Media Release
Bengaluru, Nov 25: The national-level hackathon on sustainable solutions – Grand Finale, held on November 18, took place at Xavier Hall, St Joseph’s University, bringing together bright young innovators committed to solving real-world sustainability challenges. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 60 teams representing 35 colleges and universities across various states in India. Following rigorous preliminary rounds, 11 teams were shortlisted for the grand finale.
The inaugural ceremony began with a prayer, followed by a welcome address by Dr Sivakannan S, president of the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), and an inaugural message by Dr Regina Mathias, pro vice chancellor. The event served as a dynamic platform to inspire young talent to address sustainability challenges through innovative, future-ready solutions capable of evolving into impactful and scalable ventures.
Participants explored sustainability as a catalyst for innovation across diverse themes, including agriculture, community livelihoods, carbon emissions, waste management, tourism, logistics, water treatment, and health. After the competition, a focused workshop was conducted by Nisha Ninan, aimed at nurturing the next generation of sustainability champions. The session introduced the sustainability mindset instrument developed by Prof Isabel Rimanoczy, emphasizing four key dimensions: Ecological worldview, systems thinking, emotional intelligence, and spiritual intelligence.
The Hackathon received strong support from mentors and industry experts representing organizations such as Thoughtworks, Accacia, Kazam, Bisleri, Beautiful Bharat, Waste Impact Trust, Vertex Ventures, Infoedge, Aline Partners, and ISDM. Special appreciation is extended to mentors Shruti Tandur, Harithejas Namburi, Odette Katrak, Gayatri Handanahal, Nazarius Manoharan, Vijay Krishnan, Sajjan George, Selvam George, Rhea Colaso, and Piyush Chitkara, among others, for their guidance and encouragement. Faculty and students from institutions across Bangalore and other states including St Aloysius Jabalpur, NIE Mysore, and Sri Krishna Arts & Science College, Coimbatore also participated enthusiastically.
The esteemed panel of judges Maris Chacko, Jacob John, Akshay Soni, Dinesh Ram, and Dr Srinath evaluated the teams’ presentations and prototypes to identify the winners. Green Guardians from M S Ramaiah secured the first place, followed by Kalakaar from PES University, and Caldera from St Joseph’s University in third place. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the teams for their dedication and passion for sustainable innovation.
The valedictory ceremony was graced by Fr Denzil Lobo SJ, who delivered an inspiring address on the importance of hackathons, innovation, and entrepreneurship in shaping India’s innovation-driven future. Following the workshop and final presentations, the event concluded with the prize distribution ceremony.
The programme ended with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Kodhai B Narayanan, who expressed gratitude to all mentors, judges, participants, partnering institutions, and the organizing teams from St Joseph’s University. She also placed on record her sincere appreciation for the support and guidance of:
• Dr Pramod K M
• Venugopal, PRO
• Dr Hariharan, startup coordinator
• Nisha Ninan, for her extensive coordination and workshop facilitation
• All dedicated IIC members, whose collective efforts ensured the smooth and successful conduct of the event.