Launched in association with the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC), the GUVI Hackathon 2025 aimed to bridge the skill gap in the technology sector by offering real-world exposure to students and helping them become industry-ready. Out of the 5,555 students who received training, 2,885 participated in the hackathon initiative, making it a highly engaging program. The hackathon was conducted in a three-level hybrid formatโbeginning with online assessments and culminating in offline finals across Chennai, Thanjavur, and Kanyakumari.
GUVI, an IIT-Madras and IIM-Ahmedabad-incubated EdTech company, has partnered with the Government of Tamil Nadu to upskill 5,555 students across the state under the Naan Mudhalvan schemeโTamil Naduโs flagship youth empowerment initiative. As an empaneled training partner under Naan Mudhalvan, GUVI was entrusted with designing and executing the hackathon to identify and nurture top tech talent. This builds on GUVIโs earlier success with the Naan MudhalvanโAnna University Tamil Nadu Coders Premier League (NM-AU-TNcpl), which trained 82,500+ students in coding and IT skills, promoting a culture of innovation and problem-solving.
Speaking on the success of the initiative, CEO & Founder of GUVI, Arun Prakash, said, “At GUVI, we believe learning should be accessible, hands-on, and relevant to the times we live in. Through this partnership, we were able to train and inspire thousands of young minds to move beyond passive learning and start building real-world solutions. We are grateful to the Government of Tamil Nadu for entrusting us with this mission. Together, we are building a pipeline of tech talent thatโs ready to lead and not just follow in the digital economy.โ
The GUVI Hackathon 2025 unfolded across three levels:
Level 1: Online MCQ Assessment (60 minutes, 50 questions): 2,885 students participated; top 564 advanced.
Level 2: Advanced Online Test (60 minutes, 30 questions): 564 students competed; top 153 selected.
Level 3:ย Offline Hackathon held across three cities, where the 153 finalists worked on real-world projects and presented their solutions. The top 33 performers were declared winners. 112 winners were felicitated with Certificates of Achievement, exciting tech gifts, and special recognition from GUVI for their outstanding performance and creativity.
To prepare for the hackathon, participants underwent 45 hours of expert-led training delivered over 12 sessions. The training emphasized technical skills, creativity, and problem-solvingโall essential for real-world innovation. The finale events were graced by dignitaries including MP Kanimozhi, Mr. Kalaiselvan (Technologist and Education Supporter), industry experts, media representatives, and senior leadership from GUVI and TNSDC.
Speaking about the partnership, Dr. M. Jayaprakasan, CEO, Naan Mudhalvan Initiative, TNSDC said ” The Naan Mudhalvan scheme is designed to equip students with globally competitive skills. Our collaboration with GUVI ensures students donโt just learn theoryโthey apply it in real time. This is the essence of our Honourable Chief Ministerโs vision, where youth are not just job-ready, but future-ready.
โWe donโt just teach technology. We enable transformation. This hackathon gave students a platform to take bold steps into the world of innovation. Weโre proud to play a role in shaping the next generation of changemakers,โ said Balamurugan, Co-founder, GUVI
. Speaking about the partnership,ย Dr. M. Jayaprakasan, CEO, Naan Mudhalvan Initiative, TNSDCย said ” The Naan Mudhalvan scheme is designed to equip students with globally competitive skills. Our collaboration with GUVI ensures students donโt just learn theoryโthey apply it in real time. This is the essence of our Honourable Chief Ministerโs vision, where youth are not just job-ready, but future-ready.โ
Dr. Kalai Selvan Tirucami, Former Additional Director, CUIC Anna University and Advisor Naan Mudhalvan added: โTodayโs fresher hiring has evolvedโhackathons now play as much a role as campus placements. This initiative helps students showcase applied skills, making them visible to top recruiters and multinational companies.โ
