Hacktivate – A Mini Hackathon: Code, Collaborate, Create

As part of the Envision 2025 National Level Tech Fest, the Department of Information Science & Engineering at Srinivas Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Aykan NaVinod Technologies, Mangalore, proudly organized an exciting event titled "Hacktivate – A Mini Hackathon: Code, Collaborate, Create". This two-day event, held on May 7 and 8, 2025, took place in the state-of-the-art Ethonecth 'NDSC' Lab, and served as a dynamic platform for young innovators to demonstrate their problem-solving and programming skills. The central theme for the hackathon was "AI for Real World Impact", aiming to encourage participants to explore the transformative power of artificial intelligence in solving practical problems. In alignment with this theme, Aykan Technologies proposed a compelling problem statement: "AI-Based Crop Disease Identifier for Small Scale Farmers", which was shared with the participants on the first day. The objective was to design an AI-based application that could help farmers detect crop diseases at an early stage, thereby aiding in timely intervention and enhancing agricultural productivity. A total of five teams, each comprising four members, enthusiastically participated in the hackathon. These teams included students from Srinivas Institute of Technology (SIT) and other neighboring engineering institutions. On Day 1 (May 7, 2025), teams were given eight hours to brainstorm, code, and build their innovative AI solutions. The energy and collaborative spirit throughout the day reflected the participants’ passion for technology and innovation. Day 2 (May 8, 2025) was dedicated to the evaluation and presentation of the developed applications. Each team presented their solution to a panel of esteemed evaluators from Aykan Technologies – Mr. Jaideep Poojary and Mr. Shashana K, both Senior Software Engineers with a strong background in AI development. The judges not only evaluated the technical robustness and usability of the applications but also offered valuable feedback and professional insights, guiding students on how to improve and scale their projects for real-world deployment. After careful evaluation, the team from SVMIT was declared the winner for their innovative and well-executed solution, while the team from SIT secured the second place, showcasing commendable effort and creativity. The event concluded on a high note with a vote of thanks extended to Mr. Vinod Kumar, Co-founder and CEO of Aykan NaVinod Technologies, for his immense support, mentorship, and for providing the problem statement and resources necessary for conducting the hackathon successfully. The success of the hackathon was made possible by the motivation and vision of Prof. Sudarshan K, Head of the Department of ISE & CSD, who consistently encourages students to engage in experiential learning. The event was effectively coordinated by Prof. Sowmya, Association Advisor for ISE & CSD, who played a key role in organizing and managing the logistics. A special appreciation goes to the dedicated student organizers – Mr. Shashank Rao, Ms. Spoorthi, and Ms. Rashmi from the 6th semester ISE – whose hard work, planning, and enthusiasm ensured the smooth execution of the event.