Google's First Moonshot Hackathon in India

Addressing the grand challenges facing Indian cities and providing education to those at the bottom of the pyramid.

Our Google-NASSCOM Solve for X moonshot hackathon here in Bangalore resulted in a bevy of concrete moonshot approaches to big issues in India.   the teams hit such city issues as air pollution, waste management, off-the-charts traffic and other challenges. 

 In a matter of a few hours, the teams came up with more than 20 strong plans.  One team, for example, came up with a very implementable plan for drastically reducing pollution. They propose a metallic structure in the shape of a tree which can be deployed by the thousands as public art across cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.

 These e-trees will absorb particulate matter from the air and convert it into compacted bricks that be used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. Furthermore, the e-tree absorbs VOCs which it converts to fuel for a small fuel cell to power itself.  There is a built-in market mechanism to pay for the e-trees.  Natural trees to provide clean oxygen, but cannot take out PM from the air.  This e-tree plan could actually work according to experts we had on hand as coaches at the hackathon.  

 Will post more of the ideas from the hackathon,

Check out this piece appeared today in The Times of India - India's leading daily newspaper : Google holds moonshot hackathon in Bengaluru