India Hackathon 2024

Bangalore, India

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Overview

The 2024 edition of the Mercuria Hackathon in Bengaluru, India has come to an exhilarating close! We were thrilled to host 42 students from 18 institutions, selected from over 250 applications from institutions across India. 

Powered by innovative tech companies Curl and Amphora, this third Hackathon that we have hosted took in November 2024 at one of Bangalore’s newest hotels. Over 36 hours, these brilliant minds were split into 11 teams and faced the challenge of a virtual escape room before diving into one of two open-ended challenges. Despite the lack of sleep, the attitude of the participants was incredibly positive and energetic. Amidst the coding frenzy and the 30 bean bags we brought along, we even celebrated a midnight birthday!

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The challenges

For this Hackathon, the teams were required to crack a virtual escape room that simulated a real-world cyber security scenario in a limited amount of time. Successfully cracking the problem unlocks details for the second challenges and teams can select from one of two different options. Of the 11 teams participating, only one successfully completed the challenge, although not before the time limit!

challenge #1

Virtual escape room

challenge #2

Tree tracking

challenge #3

AI & behaviour analysis

Option 1 – Tree tracking

9 teams tackled the carbon-focused tree tracking challenge, developing innovative systems for managing and verifying a large-scale tree planting initiative to generate carbon credits in India. Technologies used included remote sensing, blockchain, GIS, and AI.

Option 2 – AI & Behaviour Analysis

2 teams took on the security-focused AI & user behavior challenge, creating systems for identifying anomalous and potentially malicious user behavior using Machine Learning and AI.

Whilst this event was competitive, as with all of our hackathons, it was also designed to simulate real work – challenging but with an element of fun – to see how attendees work in teams with people they have never met before, as well as solving open-ended problems they’ve not experienced before using only limited information. As such, and unlike other hackathons that applicants may have attended, we grouped people to see how they collaborate effectively in an unfamiliar setting. As such we required applications from individuals and not teams and teams will be allocated by at the start of the event.

Achievements

Collectively, participants submitted over 8000 lines of code, developing web apps, mobile apps, chatbots, and solutions using vision models, blockchain, OCR, LLMs, IoT devices, and more. There was also copious use of APIs and AI-powered assistants!

Winners

Huge congratulations to our winning team:

  • Yash Gupta from BMS College of Engineering Bangalore
  • Kavya M from AMC Engineering College Bengaluru
  • Gunavardhan Reddy Perugu from M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology Bangalore

They shared a cash prize for their outstanding innovative solutions and teamwork! 🏆

Unlike other hackathons that the students may have attended, we required applications from individuals and not teams. This was so that we could group individuals to see how they collaborate effectively with new teammates in an unfamiliar setting.

Prizes were awarded to the top 3 teams at the event. And as with the previous Mercuria Hackathons, there is the chance that any of the attendees that demonstrated outstanding skills could be offered an internship position, or even a full time role after the Hackathon has finished.

Winners

Huge congratulations to our winning team:

  • Yash Gupta from BMS College of Engineering Bangalore
  • Kavya M from AMC Engineering College Bengaluru
  • Gunavardhan Reddy Perugu from M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology Bangalore

They shared a cash prize for their outstanding innovative solutions and teamwork! 🏆

Venue

The event was held at the new Hyatt Centric Hebbal Village hotel in Bangalore, which provided a fantastic venue with ample room space and facilities, along with delicious food.

Photos and testimonials

Future plans

We are already hard at work planning the next Hackathon, which we expect to take place early next year. Stay tuned and register your interest now!

Any questions?

We have attempted to answer as many questions as you might have on the FAQ page. If there is something that you still need to ask, please drop us an email at hackathon@mercuria.com