NIRVAANA: Ideathon (Retro Edition) was a retro-themed ideathon that blended nostalgia from the 1970s–2000s with cutting-edge technological innovation. Conducted in November, the event provided a platform for students across India to ideate, design, and present impactful solutions to modern-day problems using technology, while embracing classic retro aesthetics.

The ideathon encouraged participants to think creatively and propose technology-driven solutions across multiple domains such as AI/ML, IoT, Hardware Innovation, Software Development, and Blockchain. Although the theme reflected retro vibes, the problem statements were focused on present-day challenges and future-ready solutions.

Event Structure

The event was conducted in three rounds:

• Round 1 – Online Idea Submission:
  Teams submitted an Idea Proposal (PPT in PDF format) based on partially released problem statements. Submissions were evaluated, and 50 teams were shortlisted for the on-campus round.

• Round 2 – On-Campus Presentation:
  Shortlisted teams presented their ideas at Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering before a jury panel. This round included presentations followed by Q&A, after which 10 teams advanced to the final round.

• Round 3 – Final Presentation:
  The finalist teams presented detailed technical implementations along with business feasibility and impact analysis. The top 3 teams were declared winners and awarded prizes on the same day.

Participation & Submissions

• Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students across India

• Teams of 2–3 members

• Inter-college and inter-specialization teams were allowed

• Submissions followed a defined presentation template and were evaluated on innovation, feasibility, creativity, technical depth, business planning, and clarity

Prize Pool

A total prize pool of ₹14,000 was awarded to the top-performing teams.

Outcome

NIRVAANA successfully fostered innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving among students, offering them real-world exposure to ideation, pitching, and technical-business evaluation. The event created a high-energy environment that combined creativity, competition, and learning, making it a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.