Startup Autopsy - Techtrix 2026

General Competition Rules:

• Team Composition: 1–3 members per team. (Recommended: Mix of tech & business roles).
• Tools: BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Any tech stack is allowed.
• AI Policy: Generative AI is permitted for brainstorming/assets but must be disclosed. Core strategy and MVP logic must be original.
• Plagiarism: Copy-pasting existing "Why X Failed" articles results in immediate disqualification.

Phase 1: Elimination Round (Online)

• The focus is on diagnosis & strategy.

Submission Requirements:

The Autopsy Deck (PDF - Max 5 Slides):

• Slide 1: The Cause of Death. Identify 3 fatal flaws (must include at least 1 tech flaw and 1 business flaw).
• Slide 2: The Pivot. Define the new value proposition. What is the product now?
• Slide 3: Tech Architecture. Diagram showing how the system changes to support the fix.
• Slide 4: Business Viability. How does the new model make money?
• Slide 5: The Roadmap. A plan to regain market trust.

The Prototype (Low-Fidelity):

• A link to a Figma wireframe or a static code repo demonstrating the concept of the fix.

Judging Criteria (Pass/Fail):

• Diagnostic Accuracy (40%): Did they find the root cause, not just symptoms?
• Strategic Viability (30%): Is the pivot realistic given the startup's assets?
• Clarity (30%): Is the deck professional and self-explanatory?

Phase 2: Pitching Round (Offline)

• The focus is on execution & proof of concept.

Submission Requirements:

The Functional MVP (High-Fidelity):

• Tech Requirement: The prototype must be interactive. Buttons must work, data must be displayed, or the core algorithm must run. (No static screenshots).
• The "Fix" Feature: The MVP must specifically demonstrate the feature that solves the original failure.

The Investor Pitch (Live):

• The Hook: Why this pivot works where the original failed.
• The Demo: A live walkthrough of the MVP.
• The Defence: Answering judge questions on technical debt and burn rate.

Scoring Rubric (100 Points):

• Innovation (30 pts): Creativity of the pivot strategy.
• Technical Execution (30 pts): Quality and functionality of the MVP/Code.
• Business Logic (20 pts): Viability of the revenue model and market fit.
• Q&A Defense (20 pts): Ability to defend the diagnosis against judge scrutiny.