Welcome to Hackathon

🚀 Introduction

Welcome to CodeStrom Smart Hackathon – a high‑intensity, collaborative innovation event designed to bridge the gap between engineering talent and industry expertise. CodeStrom brings together the brightest engineering students and seasoned industry professionals to co‑create smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions for real‑world challenges.

Over the course of 48 hours, teams will ideate, prototype, and pitch their breakthrough ideas in areas like AI/ML, IoT, blockchain, sustainable energy, and smart city infrastructure. Whether you are a student eager to apply your classroom knowledge or a professional looking to mentor and build alongside fresh minds, CodeStrom is your launchpad for impact.

🎯 Objectives

• Foster  interdisciplinary collaboration between students and industry  experts.
• Accelerate  innovation by tackling challenges posed by corporate partners and      social enterprises.
• Provide a real‑world learning platform where participants gain hands‑on     experience in product development, agile methodologies, and presentation skills.
• Identify and nurture top talent – connect outstanding participants with      internship and job opportunities.
• Build  a vibrant community of problem‑solvers, mentors, and future  leaders.

🔍 The Problem Statements (Themes)

Participants can choose from four thematic tracks:

1. Smart  Cities & Infrastructure – IoT, traffic management, waste  reduction.
2. Healthcare  & Well‑being – Telemedicine, wearable diagnostics, mental  health.
3. Sustainability & Climate – Renewable energy, carbon footprint tracking,      circular economy.
4. Productivity  & Education – EdTech, remote collaboration, upskilling  platforms.

Each track comes with specific challenges provided by our industry partners.

📋 Process of Selection

The hackathon follows a phased approach to ensure fairness and quality:

The CodeStrom Smart Hackathon follows a structured, multi‑phase journey designed to nurture ideas from conception to celebration. The process begins with online registration, which opens two weeks before the event, where teams of 2–4 members sign up with their profiles and preferred problem track. One week prior to the hackathon, each registered team must submit a 2‑page proposal outlining their solution approach, which is then reviewed by an expert panel during the preliminary screening phase—held four days before the event—to select up to 30 teams that will participate onsite. The action kicks off on Day 1 morning with an opening ceremony, a deep‑dive into the problem statements, and optional team formation for those who need it. What follows is an intensive 36‑hour building phase spanning Day 1 and Day 2, filled with non‑stop coding, designing, and iterating, all while mentor support is readily available. On Day 3 morning, each team presents a working prototype alongside a pitch deck to the judging panel during the final presentations. The event culminates that same evening with a grand winner announcement and awards ceremony, where cash prizes, trophies, and special recognitions are bestowed upon the standout innovators.

🏆 Winners Criteria (Judging Framework)

Projects are evaluated on the following weighted criteria:

• Innovation  & Originality (30%) – Novelty of the idea and approach.
• Technical Complexity & Execution (25%) – Quality of code, architecture,      and prototype completeness.
• Impact  & Scalability (20%) – Potential to solve real problems and      scale to market.
• User Experience (15%) – Design, usability, and user‑centric thinking.
• Presentation      & Communication (10%) – Clarity of pitch, storytelling, and      Q&A handling.

👨‍🏫 Esteemed Panel Members

Our distinguished jury comprises industry leaders, academicians, and technology experts:

International Jury Members: 

• Dr A V K Sinha (PhD)
• Ganesh Adepu
• Hariprakash Pasumarthi
• Krishna Sukanth Randhi
• Mutha Ravi Tej Kotla 
• Naga Bhuvaneswari Chinnam
• Praveen Kumar Bandaru
• Ravi Teja Balla
• Rishith Chinthamani
• Samiuddin Mohammed
• Sanjeev Vemireddy
• Sapthagiri Padmanabham
• Venkata Kalyan Polamarasetty
• Venkata Ramachandra Karthik Chundi
• Vivekananda Reddy Polamreddy

(please refer the Hackathon Kit for respective mentor and HoD) 

📜 Rules and Regulations for Panel Selection & Responsibilities

Panel Selection

• Members  are chosen based on their domain expertise, industry experience, and prior      judging track record.
• The panel must include at least one academician, one industry technologist,      and one entrepreneur.
• No  panel member shall have a direct conflict of interest with any      participating team.
• Panel composition is final and subject to change only in exceptional circumstances.

Responsibilities of Panel Members

• Review proposals during the screening phase and provide constructive      feedback.
• Mentor  teams during the building phase (rotating office hours).
• Evaluate  final projects using the official scoring rubric.
• Maintain  impartiality and confidentiality throughout the process.
• Offer  post‑hackathon guidance to winning teams for further development.
• Participate   in the awards ceremony and announce winners.

🎁 Benefits for Participants

• Cash Prizes – ₹1,25,000 for the winner, ₹50,000 for first runner‑up,      ₹25,000 for second runner‑up.
• Internship  & Job Offers – Direct interviews with our industry partners      for top performers.
• Mentorship –  One‑on‑one sessions with panellists and industry mentors.
• Swags   & Certificates – All participants receive exclusive CodeStrom      merchandise and participation certificates.
• Networking –   Connect with peers, recruiters, and thought leaders.
• Incubation  Support – Winning teams get access to our partner incubator for 3 months.

📌 Rules and Regulations for Students

1. Team  Composition – Each team must have 2‑4 members. At least one   member must be an engineering student (undergraduate or postgraduate). The  remaining may be students or industry professionals (see next section).
2. Eligibility –   Open to all engineering disciplines (BE/B.Tech, ME/M.Tech, MCA, etc.) and final‑year diploma   students.
3. Original  Work – All code and designs must be created during the hackathon.      No pre‑built solutions or external libraries are allowed unless explicitly permitted.
4. Technology  Stack – Open choice, but must be documented in the final submission.
5. Code   of Conduct – Respectful behaviour, no harassment, and adherence      to event timelines.
6. Intellectual  Property – Participants retain full IP rights to their projects.      CodeStrom and partners may request non‑exclusive licensing for evaluation      purposes only.

👥 Rules for Industry Professionals

• Professionals  can join as individual participants or mentors.
• If  participating as team members, they cannot have prior involvement in the problem statement or any affiliated company.
• Professionals   are expected to share their expertise and contribute to a healthy learning environment.
• They  are eligible for all prizes and benefits, but if they join a student‑led team, the team’s student count must remain ≥ 50%.
• Professionals may be asked to provide a letter of recommendation or proof of employment.

📋 General Guidelines for All Participants

• Registration –   Online registration closes 48 hours before the event. Late entries will      not be accepted.
• Check‑in –  On‑site check‑in is mandatory. Bring a valid college ID or government‑issued      ID.
• Accommodation –   Limited hostel/guest house facilities available on a first‑come, first‑served   basis. Participants are encouraged to arrange their own stay.
• Meals –  Complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided on all      hackathon days.
• Internet   & Power – High‑speed Wi‑Fi and power strips will be      available. Participants are advised to bring their own laptops and      chargers.
• Code of Ethics – No plagiarism, cheating, or misuse of data. Any      violation will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Dispute  Resolution – The organising committee’s decision will be final      and binding.

Important dates:

1. Registration Start: April 12, 2025

2. Last Date: May 03, 2025  

3. Event Date: May 21, 2025 (48 Hrs) 

📞 Contact & Next Steps

• Website : www.scinovaifr.co.uk, Venue:      Offline at Club Office / Online – Zoom Platform 
• Email : office@scinovaifr.co.uk
• Social  Media : @CodeStromHack (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram)