Unveiling Innovation: udaan’s Inaugural Hackathon 2023
udaan celebrated its first ever tech meet-up ‘Techverse’ in the first week of August 2023, where engineers from various locations flew down to Bangalore for a week of fun, collaboration, learning and reconnecting with our customers. As part of the meet-up week, we hosted our inaugural Hackathon. This event offered a unique platform for our talented engineers to elevate their skills and channel their creativity, engaging in a 24-hour marathon exploration of the product lifecycle, from ideation to implementing a working prototype; and finally delivering a sales pitch to a panel of judges.
The underpinning mantra of the Hackathon was a simple yet potent phrase: ‘Unleash Your Inner Geek.’ With this rallying call, participants were not merely invited to demonstrate their technical prowess, but rather to delve into the depths of their creativity and problem-solving skills but also to build for Bharat. Engineers were encouraged to push their boundaries, break conventions, and craft solutions that solved any real-world problem, not restricted to udaan. Witnessing a remarkable 45+ submissions, culminating in 38 teams crossing the finish line, albeit sleep-deprived, the energy fuelled by adrenaline and the iconic red bull.
Mentoring: Nurturing Innovators
Each registered team was paired with a mentor from our esteemed executive team (TAB team). These TAB team leaders dedicated their time to collaborate with the teams both prior to and during the event, skilfully guiding them through the conceptual landscape and assisting in transforming ideas into concrete solutions. This constructive collaboration with our leadership team created a coming together of collective wisdom, enriching the journey towards innovation.
In the true sense of celebrating the spirit of technology at udaan, this mentorship not only helped hone ideas but also created a good tech connect for our leadership teams.
Recap of an Unforgettable Experience
As the dust settled and the final lines of code were written, the Hackathon had etched a memorable experience in the hearts of all involved. The collective energy, sleepless nights, and relentless pursuit of excellence culminated in an event that was more than a competition — it was a celebration of innovation.
Participants delved deep into their wellsprings of creativity, ignited by an unbridled passion for technology and innovation. Among the highlights, udaan’s trailblazing engineers — Siddartha Reddy, Tarun Mangal and Shashwat Agarwal — reunited to evoke cherished memories from seven years ago when they forged the initial fragments of udaan’s technological journey. Embodying an entrepreneurial spirit, we even witnessed the convergence and divergence of ideas, with teams engaging in idea mergers and splits. This flexible approach saw teams pivoting their focus after identifying shared problem spaces, a testament to the adaptive ethos of the event.
Judging and Awards: Celebrating Excellence
The judging process commenced with a comprehensive floor walkthrough led by a panel of judges, aimed at handpicking the most promising ideas for further consideration. From the initial pool, a curated selection of ten standout ideas advanced to the final round. During this crucial stage, these shortlisted ideas were presented before an esteemed panel of judges, in addition to a larger audience spanning the entire company.
The criteria for evaluation encompassed multiple factors, including the degree of innovation, user-friendliness, potential impact, intricacy of the solution, and quality of presentation itself. This ensured that the ideas not only demonstrated technical prowess but also the ability to resonate with audiences on multiple levels.
Artificial Intelligence, along with Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), spurred a multitude of innovative ideas, including:
- AI-powered voice agents for enhanced customer support.
- Multilingual voice interface amplifying app accessibility.
- Extracting patterns from customer support calls for insights.
- Utilising phone cameras for seamless inventory replenishment.
- Human like chat interface to udaan analytics.
- Decoding investment algorithms and trust from YouTube content.
Three of these groundbreaking concepts secured their place in the esteemed league of final winners.
Five winners emerged, as highlighted below:
In summary, the udaan Hackathon 2023 was not just an event; it was a hub of innovation, a showcase of creativity, and a testament to effective teamwork. As we move towards a tech-driven future, I invite all engineers to keep their passion alive and contribute as architects in this evolving eB2B commerce landscape.
A sincere thank you to the participants, mentors, judges, and organizers who made Hackathon 2023 a reality. Look forward to the next year’s edition of the event, brimming with even more groundbreaking innovations brought to you by team udaan.
