The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, is set to host ‘Goa Shackathon’ from May 21-22, 2026. As the name suggests, Goa Shackathon blends the concept of a hackathon with Goa’s beach shacks, offering a unique setting where solutions are built by the shore. Inspired by unconventional spaces that have sparked some of the world’s most renowned developments in the technology space, this two-day workation experience, reimagines the way India works, creates and collaborates.
Set against the backdrop of Goa’s sandy shores, the event is expected to bring together startups, innovators, designers, remote professionals, students and influencers for an immersive blend of work, ideation and beachside collaboration. The event will be hosted across curated beach shacks, transforming them into creative workstations that encourage innovation outside traditional office environments.
A total of 578 registrations have been received so far, out of which 200 participants will be invited across the two-day event. Day One will focus on startups, founders, IT professionals, academia and innovation-led discussions centred around the future of work, technology and entrepreneurship. Day Two will bring together creators, designers, freelancers, students, media and members of the creative economy, with conversations focused on content creation, digital culture and workation lifestyle.
Interestingly, Shackathon is a unique initiative that transforms Goa’s beach shacks into collaborative workspaces. It reimagines how and where people work by combining productivity, creativity, networking and the unique cultural and lifestyle experience of Goa with conventional startup or tech events held in conference halls, Shackathon creates a relaxed yet high-energy beachside environment that encourages collaboration, ideation and meaningful conversations. The initiative also reflects Goa’s emergence as a preferred destination for remote work.
The event is open to a wide range of sectors and creative disciplines, including startups in TourismTech, TravelTech, AI, Healthcare, DeepTech, EdTech, Geospatial Tech and DroneTech. The event will also see participation from ecosystem enablers and few student entrepreneurs.
Vijay Vikram Singh, Indian voice-over artist and actor, Anand Prabhudesai, founder of TurtleMint, Arjun Sagar, founder of CocoLeni; Sahil Barua, founder of Delhivery, Mohit Dubey, founder of Chalo and Joydeep Rakshit, founder of TAWAI School, are expected at the two-day event.
“Goa has always inspired creativity and new ideas. Shackathon takes this spirit a step forward by transforming beach shacks into spaces for innovation and networking. The initiative reflects Goa’s emergence as India’s new workation destination, a place where professionals, creators, startups and remote workers can work, build and collaborate while experiencing a better quality of life,” said Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications and Tourism.
Beyond workspaces by the sea, the Goa Shackathon will also include experiential activities including water sports and sightseeing, giving participants a real sense of what working in Goa feels like. Alongside breakout sessions on technology, startups and remote work culture, a hackathon will run simultaneously where participants will identify problem statements which will be solved using technology.
By transforming its coastline into innovative workspaces, Goa is trying to reinforce its growing identity as a preferred destination for digital nomads and creative professionals.