Question 1

Who can participate in FAR AWAY 2026?

Accepted Answer

FAR AWAY 2026 is open to anyone aged 15–25 currently residing in India. Whether you're a high schooler, a college student, or already shipping side projects — you're welcome. No coding background is required to register.

Question 2

Can I participate solo or do I need a team?

Accepted Answer

You register individually now. Once our dashboard goes live (via Unstop), you'll be able to form or join teams and collaborate with other participants. The maximum team size is 5 members.

Question 3

Is inter-college participation allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, inter-college teams are allowed. You can form teams with students from different schools or colleges. There can also be multiple teams from the same college.

Question 4

How much does registration cost for FAR AWAY?

Accepted Answer

Registration is completely free — forever. No hidden fees, no premium tier, no late charges. We register you via our platform partner, Unstop.

Question 5

What are the problem statements or themes?

Accepted Answer

There will be 5 broad themes announced 7 days before the online round (scheduled for the first or second week of June). You will choose one theme and do open innovation based on it.

Question 6

Does the product have to be software, or can we use hardware?

Accepted Answer

Hardware and IoT projects are highly encouraged! They usually have a great impact. Just keep in mind that for Round 3, using a basic ESP32 or RP2040 with jumper wires won’t be enough. We recommend learning PCB design and making a proper custom board for later rounds.

Question 7

Is there any compensation or accommodation for Round 2 in Delhi?

Accepted Answer

As of now, we don’t have travel compensation for Round 2. However, this may change depending on our sponsors. For accommodation, we're exploring partnerships with colleges, or we'll secure a venue large enough to host a 24-hour hackathon with overnight access and designated rest zones.

Question 8

Are all expenses covered for the Japan grand finale?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The top 5 teams have flights, hotel, and meals fully sponsored by FAR AWAY. Final dates will be shared at least 2–3 weeks before Round 3 to allow time for passport and visa processing. (Don't panic and rush to passport offices just yet!)

Question 9

Can we have a mentor over 25 years old?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but the mentor cannot physically assist you with the project; they may only provide verbal guidance. They cannot be officially added to the team roster. If your team qualifies for Delhi or Japan, we will not cover the mentor's travel or food, though a parent or guardian may accompany the team at their own expense.

Question 10

What do participants get if they don't win?

Accepted Answer

All participants will receive certificates of participation. Our sponsors might also provide software credits and merchandise, depending on our final sponsor budget.

Question 11

Is there a community group for updates?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our WhatsApp group reached full capacity instantly, so we moved to Slack. Join the active community here: https://faraway.zuup.dev/slack

Question 12

What is Zuup?

Accepted Answer

Zuup is a youth-led non-profit initiative by Zylon Labs, empowering the next generation of builders. Note: FAR AWAY is an independent initiative and is not affiliated with Parul University.

Question 13

How does signup verification and team formation work?

Accepted Answer

Registration is handled on Unstop. If you have trouble checking the profile of your teammates on the platform, please contact Unstop support directly.

Everything you wanted
to know about FAR AWAY

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Everything you wanted to know about FAR AWAY

Talk to a real human.

Everything you wanted
to know about FAR AWAY