Valuing Efforts through Constructive Feedback

Judging individuals and their innovative creations is an intricate task, particularly when constrained by a mere five minutes of evaluation time—three minutes for listening and two for interaction and decision-making. On the flip side, presenting the culmination of days, even months, of hard work in just three minutes requires meticulous preparation, discipline, and seamless team coordination.

As a member of the jury, I had the privilege of engaging with 35 out of the 80+ teams competing in the Local Round of the Smart India Hackathon 2023, hosted by E-Cell, Nirma University .

Within the constraints of the allocated time, I endeavored to offer real-time input and constructive feedback to the teams as needed. However, I couldn't help but ponder what becomes of the teams that don't make the cut. Do they persist in pursuing their innovative ideas? During a break, I posed these questions to Hariom, a volunteer, who candidly responded, "Our incubation program encourages and supports students to continue developing their ideas, even if their concepts are not initially selected. However, it's important to note that not all students choose to pursue their ideas further".

Yet, I believed in the value of acknowledging their hard work and aspirations. I was keen to empower these young innovators, reminding them that they still possessed 12 to 24 months to turn their ideas into reality while they are in college. I suggested to Hariom that he explore the possibility of organizing an online feedback session, involving all teams and jury members, to discuss observations and facilitate a Q&A.

This suggestion was embraced, and a virtual session was scheduled. During this session, we collectively shared our observations and feedback, supported by illustrative examples, and addressed the queries raised by the student participants:

• Team Introduction: We emphasized that presenting the solution to the problem should take precedence over introducing the entire team. Running out of time due to lengthy introductions compromises the core of their presentation.
• Research: Highlighting the significance of domain research and understanding user acceptance, we stressed that statistical data regarding target users could make a significant impact.
• Competitive Analysis: We underscored the importance of being aware of existing solutions for similar problems, both direct and indirect competition. Such knowledge could prove pivotal.
• Graphical Representation: Many presentations were text-heavy, lacking graphical representations of problem statements. Incorporating visuals can enhance comprehension and engagement.
• Divide and Conquer: Instead of one person explaining whole presentation, we recommended dividing the pitch among team members, each responsible for different aspects (Problem Statement, Solution, Tech Stack, Benefits, Limitations) to ensure a comprehensive and organized presentation.
• Technical Feasibility: Thorough technical analysis and the selection of an appropriate tech stack were emphasized. Merely relying on readily available tools may not suffice to address the core problem. Govenment would not accept the solution using paid tools charging for every seconds or per request.

What is Smart India Hackathon?

The Smart India Hackathon is a nationwide initiative led by the MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA . Its mission is to provide students with a platform to address pressing real-world problems, fostering a culture of product innovation and problem-solving. In the previous edition, over 5 million students from various colleges participated at 65+ locations, working on problem statements from Ministries, Departments, Industries, PSUs, and NGOs.

Women Empowerment

To promote women's empowerment, it has become a requirement to include at least one female member in each team. Notably, I observed that a majority of these female team members took responsibility to initiate their presentations.

E-Cell Nirma University

Nirma University's Entrepreneurship Cell (E-cell), operated by its students and supported by the Centre for Entrepreneurship, aims to nurture an entrepreneurial spirit among the student body.

Volunteers and Management

Creating awareness about the event, educating and guiding students, managing the registration and scheduling of 80+ teams for the local event demanded tremendous effort and time. Kudos to the volunteers and management team for their outstanding work.

Hariom Sorathia Kush Soni Prem Rajpurohit Kartikey Suwalka Mahi Moradiya Rashmika Shah Dr. Mehul R. Naik

Experience

At 9series Inc , we provide technical consulting services to a wide range of clients, including established enterprise companies and innovative startups. My extensive background as a software developer and business analyst, coupled with my entrepreneurial experience and involvement with startups, has honed my ability to quickly grasp the context of various projects. This enabled me to provide valuable and constructive inputs to the teams I interacted with during the Hackathon.

In recent times, we have worked with several startups, including Intuify Taaraka Payscript solvit.co.ke Nailbiter Over The Mobile OTM CrossChecks eTip MyLitBag and many others.

Conclusion

In a land of challenges and equal opportunities like India, a brighter future awaits the entrepreneurial minds that dare to innovate.

"Creative & Constructive minds can bring betterment to the society and around" - a connecting thought from my thoughtbook.

Thank you! E-Cell, Nirma University for giving me the opportunity ??.