Students participate in the KLE Tech HackFest to solve real-world challenges

Shortlisted teams competed in a 12-hour hackathon on campus, developing solutions to real-world problems. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

As many as 534 students from 102 teams participated in the KLE Technological University (KLE Tech) HackFest 2026 held from October 9 to 11 at the Hubballi campus and tried to find solutions to real world challenges.

Designed and supported by the BVB–KLE Technology Alumni Association, the three-day event featured 15 issue statements contributed by alumni mentors from leading organizations. The challenges covered six areas, including defense and aerospace, sovereign artificial intelligence (AI), data security, mining, robotics, enterprise applications and healthcare AI, according to a KLE Tech report.

After screening the proposals, shortlisted teams competed in a 12-hour hackathon on campus, developing solutions to real-world problems. Participants went through a problem-solving process, from understanding requirements and designing system architectures to creating functional prototypes and submitting them for evaluation.

Alumni mentors led the teams throughout the event. A panel of 20 judges and evaluators judged solutions based on problem understanding, technical implementation, innovation, practical relevance and implementation planning.

Cash prizes totaling ₹ 2.25 lakh were offered and internship opportunities were also offered to winners in selected categories.

KLE Tech Vice Chancellor PG Tewari, BVB-KLE Tech Alumni Association President Vinay Jawalli, Dean Student Welfare Sanjay Kotabagi, Alumni Association Secretary Padmini Navalgund and HackFest Coordinator Uday Kulkarni felicitated the winning teams at the ceremony. They praised students for their creativity and alumni for their role in strengthening the university’s innovation ecosystem.

Published – 13 Oct 2026 20:28 IST