Mangaluru: Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management successfully hosted Protothon 2026, a 24-hour hackathon aimed at transforming innovative ideas into functional prototypes, on March 13 and 14.
The event was organised in association with MeitY Startup Hub – Genesis, in collaboration with Sahynex Techsolutions Pvt. Ltd., Technical Career Education (TCE), and Discover Dollar Inc., bringing together aspiring innovators and engineering students from across Karnataka.
Inauguration sets the tone for innovation
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr Shamanth Rai, Dean–Academics, followed by introductory remarks from Dr Rithesh Pakkala, HoD–ISE, who highlighted the vision behind the initiative in promoting industry-oriented learning.
The hackathon was formally inaugurated by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the presence of dignitaries.
The Chief Guest, Rakesh Kumar Desai, encouraged participants to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and develop impactful solutions to real-world challenges.
Dr S. S. Injaganeri, Principal, appreciated the initiative and urged students to leverage such platforms to enhance their innovation and problem-solving skills.
Expert sessions inspire participants
Participants attended a pre-hackathon session by Johnson Tellis, Trustee and CEO of Sahyadri, who shared insights on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Rakesh Kumar Desai also conducted an engaging session focusing on problem-solving approaches, innovation mindset, and evaluation criteria, equipping students for the intensive hackathon.
24-hour challenge drives creativity
The hackathon witnessed enthusiastic participation from engineering students across Karnataka, alongside Sahyadri students.
Over the 24-hour period, teams worked intensively to brainstorm ideas, develop prototypes, and refine solutions addressing real-world industrial challenges using emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence.
Winners across multiple tracks
After careful evaluation, winners were announced across various categories:
Software – AI & ML Track
- 1st Place: Team Boss Bandiths – St Joseph Engineering College
- 2nd Place: Team The Vanished 3 – Sahyadri College of Engineering
- 3rd Place: Team Tech Titans – Sahyadri College of Engineering
Software – Data Engineering Track
- 1st Place: Team Prahara – Sahyadri College of Engineering
- 2nd Place: Team Decoders – University of Mysore School of Engineering
- 3rd Place: Team Innovotrix – Sahyadri College of Engineering
Hardware – Robotics
- 1st Place: Team Bot – Sahyadri College of Engineering
- 2nd Place: Team Zero Gravity – Sahyadri College of Engineering
- 3rd Place: Team Blind Riders – Sahyadri College of Engineering
Hardware – Embedded Systems
- 1st Place: Team Nirvana – Sahyadri College of Engineering
- 2nd Place: Team Prahar – Sahyadri College of Engineering
- 3rd Place: Team Pyro – Sahyadri College of Engineering
Valedictory and conclusion
The valedictory ceremony was attended by industry experts including Rakesh Kumar Desai and Vishwanath Pai, Embedded Engineer at Tiny Prism Labs Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru.
In his closing remarks, Dr. S. S. Injaganeri congratulated participants for their dedication, creativity, and technical excellence, marking the successful conclusion of the event.
Platform for future innovators
Protothon 2026 highlighted Sahyadri’s commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and industry-relevant skills among students.
The hackathon served as a dynamic platform for young minds to translate ideas into tangible solutions, preparing them to tackle real-world challenges through technology and innovation.
