Stand a chance to win prizes worth ₹100,000 in the Actuarial Innovation Challenge 2026.
We’re back with season 3 of the Actuarial Innovation Challenge, a case study competition for university students across South Asia. Jointly organised by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), Swiss Re and the Institute of Actuarial & Quantitative Studies (IAQS), this competition is designed to bring together the brightest undergraduate minds to solve real-world actuarial problems.
If you’re studying STEM, commerce, economics, or mathematics-related subjects that could lead to an actuarial career, this is your chance to:
- Compete with top talent South Asia wide
- Showcase your problem-solving and analytical skills
- Network with industry leaders and potential employers
- Gain recognition and win exciting prizes
The grand finale will take place live at the IFoA India Conference 2026 on 6 December 2026 at Hotel Andaz, New Delhi.
Who can take part
- Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students in STEM, commerce, economics, mathematics, or other actuarial-relevant fields.
- Teams of up to 3 members.
Why participate?
- Showcase your skills: Present your actuarial thinking to a professional national audience.
- Expand your network: Engage with senior actuaries, employers, and peers.
- Win prizes worth ₹100,000: Gain recognition from industry experts.
- Boost your career: Develop critical thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills.
“The Actuarial Innovation Challenge pushed us to look beyond textbooks and think like real problem solvers. We chose to tackle the growing risks faced by cloud kitchens and developed DarkCloudInsure, a modular insurance solution. From brainstorming and researching to endless discussions and refining our pitch, it was a challenging yet exciting journey. Winning made all the hard work worth it.”
Competition structure
1. Registration
2. Screening round
Submit your response to the challenge question. The top 20 teams will advance.
3. Virtual semi-finals
Shortlisted teams present their solutions online to a panel of judges. The top 10 teams move forward.
4. Grand finale (in-person)
Finalists present their enhanced solutions during the IFoA India Conference 2026 in New Delhi. Winners will be announced live at the event.
Important dates
- Registration opens: 15 September 2026
- Registration closes and screening round submissions due: 11 October 2026
- Announcement of screening winners: 19 October 2026
- Virtual semi-finals: 4 to 6 November 2026
- Announcement of finalists: 7 November 2026
- Grand finale (live at IFoA India Conference, New Delhi): 6 December 2026
Get ready to solve, innovate and shine in the Actuarial Innovation Challenge 2026.
Prizes and recognition
- Cash prizes: Attractive prizes (in the form of coupons) for the top three teams.
- Certificates: All participants will receive digital certificates that recognise their contributions.
- Featured on website: Winning case studies will be published on the competition website.
Judging criteria
- Accuracy and relevance: How well does your solution address the actuarial challenge?
- Creativity and innovation: What unique approaches have you used to solve the problem?
- Presentation skills: How clearly and effectively do you communicate your ideas?
2025 winners: Micro-insurance for India’s cloud kitchen economy
Team: The Policy Smiths, Institute of Actuarial and Quantitative Studies (IAQS)
Solution: DarkCloudInsure: Micro-insurance for India’s cloud kitchen economy
The winning team created DarkCloudInsure, an affordable and sector-specific micro-insurance solution designed for India’s rapidly expanding dark kitchen and cloud kitchen ecosystem.
With food-tech entrepreneurship rising across metro and tier-2 cities, cloud kitchens face unique operational, fire, hygiene and supply-chain risks that are often uninsured.
DarkCloudInsure aims to bridge this gap by offering:
- Tailored protection for high-risk micro-entrepreneurs
- Affordable cover for small and medium kitchen operators
- Scalable, technology-enabled underwriting
The judges praised the solution for its practicality, relevance, and strong alignment with industry needs.
Contact us
For more details, follow us on our social media channels or contact us at southasia@actuaries.org.uk.