HACK4INNOVATION 2026, a 30-hour intercollegiate hackathon hosted by the Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Technology (VESIT), Mumbai, emerged as a dynamic platform for innovation, attracting top engineering talent from across Maharashtra. Organized by the VESIT Renaissance Cell (VRC) in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Mumbai, Ghatkopar West, and supported by the institute’s Innovation and Incubation Cell (IIC) and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the event took place on March 27 and 28, with participation from 83 colleges.
The hackathon received an impressive 1,489 registrations, with over 400 participants advancing to submit a total of 384 solutions. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process, 42 teams qualified for the finals—30 in the Software track and 12 in the Hardware track—highlighting both the scale and competitive intensity of the event.
Participants were tasked with developing innovative, real-world solutions within a constrained timeframe, addressing critical domains such as cybersecurity, assistive technology, home healthcare, crowd prediction, sports analytics, and cultural education. The event fostered a high-energy, collaborative environment that encouraged rapid prototyping, creative problem-solving, and interdisciplinary thinking.
The competition culminated in a Power Judging Round, where finalist teams presented their solutions to a panel of industry experts. With a prize pool of ₹2,00,000, the hackathon recognized projects that demonstrated not only technical excellence but also practical relevance and scalability.
Dr. (Mrs.) Jayalekshmi M. Nair, Principal, VESIT, remarked, “HACK4INNOVATION 2026 reflects our commitment to creating platforms that extend beyond classroom learning and inspire students to address real-world challenges. It is truly encouraging to see young minds collaborate, innovate, and build solutions with such passion and purpose.”
The successful execution of the event was driven by the coordinated efforts of student-led technical bodies, including IEEE, CSI, ISTE, ISA, and the Maker Bhavan Foundation Tinkerers’ Lab, underscoring strong student leadership and organizational excellence.
