Sociothon: Hackathon for Social Impact

Overview: Innovate with AI. Solve for Society. Build for Impact. Sociathon 2026, in collaboration with the Social Welfare and Development Committee, VIT Pune, is a flagship innovation initiative that brings together young innovators, developers, designers, and problem-solvers to leverage Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies to address real-world social challenges. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sociathon 2026 provides participants with a platform to transform ideas into impactful solutions across domains such as Healthcare, Sustainability, Education, and the Future of Work. Participants will get an opportunity to explore and apply cutting-edge technologies including Generative AI, Agentic AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Granite LLM, and other emerging tools while collaborating in interdisciplinary teams. Hackathon Journey: Round 1 — Online | Idea Submission: Participants will submit their innovative solution idea through a PPT, following the prescribed template and aligned with the hackathon themes. Evaluation Criteria: Innovation Feasibility Alignment with SDGs Eligibility Requirement: All team members must complete the designated free Guided Learning Experience (GLE) and submit the corresponding badge/certificate. Round 2 — Online | Idea Pitching: Shortlisted teams from Round 1 will present and pitch their ideas virtually before a panel of judges. Evaluation Criteria: Clarity of the solution Feasibility Presentation skills Q&A handling Round 3 — On-Campus | Prototype & Final Pitch: The finalists will move to the on-campus finale, where they will transform their ideas into working prototypes and present their solutions before an expert jury. Evaluation Criteria: Working prototype Innovation Social impact Presentation Themes: Participants can build solutions addressing challenges in areas such as: Healthcare Sustainability & Environment Education Future of Work Other Social Impact Challenges aligned with the SDGs Team Formation: Team size: 2–4 members Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged. Participants are encouraged to bring diverse skills across technology, design, research, and problem-solving. Project Deliverables: Teams will progress through three stages: Round 1: PPT-based Idea Submission Round 2: Online Idea Pitch Round 3: Working Prototype + Final Pitch Presentation Disqualification: A team may be disqualified if: The submission is copied, plagiarized, or lacks originality. The team fails to follow submission guidelines or deadlines. The team does not meet the prescribed team-size or eligibility requirements. Participants engage in misconduct, academic dishonesty, or disruptive behaviour during the event. Why Participate? Sociathon 2026 is an opportunity to go beyond simply building a project. Identify a meaningful problem, leverage emerging technology, collaborate with diverse minds, and build a solution that can create real-world impact. Bring your ideas. Build with AI. Create for society. Are you ready to build the future with purpose?