Hackathon Highlights: Story from Hackz 2024 Finalist
🚀A Journey of Innovation, Teamwork, and Learning! 💡🧑💻
This past weekend, I had the honor of leading my team in Hackz 2024, an intense 24-hour hackathon that stretched from 10 AM on November 23rd to 10 AM on November 24th. The event was buzzing with energy, creativity, and an overwhelming sense of purpose. With over 1000 teams registered, 500+ submitted their ideas, and only 20 were selected for the final round, our journey to the top felt nothing short of incredible.
What made it even more special? We were the only team from the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG) to make it this far—a proud moment for all of us.
Despite the hackathon being hosted at our college, many teams from CEG had submitted ideas, but we were the sole representatives from our campus in the finals. Representing CEG among teams from diverse colleges and states was both a responsibility and a privilege.
The Challenge: Building Financial Inclusion for Seniors
Our problem statement was as compelling as it was challenging:
Develop an AI-powered financial inclusion platform designed for elderly individuals to simplify digital banking and financial planning. The platform should support voice commands, provide timely alerts for financial milestones, and offer tailored scam protection. By addressing digital literacy challenges, this solution aims to enhance independence and promote safe, accessible engagement with financial services for seniors.
When we read this, we knew this was more than just a technical challenge; it was an opportunity to create a meaningful impact. With the rise in digital banking and scams targeting vulnerable populations, creating a tool to empower the elderly felt deeply significant.
Our Solution: A Fintech Platform for Empowering the Elderly
After a whirlwind of brainstorming, designing, and coding, we presented our prototype, packed with features designed specifically for seniors:
✔️ Voice Commands: For intuitive, hands-free interactions—perfect for users unfamiliar with complex interfaces.
✔️ AI Chat Assistant: A personalized guide to help with financial queries and planning.
✔️ Scam Protection Education: To safeguard users against fraud and teach them to spot red flags.
✔️ Expense, Savings, and Investment Insights: Tailored recommendations to support better financial management.
✔️ Ease of Use: Every feature was designed with accessibility and simplicity in mind to bridge the digital literacy gap.
My Role as Team Lead: A Learning Curve
As the team lead, I had the responsibility of steering our efforts. Coordinating a team in such a high-pressure environment was both thrilling and demanding. I learned the importance of quick decision-making, fostering collaboration, and staying calm under pressure.
I’m incredibly grateful to my teammates—Harini S., Sundar Balamoorthy, and Adhithya—for their dedication and hard work. Sundar and Adhithya were new to hackathons and development, but they stepped up brilliantly, proving that a willingness to learn and contribute matters more than experience. I hope this journey encourages them to take part in more hackathons.
The Hackathon Experience
Hackz 2024 was no ordinary hackathon. It brought together diverse minds from across states, creating a vibrant melting pot of ideas and innovation. The energy in the room as we worked through the night, fueled by adrenaline (and coffee!), was unlike anything else.
We worked tirelessly for 24 hours, juggling ideas, implementing features, and debugging issues, but it was all worth it. By the end, we had a working prototype—a tangible result of our collaboration and effort.
While we didn’t win, being among the top 20 teams out of 500+ submissions was a milestone we cherished.
Acknowledgments
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to:
Navaneethan, our mentor, for his unwavering support and guidance. His encouragement kept us motivated till the very end. Navaneethan, I’m sorry we couldn’t bring home a trophy, but I’ve learned so much from you, and your insights will stay with me as I take on future projects.
CSEA for organizing such a well-structured and supportive event. From managing logistics to ensuring participants were cared for, they truly went above and beyond.
Temenos for sponsoring Hackz 2024 and fostering innovation among young developers.
Takeaways and Reflections
Hackz 2024 wasn’t just about creating a product; it was a journey of growth and discovery. Here’s what I’m taking away:
🌟 Leadership Lessons: Leading a team under a tight deadline taught me how to manage people, tasks, and time effectively.
🌟 Problem-Solving Skills: Tackling real-world challenges pushed me to think creatively and practically.
🌟 Understanding Expectations: Getting feedback from judges and mentors helped me understand what it takes to impress industry experts.
I also realized that mistakes are stepping stones to growth. Each bug we fixed, each feature we struggled to implement, and every moment of doubt taught me something valuable.
Looking Forward
Hackz 2024 has left me inspired and more determined than ever to create impactful tech solutions. The journey doesn’t end here; it’s just the beginning. I plan to build on these experiences, improve my skills, and continue pushing boundaries.
To anyone considering participating in a hackathon: go for it! You’ll leave with more than just technical skills—you’ll gain memories, friendships, and a sense of achievement that’s hard to match.
Once again, thank you to everyone who made this journey unforgettable—my team, mentor, organizers, and sponsors. Here’s to many more hackathons and challenges ahead! 💪