Overview

The Innovation Hackathon 2024 is a 48-hour intensive coding and problem-solving event that aims to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation among college students.

Participants are challenged to apply their technical, design, and business skills to develop innovative solutions for real-world problems across diverse fields, including AI, Smart Factories, Fintech, Healthcare, Sustainability, and more. The hackathon promotes teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking, offering students a platform to showcase their talents and connect with industry experts.

Eligibility

The hackathon is open to engineering students from all branches across India, encouraging broad participation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Teams can consist of up to four members, with no specific restrictions on skill levels, though at least one team member with proficiency in coding and software development is recommended.

Participants must be currently enrolled in a college or university with a valid student ID. All engineering students are welcome, providing an inclusive opportunity for innovation across various fields.

Project Submission

Participants must select a theme for their project. Themes typically focus on AI-based chatbot solutions for sectors such as finance, healthcare, education, automation, smart cities, and banking.
Once the theme is selected, participants should prepare a presentation and a PowerPoint (PPT) file that outlines the details of their project.
Participants must submit their project online through the hackathon platform before the submission deadline. The submission should include:
- A detailed project description
- The presentation and PPT
On the day of the hackathon, participants will be given a problem statement related to the theme they selected. They will then work on creating solutions based on the given problem statement.
Projects will be evaluated based on creativity, technical complexity, feasibility, and the potential impact on the chosen sector.
Ensure all materials are submitted before the deadline to be considered for evaluation.

Judging Criteria

Judging Criteria for AI-based Chatbot Solutions

Projects will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts, entrepreneurs, and academics based on these predefined criteria:

Criteria	Weightage (%)	Description	Focus Areas
Problem Understanding	15%	Does the team show a thorough understanding of the specific problem in the chosen industry? Have they identified key challenges and aligned their solution to it?	Research-based problem articulation, user pain point analysis, and in-depth understanding of the industry context.
Innovation & Creativity	20%	How creative or unique is the chatbot solution? Does it present a novel approach or use existing technologies in new ways?	Originality in the chatbot’s functions, innovative applications of AI, and differentiation from current solutions.
Technical Implementation	25%	How well is the chatbot technically developed? Is it reliable, efficient, and well-documented? Does it meet the technical depth required?	Robustness, stability, performance, quality of AI integration (e.g., NLP, ML models), and overall technical quality to meet hackathon standards.
User Experience	15%	Is the chatbot intuitive and user-friendly? Does the interaction feel smooth, responsive, and engaging?	UI/UX design, ease of use, clear conversation flow, and user-centric design to fulfill user needs with minimal effort.
Solution Impact	15%	How impactful is the chatbot? Does it effectively address a relevant problem and add significant value? Can it be scaled and applied to real-world scenarios?	Real-world relevance, scalability potential, and effectiveness in solving user pain points and inefficiencies in the industry.
Presentation & Communication	10%	How well did the team present their solution? Did they clearly explain their idea, technology, and potential impact?	Quality and clarity of the pitch, organized presentation flow, and thorough responses to judges’ questions.
Collaboration & Teamwork	10%	How effectively did the team work together? Did they leverage each team member’s skills, including Product Managers, Business Analysts, and Developers?	Team collaboration, role-based task distribution, and effective utilization of each member’s expertise to create a cohesive solution.

Each criterion contributes to the overall score, with a focus on innovation, technical excellence, design, usability, scalability, and social impact.

Projects will also be judged on:

Originality: Unique aspects of the solution.
Quality: Thoroughness and technical execution.
Potential to Solve Real-world Problems: Applicability and scalability in real-world contexts.

Winners will be selected based on total score and ranked performance.

Registration

Participants must register online through the official hackathon website. The registration fee is ₹1050 per team. Registration is open to a maximum of 70 teams and is available until the deadline.
During registration, participants must provide the following details:
- Team Name
- Name
- Email address
- Contact number
- Team details
Upon successful registration, participants will receive a confirmation email.

Download Documents

Reference Problem Statements

These problem statements are for reference only. The actual problem statements will be provided on the day of the hackathon.

Category	Problem Statement
Finance	Build a chatbot that helps users record their daily expenses and provides a weekly summary. Create a chatbot that helps users set and track savings goals with regular progress updates.
Healthcare	Design a chatbot that sends users daily health tips and reminders for activities like staying hydrated or taking breaks. Develop a chatbot where users can input symptoms to receive basic guidance on common illnesses.
Education	Build a chatbot that helps students organize their study schedules and reminds them of upcoming assignments. Create a chatbot that quizzes students on different topics and provides feedback.
Automation	Design a chatbot for a fictional store that answers questions about store hours, book availability, and order status. Develop a chatbot that helps users manage a to-do list by adding tasks and setting reminders.
Smart City	Build a chatbot that provides information on local events, including times and locations. Create a chatbot that offers real-time information on public transportation schedules and routes.
Banking	Design a chatbot that helps users categorize their spending and view monthly summaries. Develop a chatbot that educates users on recognizing and avoiding common online fraud and phishing attempts.

Official Rules