TECHFEST 2025-26
Algorithmic Trading Competition
Objective:
To equip participants with the skills to design, implement, and evaluate rule based equity
trading strategies, progressing from individual aptitude assessment to strategy ideation,
backtesting, and real world feasibility analysis.
Round 1 – Aptitude Test
All participants must first register on the Techfest website either as an individual or as a
team. Upon registration, each participant or team will receive a unique Techfest ID.
To attempt the online test on Unstop, participants must:
1. Register on Unstop.
2. Submit the unique ID as part of the registration for verification.
Once the unique ID is successfully verified, participants will gain access to the 40-minute
online test, which will consist of 10 multiple-choice questions of equal weightage and no
negative marking.
The test is designed to evaluate:
● Quantitative Aptitude
● Logical Reasoning
● Basic Trading Knowledge
Registration Eligibility:
Each participant can register on the Techfest website only once, either as an individual or as
part of a team (up to 3 members). A participant cannot be part of more than one team. Any
violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the competition.
If a participant wishes to change their registration status from individual to team, or vice
versa they must first dissolve the registration on the Techfest website before registering
again with the new status.
Note: If a member of a team deregisters, the entire team will be considered deregistered,
and all team members must re-register individually or as a new team in order to continue
participating in the competition.
Important Registration Guidelines:
● Unique ID Usage: Each participant or team will receive a unique Techfest ID upon
registration. This ID can be used only once to register on Unstop. Any attempt to
register multiple times with the same ID will lead to immediate disqualification, and
the participant or team will no longer be allowed to continue in the competition.
● Team Registration: For participants registered as a team, only one member should
use the Techfest ID to register on Unstop on behalf of the entire team. If multiple
team members attempt to register individually using the same ID, it will be
considered duplicate registration, and the entire team will be disqualified.
Test Link: Click here to access the Round 1 Test on Unstop.
Round 2 – Strategy Ideation & Flowchart Submission
In this round, participants will progress from conceptualization to a structured strategy
framework. No coding is required at this stage.
Participants must:
1. Choose a Topic
Select a clear trading theme or strategy type aligned with equity trading principles.
2. Describe the Trading Idea :
Provide a detailed explanation of the strategy’s logic, based entirely on historical data.
Future data must not be used for signal generation or validation
Note: If applying machine learning, ensure no data leakage — training and testing datasets
must be distinct and time-consistent.
3. Flowchart & Technical Breakdown
Present the strategy as a flowchart including:
● Data Source: Must use tvDatafeed (daily frequency)
● Buy/Sell Signal Generation Logic
● Execution Plan: Order placement methodology
● Portfolio Sizing / Management Logic
● Planned Python Libraries for later implementation
Restrictions:
● Only Nifty 500 equity stocks are permitted
● Derivative and options-based strategies are not allowed
● Use of future-looking data or unrealistic assumptions is prohibited
The objective of this round is to design a realistic, rule-based algorithmic trading strategy
that will be implemented and backtested in Round 3
Submission: Email your PPT to jaya@[Link] with subject “ Algo Competition round 2
Submission: [Team ID]” (e.g., “Algo Competition round 2 Submission: TX-208377”).
Round 3 – Strategy Implementation & Backtesting
This is where the strategy is brought to life. Participants will transform their Round 2 trading
concepts into a fully functional algorithm, implemented in Python and validated through
comprehensive backtesting.
Key Requirements
● Implement and test the strategy using the [Link] library
● Source historical data via tvDatafeed (daily frequency)
● Restrict trades to Nifty 500 equity stocks only
Final Submission Deliverables:
Submit a PDF export of a .ipynb Jupyter Notebook containing:
● Complete code implementation of the strategy
● Clear documentation of logic and methodology (via comments or markdown)
● Performance metrics such as profit and loss, drawdown, and win rate
● Visualizations including equity curves and trade signal charts
● Commentary on the strategy’s robustness and real-world practicality
Submission: Email PDF to jaya@[Link] with subject “Algo Competition final
Submission: [Team ID]” (e.g., “Algo Competition final Submission: TX-208377”).
Evaluation Criteria:
Submissions will be evaluated on:
● Return Potential – Profitability and growth consistency
● Risk Profile – Volatility, drawdowns, and stability
● Logical Consistency – Alignment between concept and execution
● Practical Viability – Suitability for real-market conditions
Final Round – Compete
In the final stage of the competition, shortlisted teams will present their trading strategy to a
panel of judges in a 10-minute pitch session.
Presentations must clearly convey:
● The core idea and underlying logic of the strategy
● Key performance outcomes from backtesting
● Risk management framework and execution methodology
● The practicality and effectiveness of the approach in real-world market conditions
This round is the ultimate test of both technical expertise and presentation skills. Participants
must not only demonstrate the strength of their strategy but also justify, defend, and
persuasively market it to the judges.
Team Specifications and Eligibility
● Eligibility: Open to all students with a valid ID from their educational institution.
● Team Size: Teams may include students from different institutes. Maximum of 3
members per team.
COMPETITION TIMELINE:
Date Event
15th September Deadline of Registration on Techfest Website
24th September 1st Round: Online test
30th September Announcement of 1st Round Qualifiers
20th October Deadline of 2nd Round Submission
30th October Announcement of 2nd Round Qualifiers
20th November Deadline of 3rd Round Submission
1st December Announcement of 3rd Round Qualifiers
24th December Finale and Award Ceremony
General Rules:
1. Every participant must register online at [Link], receiving an ID for future
reference.
2. Registrations for Round 1 are open until September 15, 2025.
3. The organizers’ and judges’ decisions are final and binding. Techfest reserves the
right to verify participant details.
4. Techfest, IIT Bombay, is not responsible for late or lost entries.
5. The latest information will be available on [Link], with registered participants
notified of changes via email.
6. Official communication will be through the Techfest email (jaya@[Link]).
7. All entries must be the original work of the contestant/team.
8. Any form of plagiarism is prohibited and the contestant/team will be disqualified from
the Challenge.
9. Finalists must present valid ID cards and provide a copy for verification
Certificate Policy
Only those teams that are shortlisted for the finals and also give a final presentation about
their work during Techfest 2025-26 would be awarded an e-Certificate of Participation.
Prize Money
Prize money will be awarded to the top three teams via NEFT, latest by May 2026. Winners
must email the following to jaya@[Link] immediately after results:
Subject: “Algo Competition, [Team ID] – [Position]” (e.g., “Algo Competition, SP-2309234 –
1st Position”)
Body:
1. Account Holder’s Name
2. Account Number
3. Bank Name and Branch
4. IFSC Code
5. A photograph of the Bank Passbook as proof