Behind every submission at Hackathon #1 was a real-world problem—and students who cared enough to build something for it.

SafeZone
What started as a personal frustration with injustice became a fully functional app to map and report social harm. The team didn’t stop at submission forms. They integrated AI to categorize user reports and layered in heatmap visuals using clustering logic. The tech stack was ambitious: React Native, Firebase, Node.js, Google Maps API, and an AI language model—all stitched together with hours of debugging.

The most impressive part? The app feels complete. It’s not just a prototype—it’s a system. And it’s built by students who were learning major tools for the first time.

PureFindr
This team saw how chaotic it is to launch a rescue organization—and built a network for them. They wrestled with Firebase and SwiftUI until the integration finally clicked. Their final product is clean, searchable, and ready for real use. It’s a reminder that user research doesn’t always need surveys—sometimes it’s just paying attention to the pain points around you.

A.I.utism
A powerful idea executed with care. A.I.utism helps users on the autism spectrum practice facial expressions using live ML-powered feedback. This project stood out for its restraint—it could’ve become overwhelming, but the team built it with accessibility and simplicity in mind. Clean UI, immediate feedback, meaningful purpose.

Aesa
Aesa took on something big: redefining how young men support one another. They built a sleek, upvotable message board that feels like Reddit—but built to uplift, not argue. Behind the scenes, they switched frameworks mid-project (twice), learning Astro and Rust on the fly. Their technical pivot was fast and smart. Their message stuck.

These weren’t just hacks. They were thoughtful, technically sound, deeply human projects. And they came together in less than two weeks.

— Arnav Bonigala