Judge - OpenLoop 2026 National Hackathon

Overview

Participated as a judge at OpenLoop 2026, a 24-hour national-level hackathon organized by the Yentech Community at Yenepoya (Deemed to be University). The event brought together students from across the country to ideate, build, and present innovative solutions within a limited time frame.

Responsibilities

• Evaluated projects based on innovation, feasibility, and real-world impact
• Provided constructive feedback to participating teams
• Engaged in technical discussions with fellow judges
• Supported participants in refining their ideas

Key Observations

• Emphasis on simple, practical solutions over complex implementations
• Strong focus on real-world usability and problem-solving
• High levels of creativity and rapid prototyping under time constraints

Notable Ideas

• Automated form filler system to reuse user data across applications
• Telegram-based document upload system integrated with printing workflows

Outcomes

• Encouraged participants to focus on usability and impact
• Contributed to fair and insightful evaluation of projects
• Engaged with a vibrant community of builders and innovators

Impact

The experience reinforced the importance of simplicity and practicality in innovation. It highlighted how meaningful solutions often emerge from solving everyday problems rather than over-engineering.

Collaboration

• Judges: Vaibhav Salian, Aditya Ramanath Poonja, Joywin Bennis

Acknowledgment

Grateful to the Yentech Community, Yenepoya School of Engineering and Technology (YSET), and the DK24 Consortium for organizing the event and providing the opportunity to contribute.