PRAEST-Hack 2k25 Ideate. Innovate. Impact.

Eligibility:

• Open to all UG/PG students from engineering, technology, and allied fields, except students from Sri Sairam Institute of Technology – Department of ECE.

Team Formation:

• Team size: Strictly 4 members per team.
• Inter-college teams are allowed.
• Inter-specialization teams are allowed.
• Gender diversity in team formation is highly encouraged and will be appreciated, but it is not compulsory.

Domains (Problem Statements):

• P25D1: VLSI & Embedded Systems
• P25D2: EduTech, AI/ML, DL, NLP & Cybersecurity
• P25D3: Smart Technology, IoT & Wireless Communication
• P25D4: Open Innovation

Sustainability Focus: Projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be given additional recognition.

• Process & Rounds (6-Hour Hackathon)

Round 1: Abstract Submission (Eliminatory)

• Teams must submit an abstract of their proposed solution in advance.
• Evaluation will be based on innovation, feasibility, SDG alignment, and clarity.
• Only shortlisted teams will qualify for the on-site hackathon.

Round 2: On-Site Hackathon (6 Hours)

• Shortlisted teams will participate in a 6-hour hackathon, which is divided into three stages:

Stage 1 – Project Presentation (Initial Idea Showcase)

• Each team will present their selected problem statement, proposed solution, and preliminary design/approach.
  • Duration: 5–7 minutes per team.
  • Judges will evaluate clarity, innovation, and problem relevance.
• Stage 2 – Improvisation Round (Strategic Enhancement)
  • Teams will refine and improve their projects based on feedback, brainstorming, and strategic inputs.
  • They are expected to work on building prototypes, models, or software demos during this phase.
  • Duration: 3–3.5 hours.
  • Judges/Mentors may interact with teams to provide insights.
• Stage 3 – Business Pitch (Lab to Market)
  • Teams will present their project’s market feasibility, scalability, and sustainability.
  • Focus is on real-world applicability, SDG alignment, and business potential.
  • Duration: 5–7 minutes per team.
  • Judges will evaluate based on presentation, practicality, and impact.

Rules of the Competition:

• Each team must consist of exactly 4 members.
• Students from Sri Sairam Institute of Technology – Department of ECE are not eligible to participate.
• Abstract submission is mandatory; late or incomplete abstracts will not be considered.
• Abstract screening is eliminatory – only selected teams will compete in the 6-hour hackathon.
• Prototypes will be given additional importance, but software-based solutions are equally valued.
• Teams are encouraged to align their projects with the UN SDGs for better impact.
• Gender diversity in teams is appreciated, though not compulsory.
• Teams must develop/modify their solution within the given 6-hour window only.
• Use of open-source tools and libraries is allowed, but plagiarism of ideas is prohibited.
• Judges’ decisions will be final and binding.
• Misconduct, malpractice, or violation of rules will result in immediate disqualification.