Hack Among Us

Event Overview: Hack Among Us is the flagship 24-hour hybrid hackathon of Dakshh 2026, the Annual Techno-Management Fest of Heritage Institute of Technology, bringing together innovative minds to design and build impactful technological solutions.This is a 24-hour hybrid hackathon and not the usual overnight-stay hackathon. The event will run in scheduled phases rather than requiring participants to stay overnight at the venue. Organized at Heritage Institute of Technology, this competition challenges participants to transform creative ideas into working prototypes within a limited time frame. The hackathon begins with an online idea submission round, in which teams present their proposed solutions in a pitch. The most promising ideas will be shortlisted and invited to compete in the on-campus 24-hour hacking finale, where teams will build, refine, and demonstrate their prototypes before a panel of judges. Participants will collaborate, innovate, and push their limits to solve real-world challenges across diverse domains, including software development, artificial intelligence, data science, sustainability, and social impact. The event combines creativity, technical expertise, and teamwork, providing students with an exciting opportunity to showcase their innovation on a competitive platform. Themes: 1. Fintech Frontier (Fintech Track): Build solutions for the future of digital finance — including secure payments, digital banking, financial inclusion, fraud detection, budgeting tools, and smart financial management platforms. 2. Planet Protectors (Environment & Sustainability Track): Create technology-driven solutions for climate action, waste management, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and smart environmental monitoring. 3. Knowledge Navigators (Education Track): Develop innovative platforms that improve learning through accessibility, personalized education, skill development, exam preparation, and AI-powered learning tools. 4. Automation Architects (AI & Automation Track): Design AI-powered systems and automation tools to improve productivity, decision-making, and workflows across industries. 5. Health Hack Crew (Healthcare Track): Build impactful healthcare solutions such as telemedicine platforms, health monitoring systems, mental health tools, and AI-driven diagnostics. 6. Open Innovation (Wildcard Track): A flexible track for bold ideas solving real-world problems across domains like cybersecurity, space tech, mobility, governance, and social impact. Rules and Regulations: The hackathon will be conducted as a 24-hour hybrid event with both online and on-campus components. Shortlisted teams from Round 1 will qualify for the on-campus final build and presentation round. Based on this evaluation, the Top 30 teams, regardless of tracks, will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the Offline Grand Finale (24-Hour Hackathon Round). The final round will be a time-bound build-and-pitch session conducted at the venue. Projects may be developed under the themes: FinTech, Environment & Sustainability, Education, AI Agents & Automation, Healthcare, and Open Innovation. Teams must register through the official hackathon registration portal to participate. Official announcements and instructions will be communicated through the designated communication channel. Teams must adhere to the event timeline and submission guidelines provided by the organizers. Evaluation will include progress reviews, technical code inspection, and a final presentation before the judging panel. Judging criteria will include innovation, technical implementation, real-world impact, scalability, and UI/UX. The decision of the judges and the organizing committee will be final and binding. Top-performing teams will be awarded prizes and certificates. Plagiarism, submission of pre-built projects, or use of unfair means will lead to immediate disqualification. Professional conduct is mandatory throughout the event; any form of misconduct or harassment will result in removal from the hackathon. Participants must follow all instructions provided by the organizers and volunteers during the event. The decision of the judges will be final and binding. The organizing committee reserves the right to modify the rules if required to ensure the fair conduct of the event.