300 participants have been selected to take part in the two-day immersive experience that blends innovation, networking and collaboration in a unique beachside setting.

Goa Shackathon reimagines the concept of a conventional hackathon by transforming Goa’s iconic beach shacks into collaborative workspaces where participants can ideate, connect and create while experiencing Goa’s vibrant work-life culture. The initiative reflects Goa’s growing positioning as a destination for innovation, remote work and creative entrepreneurship.

*Speaking about the upcoming event, the Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications and Tourism, Rohan Khaunte said,* “The response to Goa Shackathon has been truly encouraging. It’s exciting to see so many young professionals, creators and innovators looking at Goa as a space that supports fresh ideas, collaboration and new ways of working. Goa today is evolving as a destination where technology, creativity and meaningful experiences come together naturally.”

Director of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Kabir Shirgaonkar said, “Goa Shackathon is designed to create an engaging and productive environment where participants can interact, exchange perspectives and work alongside like-minded individuals. Beyond the sessions and activities, the event also reflects how workspaces today are becoming more open, collaborative and experience-driven.”

Day One of this two-day event, themed ‘Hustle and High Tides’, will primarily engage startups, founders, IT professionals, academia and innovation-driven participants through discussions on the future of AI and robotics, building companies from Goa, communication and storytelling, and how geography is emerging as a competitive advantage in the evolving work landscape. The sessions will feature noted speakers and industry leaders including Dr. Annurag Batra, Joydeep Rakshit, Hari Bojan, Vijay Vikram Singh, Mohit Dubey, Daniel Imhoff, Adrian Schmidt, Dr. Sunny Satpati, Pranay Gupta, Sairaj Dhond and Ruhail Amin. The inaugural day will also witness the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Hon’ble IT Minister.

Day Two, themed ‘Creators and Coastlines’, will focus on creators, designers, freelancers, students, media professionals and members of the creative economy. The sessions will include discussions on creativity as a business advantage, communication and voice modulation, AI for design, and designing from Goa, along with demonstrations and interactions led by creators and entrepreneurs including Harshit Desai, Joydeep Rakshit, Vijay Vikram Singh and Samar Farooqui. Participants will also engage in collaborative activities including networking experiences, games and a boat ride.

Participants representing sectors such as TourismTech, TravelTech, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare, DeepTech, EdTech, Geospatial Technology and DroneTech are expected to take part in the initiative alongside ecosystem enablers and student entrepreneurs.

Hosted exclusively at Baga Beach, Goa Shackathon aims to create a relaxed yet high-energy environment that encourages innovation, meaningful conversations and creative collaboration beyond conventional conference spaces.