HACK-ULA: INTO THE DIGITAL DARK

The Hack-Ula 2025 hackathon, held from November 7th to 9th, 2025, was an exciting and intensive 24-hour online event designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence among students. Organised by the ACM Student Chapter of RV College of Engineering in collaboration with ACM-W NITK, and sponsored by RunAnywhere AI, the hackathon provided participants with a dynamic platform to build impactful solutions under time constraints.

Event Highlights

Introduction to Hack-Ula and Innovation

The hackathon began with an engaging introductory session by RunAnywhere AI, where participants were introduced to cutting-edge AI technologies and real-world problem-solving approaches. This session set the tone for the competition, encouraging students to think creatively and build scalable, meaningful solutions.

Participants were also briefed on:

Hackathon structure and timeline
Evaluation criteria
Submission guidelines and best practices

Participation and Competitive Spirit

Hack-Ula 2025 witnessed remarkable engagement, with:

1,226 student registrations
552 teams formed
Participation from across India and international locations

Out of these, 250+ teams advanced to Round 2, showcasing high-quality prototypes and innovative solutions, reflecting the competitiveness and caliber of the event.

Hands-on Development and Collaboration

The hackathon provided a fully immersive development environment where:

Teams collaborated and submitted projects via the Unstop platform
A dedicated Discord server served as the central hub for communication, announcements, mentoring, and technical support

Participants worked intensively to design, build, and refine their projects within the limited timeframe.

Mentorship and Evaluation

Throughout the event, participants received continuous guidance from mentors belonging to ACM RVCE and ACM-W NITK. Mentors assisted teams in:

Refining ideas
Solving technical challenges
Improving feasibility and scalability

Projects were evaluated by senior club mentors and industry experts based on:

Innovation
Technical implementation
Scalability
User experience
Presentation clarity

Winners and Recognition

After a rigorous evaluation process, the top teams were:

Team Devster – ₹10,000
Team Impulse Busters – ₹6,000
Team Kremlin Spies – ₹4,000

These teams stood out for their creativity, technical depth, and impactful solutions.

Conclusion

Hack-Ula 2025 concluded on a high note, successfully bringing together students from diverse backgrounds to innovate and collaborate in a competitive environment. The event reinforced ACM RVCE’s commitment to nurturing technical talent and fostering a culture of problem-solving and excellence.

With strong participation, expert mentorship, and impressive project outcomes, Hack-Ula 2025 set a new benchmark for future hackathons and continues to inspire students to push the boundaries of innovation.