JAPAC is home to over 15 million developers, and right now, we are presenting an opportunity to them to solve a problem with AI. If you haven’t already heard: the AI Builder Cup, JAPAC’s largest Google Cloud hackathon, is live for developers and is inviting you to be a part of it.

What is the AI Builder Cup?
It’s a Google Cloud hackathon powered by Hack2skill, open to working professionals, entrepreneurs, and startups across JAPAC. Builders are expected to build production-ready solutions using Google Cloud AI and the Google Cloud Ecosystem tools to address core regional challenges across 6 major themes:

It culminates with an in-person grand finale in Singapore on December 4, 2026, in a room full of top hackathon teams from different countries in the JAPAC region, Google Cloud, and other industry experts.

It’s an amazing chance to put yourself in front of the industry leaders.

And the top teams walk away with:

Who can join

This hackathon is for problem solvers across the JAPAC region who are passionate about building something with purpose. You don’t need a fixed background or years of experience; you need a problem you care about and the will to solve it.

That could mean:

Working professionals who see a gap in their industry every day and finally have the platform to fix it.

Entrepreneurs looking to test a business idea on real infrastructure.

Startups who want to sharpen their product, get feedback from experts, and gain visibility with the people who matter.

Independent builders who’ve always had an idea for something meaningful but needed the right moment to build it.

The only requirements are that you’re 21 or older and based in the JAPAC region. You can register on your own and find teammates later by inviting your friends and peers to join the hackathon.

Timeline & Journey

Requirements & Evaluation Criteria

There is only one core requirement: all prototype submissions must integrate a Google Cloud Ecosystem tool’s multimodal capability deployable on Google Cloud.

Requirements & Evaluation Criteria

There is only one core requirement: all prototype submissions must integrate a Google Cloud Ecosystem tool’s multimodal capability deployable on Google Cloud.

You can pick from the following problem statements:

1. BFSI: Intelligent Risk, Fraud & Financial Experiences
2. Retail & Commerce: Intelligent Customer and Business Experiences
3. Manufacturing: Intelligent Operations & Industrial Efficiency
4. Media, Content & Digital Experiences
5. Future of Work & Enterprise Productivity
6. Sustainability & Social Impact

Your solution will be evaluated on 4 major parameters:

1. Technical Merit & Gen AI Implementation
2. Problem Alignment & Impact
3. Innovation & Creativity
4. User Experience & Solution Design

If your solution stands out, you’ll be invited to the in-person grand finale in Singapore, where you’ll demo it live to a panel of Google Cloud and industry experts with travel sponsorship for two members of your team.

Registration is free and open now. This is your shot to build something amazing, get in front of the right people, and prove what you can do.

Register for the AI Builder Cup today.

The highly anticipated Grand Finale of the Google Cloud Gen AI Exchange Hackathon 2025, powered by Hack2skill, concluded on 29 Nov at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru. The in-person finale served as the culmination of 5 months of innovation, bringing together the nation’s top AI talent focused on deploying cutting-edge Google Cloud AI tools & technologies to address critical enterprise & societal challenges.

The hackathon saw over 2.7 lakh developers participate from 1,900+ cities of India. A total of 4,457 prototypes were built and deployed on Google Cloud with top 100 teams advancing to the Grand Finale to showcase their AI solutions in person to Google Cloud and industry experts.

The finale drew a panel of 30 esteemed industry experts from leading organizations, including Google, NASSCOM, JK Cement, EaseMyTrip, LVX, and others. These experts were integral in evaluating the top prototypes and announcing the winners.

Program Focus: Catalyzing Innovation from Learning to Market

The Gen AI Exchange Hackathon 2025 is the “Build” phase of the larger Gen AI Exchange Program, successfully moving participants from the foundational “Learn” journey into real-world innovation. This program was designed to leverage the Google AI technology to solve for India & directly impact the nation’s future by addressing complex, industry challenges through creative, scalable solutions.

The core ‘why factor’ is Innovation in a highly competitive segment. The program guided teams through effective integration of advanced Google AI technologies, challenging them to build market-ready solutions that demonstrate technical sophistication and genuine ingenuity.

The hackathon involved key collaborations with external bodies. Problem statements for the professionals track were contributed by partners, including the State Government of Maharashtra , NASSCOM Centre of Excellence — IoT & AI, JK Cement, Ease My Trip, and LVX, providing developers with truly real-world challenges to solve using Google AI technologies. Their valuable expertise and industry insights were instrumental in guiding the teams to refine and elevate their solutions toward market readiness.

The Grand Finale Showcase

The Grand Finale kicked off with inspiring words from the keynote speaker, Prashanth Subrahmanyam, APAC Lead, Developer Adoption, Google who highlighted the transformative power of generative AI in shaping India’s tech landscape.

“The future of development isn’t something you will read about, it’s something you will build.” stated by Prashanth Subrahmanyam, APAC Lead, Developer Adoption, Google.

Winning Solutions Spotlight

The final awards celebrated the most innovative and impactful applications of generative AI.

1. Generative AI for Youth Mental Wellness:

The winning team was Team Prompt-o-nauts, who built YouthMind, a comprehensive, AI-powered mental wellness platform that uses daily conversational check-ins to generate a Wellness Risk Index (WRI) and provides personalized, AI-driven activity suggestions to build emotional awareness and self-resilience.

2. AI-Powered Marketplace Assistant for Local Artisans:

The winning team was Team Oopsie Operators, who built ArtisanGully, an Agentic AI-powered digital platform that helps local Indian artisans achieve business growth and financial empowerment by instantly generating product listings, styled images, and video ads from photos or voice notes using generative AI.

3. Generative AI for Demystifying Legal Documents:

The winning team was Team Crewmate, who built Legal SahAI, an AI-powered legal intelligence platform that demystifies complex legal documents and workflows using features like RAG-based analysis, an AI-powered form assistant, and a lawyer-client connection portal to provide rapid legal clarity.

4. AI-Powered Tool for Combating Misinformation:

The winning team was Team Technopaths, who built Parallax, an Explainable AI platform that forensically detects deepfakes across all media, even by analyzing invisible human heartbeats in video and using zero-shot models, empowering users to confidently distinguish fact from fiction.

5. Personalized Career and Skills Advisor:

The winning team was Team Error_404_Not_Found, who built an AI-driven career guidance platform that uses generative models to seamlessly create, edit, and sync professional profiles, offering personalized guidance, real-time skill gap detection, and ATS-optimized resume building.

6. Automating Test Case Generation with AI:

The winning team was Team Skippers, who built an AI-driven Meta Automation platform built for QA and compliance teams that automatically converts requirement documents (PRDs) into visually traceable, regulation-compliant (GDPR-safe) test cases and integrates them seamlessly into Jira.

7. Optimizing Cement Operations with Generative AI:

The winning team was Team May The Agents Be With You​, who built a Meta Automation platform for cement manufacturing — an intelligent system where AI agents autonomously monitor, analyze, and optimize plant operations, with human operators overseeing and approving high-level decisions.

8. AI Analyst for Startup Evaluation:

The winning team was Team AIxpert, who built PitchLense, an AI-powered investment analysis platform that automates document parsing, generates automated risk reports and startup summaries, and provides an AI Analyst Copilot for intelligent scoring and portfolio recommendations.

9. Personalized Trip Planner with AI:

The winning team was Team Ghostpye, who built an AI-powered personalized trip planning that instantly generates dynamic, multi-language itineraries tailored to user preferences using generative AI, complete with real-time interactive customization and integrated booking options.

10. AI-Powered Governance: Transforming Citizen Service Delivery:

The winning team was Team Success, who built an AI governance project with dual dashboards for government (using ML to predict risk and AI Agents for automated policy recommendations) and citizens (offering transparency, insights, and a reporting chatbot), creating a unique, integrated decision-support and communication system.

The success of the Gen AI Exchange Hackathon 2025 underscores the readiness of India’s tech ecosystem to embrace and lead the generative AI wave. Moving forward, we are committed to sustaining this momentum. We look forward to continuing to empower the developer community and driving India’s position as a global AI powerhouse.

On Cloud Nine: Look, we have ourselves a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ title 🏆

Guess who secured the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ title for most participants in an agentic AI day hackathon? Yes! We are talking about Hack2skill!

On 26–27 July, we hosted Google Cloud Agentic AI Day challenge, powered by Hack2skill, where 2000+ developers from across the nation joined us for this historic event at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. Thanks to each and every one of you who participated or contributed in any form.

The 700+ shortlisted teams tackled six real-world problem statements, ranging from smart city solutions to empowering educators and revolutionizing agriculture. They dove deep, leveraging Google Cloud’s cutting-edge AI tools like Gemini for multimodal intelligence, Vertex AI for robust model deployment, and Firebase for scalable backend infrastructure. It was an incredible display of how these tools can be used to build truly intelligent and autonomous Agentic AI solutions.

From those intense 30-hours, we saw groundbreaking Agentic AI solutions emerge, and we celebrated 60 emerging winners who truly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. This record isn’t just ours; it’s a testament to the power of the Indian developer community!

Your Next Big Opportunity: GenAI Exchange Hackathon is LIVE!

If you missed out on Agentic AI Day, don’t worry! We’ve got something incredible lined up just for you! We’re thrilled to announce that our GenAI Exchange hackathon is now LIVE.

Learn more and register for GenAI Exchange here

Thank you for being an integral part of the Hack2skill community. Let’s keep building, keep innovating, and keep making history together!

Cheers :)
Team Hack2skill

Build Fest ’25, hosted by FlutterFlow and Google Cloud, powered by Hack2skill, brought together a nationwide community of developers and focused on leveraging FlutterFlow and Gemini to solve real business challenges. Over a two-month journey, participants explored the power of Gemini, and the FlutterFlow platform to create functional, scalable applications that addressed critical business needs.

The Vision: Building Apps That Matter

Build Fest ’25 challenged participants to create apps that could make an immediate impact in two key areas:

• Acquisition Magnet: Dynamic Customer Journeys Based on Channel Source
• Narrative Dashboard: Interactive AI-Generated Business Reports

With FlutterFlow as the platform and Gemini & Google Cloud offering the AI capabilities and scalability backbone, participants had every tool they needed to build.

Where It Began: Opening the Gateway to Innovation

Once registrations opened, the momentum was great!.

To ensure everyone was equipped, every team received two months of free access to FlutterFlow Pro to ease app development.

Guided by the Best: Office Hours & Expert Sessions

We knew that powerful tools mean little without the right guidance. So, we brought the experts in. Across 2 Office Hours sessions, participants got the opportunity to interact directly with:

• Frank van Puffelen, Developer Relations Engineer at FlutterFlow
• Pooja Bhaumik, FlutterFlow Developer Advocate & GDE (Flutter)
• Harsh Dattani, Program Manager at Google
• Ayush Shekhar, Enterprise Solutions Architect at FlutterFlow & GDE (Flutter & Dart)

These weren’t just talks. They were Q&A-heavy conversations where participants asked questions on app structure, integrations, Gemini API usage, UI/UX considerations, and more.

As the deadline approached, participants began turning ideas into working prototypes. Each project submission required:

• A public FlutterFlow-hosted app link
• A project deck outlining their approach
• A demo video showing the app in action
• A concise app description aligned with one of the two themes

Over 170+ teams submitted full-fledged applications, each more ambitious and thoughtful than the next.

The Final Stretch: Jury Review & Demo Days

From these submissions, the top 41 teams were shortlisted based on functionality, theme alignment, innovation, and execution.

These teams were then invited to Mumbai and Bangalore for our in-person Demo Days, where the top teams presented live to a jury panel of industry leaders from tech, product, and design.

Outcomes That Speak for Themselves

The Build Fest ’25 journey culminated in the announcement of our top three winners, each showcasing the power of thoughtful innovation paired with the right tools. FactCheck AI by Deepto Dutta, our winning project, is a real-time tool that analyzes YouTube videos for misinformation and pseudoscience.

The first runner-up, NeuBiom, is revolutionizing Indian coffee farming through AI-powered advisory and geo-tagged farm insights.

Our second runner-up, VitalsView by Team Code Catalyst, transforms dense medical reports into human-friendly health narratives, empowering families and patients alike.

Conclusion

Build Fest ’25 demonstrated what’s possible when powerful tools, clear problem statements, and a thriving developer ecosystem come together. Hosted by FlutterFlow and Google Cloud, and powered by Hack2skill, the hackathon enabled participants to move from concept to execution with precision.

The top submissions reflect not only technical excellence, but also strong user understanding and a deep commitment to impact. As teams continue refining their applications, Build Fest ’25 stands as a strong example of how ecosystem-driven innovation can scale.

After weeks of ideation, building, and collaboration, Build Fest ’25 concluded with a showcase of innovative solutions built using FlutterFlow, Gemini, and Google Cloud. With 170+ submissions and 3,400+ participants, the winning applications stood out for their originality, scalability, and the impact they aimed to deliver.

Here is a glimpse at the winning solutions of the Build fest ’25 hackathon!

Winner: Deepto Dutta

In a digital age where misinformation can spread faster than facts, FactCheck AI offers an intervention. Built by Deepto Dutta, this real-time solution uses AI to scan YouTube videos for misinformation, pseudoscience, and problematic content as users consume it.

FactCheck AI taps into the power of Gemini to analyze content across video, speech, and context, flagging elements that may be harmful or misleading. With FlutterFlow, Deepto turned this concept into a clean, accessible app interface, bringing real-time fact-checking directly into the hands of users.

First Runner-Up: NeuBiom

Second place was claimed by Suraj, who built NeuBiom, a mobile-first digital companion designed for India’s coffee growers. Agriculture meets technology in this feature-rich platform that helps farmers:

• Geotag farm boundaries
• Track plantation activities
• Receive location-specific weather updates
• Access AI-generated crop advisory messages

With FlutterFlow, the team created an intuitive user interface that speaks the language of farmers. Gemini powers the app’s intelligence by interpreting weather patterns and generating actionable, localized insights for farming decisions.

From climate resilience to financial tracking, Canopy App represents how tech can empower rural communities with data-driven support — bridging gaps in India’s agriculture ecosystem.

Second Runner-Up: Team Code Catalyst

Healthcare innovation took center stage with VitalsView, an AI-powered health dashboard built by Team Code Catalyst. This app reimagines medical literacy by translating complex health data into easy-to-understand, personalized summaries for patients and their families.

Using Gemini, VitalsView processes raw lab reports and wearable data to generate human-friendly, emotionally aware explanations. FlutterFlow enabled the team to organize this content visually across dashboards tailored to different health conditions, diabetes, liver function, cholesterol, and more.

Why These Projects Matter

Each winning solution at Build Fest ’25 showcases how FlutterFlow’s app development platform and Gemini’s advanced AI capabilities can come together to create meaningful, scalable apps. Whether it’s fighting misinformation, empowering farmers, or simplifying healthcare data, these apps are solving real-world problems, on both Android and iOS.

As we celebrate these innovators, we also look forward to what comes next. Their stories remind us that when the right tools meet passionate builders, the future isn’t just imagined, it is built.

The ABC Hackathon 2024, organized by ABC Conclave, with Hack2skill as the innovation partner, was a pioneering initiative aimed at advancing blockchain innovation on a global scale. Supported by Gora Network and Internet Computer as hackathon sponsors, with SolidityScan and QuillAudits as security partners, the event brought together a diverse community of forward-thinkers. With over 8,000 innovators participating worldwide, the hackathon served as a catalyst for groundbreaking advancements in AI, Web3, Gaming, Healthcare, and Climate Tech — paving the way for the future of decentralized technology.

Overwhelming Participation and Global Impact

The hackathon witnessed an overwhelming response, with registrations pouring in from top organizations like Google, TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Capgemini, HCLTech, Amazon, IBM, and more. This diverse participation underscored the event’s significance as a melting pot of ideas, expertise, and collaboration in the Web3 ecosystem. With 150+ prototypes submitted, the hackathon stood as a testament to the growing global interest in decentralized solutions.

Defining the Future: Problem Statements

Innovators tackled six core problem statements, each focusing on an area poised for blockchain-driven disruption:

Thought Leadership: The Panel Discussion

A pivotal moment in the hackathon was the panel discussion, “The Evolution of Tech: How Web3 is Transforming the Landscape with a Glimpse into AI’s Role.” Industry leaders engaged in a deep dive into the future of Web3 and AI, addressing key trends and challenges. The distinguished panel included:

• Rudy Shoushany — Visionary Founder, DxTalks
• Harrison Goldsmith — Business Development Leader, Owl Protocol
• Ravikant Agrawal — Growth Director, Privado ID
• Akshat Mishra — CTO, QuillAudits
• Indranil Roy — Co-founder & CBO, CredShields
• Lana Pugachova — Co-Founder, ICP Hub TH

The Grand Finale: A Celebration of Innovation

The grand finale witnessed high-stakes competition among the top 10 teams, culminating in the announcement of the winning innovations:

Winner: Team Yamata (UAE)

• Problem Statement: Open Innovation in Web3
• Prototype: A revolutionary crypto trading platform combining high-speed order books with self-custodial, on-chain execution.
• Tech Stack: C+, Solidity, Web3 Auth, Magic.link, Wormhole Connect, TypeScript

1st Runner-up: Team Cloudispy (India)

• Problem Statement: Open Innovation in Web3
• Prototype: Orator AI — a decentralized platform enhancing communication skills through AI-driven speech analysis.
• Tech Stack: Next.js, React.js, MetaMask, LLMs, AI Models

2nd Runner-up: Team Glint Analytics (India)

• Problem Statement: Web3 Data Aggregation and Analysis
• Prototype: A low-code platform enabling tokenized on-chain data intelligence and collaborative analytics.
• Tech Stack: Haxe, HaxeUI, Solidity, RabbitMQ, ChatGPT, LangChain, Postgres, Redshift, Snowflake

A Glimpse into the ABC Conclave — Dubai & Bangkok

The journey of the ABC Hackathon extended beyond the competition, leading to an unparalleled experience at ABC Conclave 2024 in Dubai and Bangkok. The conclave served as a convergence of Web3 enthusiasts, blockchain experts, and industry leaders, fostering discussions and collaborations that set new benchmarks for the future of decentralized technologies.

Bangkok Edition: Next-Gen Nexus — Uniting AI, Web3, and Gaming

Hack2skill was thrilled to have concluded the ABC Conclave in Bangkok, a spectacular event showcasing cutting-edge discussions and networking opportunities under the theme “Next-Gen Nexus: Uniting AI, Web3, and Gaming.” The event featured:

• High-impact panel discussions and fireside chats
• Groundbreaking tech showcases
• Exclusive networking opportunities with Web3 pioneers

Dubai Edition: The Future of Web3 Innovation

The second wave of ABC Conclave in Dubai was an equally transformative experience, bringing together thought leaders and industry giants to explore the next frontier of blockchain, AI, and gaming.

ABC Conclave offered an unparalleled blend of engagement, learning, and celebration, redefining the standards for Web3 conferences in Dubai and Bangkok. It catalyzed strategic collaborations, showcased innovations, and provided a global stage for startups and enterprises alike.

Hack2skill: The Driving Force Behind Innovation

At Hack2skill, we are committed to shaping a future where collaboration drives change, and the ABC Hackathon was a pivotal step in that mission. From visionary startups to industry giants, we have fueled innovation at the world’s largest Web3 conference. A massive thank you to everyone who joined us in this journey — we’re just getting started!

With 2.6 million+ impressions, groundbreaking prototypes, and an ecosystem of pioneers pushing the limits of technology, the ABC Hackathon and Conclave have laid the foundation for the next phase of Web3 innovation.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead

As the Web3 ecosystem continues to mature, initiatives like the ABC Hackathon play a critical role in shaping its trajectory. By fostering collaboration, mentorship, and competition, this hackathon has contributed to a larger movement — one that seeks to democratize technology, empower innovators, and drive the next wave of blockchain revolution. The journey does not end here; it only marks the beginning of a decentralized future where technology knows no limits.

Here’s to the future of decentralized technology!

The logistics sector forms the backbone of any economy, and in India, where diverse industries rely on efficient supply chains, optimizing logistics is a national priority. Recognizing this, NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL), in collaboration with NITI Ayog — Atal Innovation Mission and Start-up India, launched the NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0, which aimed to revolutionize the logistics landscape through innovative, technology-driven solutions.

From its inception to the grand finale, NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0 was an extraordinary journey, showcasing the potential of data-driven problem-solving. The finale event, graced by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, celebrated the participants’ efforts. Shri Goyal lauded their contributions to India’s logistics transformation, emphasizing the role of technology in achieving the vision of a $5 trillion economy. He emphasized the need for green logistics practices, skill development, and technology-driven innovation. He urged industry stakeholders to fully integrate with government platforms, adopt sustainable practices, and leverage AI and data analytics to improve efficiency. Shri Goyal also called for more hackathons to address emerging challenges.

Officially launched on September 24, 2024, NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0 was a testament to the NLDS’s vision of streamlining and digitizing India’s logistics sector. NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0 garnered an incredible 4,700+ entries, reflecting the growing interest in leveraging technology for logistics innovation. Among the participants were 3,500 students, 250 start-ups, and 800 professionals and freelancers from across the country.

Participants competed across five key categories: Sustainable Logistics, Data-Driven Optimization of Logistics Operations, Operational Efficiency and Optimization, Tech-Driven Logistics Innovation, and Unified Documentation and Digital Transformation. They spent weeks developing solutions, leveraging ULIP’s APIs to address real-world logistics challenges.

After rigorous evaluation, teams were shortlisted to develop prototypes of their ideas. These finalists received mentorship and guidance from industry experts, enabling them to refine their concepts into actionable solutions.

The Grand Finale was a grand celebration, attended by eminent dignitaries including Ms. Himani Pandey, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary Start-up India, Dr. Surender Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, Shri E. Srinivas, JS DPIIT, Shri Santosh Sinha, CMD Central Warehousing Corporation, Shri Banchha Nidhi Pani, CEO GIDB, Dr. Manoj Chaudhary, Vice Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.

Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO & MD, NICDC and Chairman, NLDSL kicked off the event by giving the welcome address and spoke about the efforts it took to make the hackathon a success. He emphasised the vision of ULIP stems from the government’s efforts to encourage the community to come up with novel solutions.

Among the top 25 teams, 6 stood out as winners, showcasing exceptional ingenuity and potential to redefine logistics operations. These winners were selected by a distinguished jury which comprised of Shri Ryohei Aiba, Vice President, NEC Corporation India, Shri A M Rao, Group General Manager, Central Warehousing Corporation, Prof. Debjit Roy, Chair Professor of Operations and Data Science, IIM Ahmedabad, Shri Tapaswi PVN, Vice President, Arvind Limited, Shri Chaahat Khattar, Associate Director, KPMG India, and Dr Amit Upadhyay, Assistant Professor, IIT Roorkee, Dr.Aditya Gupta, COO, IIM Bangalore. Their expertise ensured a robust evaluation process.

CargoFL, the winner in the Operational Efficiency and Optimization category, developed an AI-powered platform that automates logistics and supply chain operations. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, CargoFL delivers real-time, end-to-end visibility from source to destination with a single click.

In the Tech-Driven Logistics Innovation category, Docker Vision emerged victorious with a solution that optimizes port operations through advanced data integration. The team’s innovative approach combines container data from Vehicle Booking Systems (VBS) with ULIP’s Logistics Data Bank (LDB) API for real-time tracking.

Winner of the Sustainable Logistics category, Electra Wheeler introduced an innovative logistics management solution tailored for commercial electric vehicles (EVs). Electra Wheeler’s platform integrates ULIP’s APIs to offer AI-driven route optimization, real-time charging coordination, and carbon tracking.

Eseal Store emerged as the winner in the Data-Driven Optimization of Logistics Operations category with a unique solution for real-time empty container discovery. By connecting importers and exporters within the same geographical area, Eseal Store enables the reuse of containers from imports for export shipments. This reduces transportation costs, minimizes carbon footprints, and fosters a sustainable logistics ecosystem.

In the Unified Documentation and Digital Transformation category, Team Vishwaas created a digital document management framework that simplifies cross-border trade operations. The solution leverages decentralized identifiers like GSTIN, IEC, and LEI to enable the seamless, secure exchange of documents. This framework enhances transparency, prevents fraud, and ensures global recognition and trust in digital trade documentation.

Crowned the Grand Winner of NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0, Vaahan Blend is developing India’s first comprehensive carbon accounting platform tailored to the transportation sector. This solution provides a detailed Carbon Emission Inventory, empowering businesses and policymakers with actionable insights for driving sustainable transformations. By offering certified emission data, Vaahan Blend enables informed decision-making, policy analysis, and AI-driven analytics.

The grand finale not only recognized winners but also celebrated the spirit of innovation that the NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0 embodied. Each winning team was felicitated by Shri Piyush Goyal, who presented awards and certificates, acknowledging their efforts and encouraging them to continue driving change in India’s logistics sector.

As the hackathon concludes, it leaves behind a legacy of impactful ideas and solutions that promise to redefine India’s logistics ecosystem. The journey may have ended, but its impact is just beginning. Read more about the hackathon here: https://hackathon.goulip.in/.

The AI for Impact APAC Hackathon 2024 was designed to inspire innovation that improves lives, and Team AukTalk from China embodies this purpose beautifully. Their journey is a testament to the incredible potential of technology to bridge gaps in society and empower individuals to lead fuller lives. At the heart of AukTalk’s story is their groundbreaking solution, VoiceBridge AI, which is set to revolutionize speech training for China’s 27.8 million hearing-impaired individuals.

What makes AukTalk’s story truly inspiring is the deeply personal connection their co-founder, Bertram, has with the project. Bertram, who is hearing-impaired, has dedicated his life to improving accessibility for individuals like himself. With his experience in accessibility technology and community building, he has become a beacon of hope and a leading voice in advocating for the hearing-impaired. His insight and leadership have been instrumental in shaping VoiceBridge AI, a solution that not only tackles a significant societal challenge but also carries the empathy of lived experience.

The Critical Gap in Speech Training

In China, over 27.8 million individuals face hearing impairments, and the demand for speech rehabilitation far outweighs the resources available. The market for hearing rehabilitation is vast, with an existing size of 90 billion RMB and an annual growth rate highlighting the urgent need for scalable solutions. Despite this, there is a significant shortage of trained speech therapists, leaving countless individuals without the support they need to communicate effectively.

VoiceBridge AI addresses this gap with cutting-edge AI technologies. Designed for accessibility, it offers an affordable and scalable solution for speech training, combining advanced speech recognition, pronunciation analysis, and voice assessment. This innovative platform provides real-time, personalized feedback, making it easier than ever for individuals with hearing impairments to improve their communication skills and integrate more seamlessly into society.

Innovating with Purpose

What sets VoiceBridge AI apart is its holistic approach to speech rehabilitation. Built using custom AI models and Google Cloud tools, the platform leverages state-of-the-art technology to provide unparalleled accuracy and usability. The solution is about empowering individuals to connect, express, and thrive.

The market for such a solution is immense, with over 9 million hearing-impaired individuals under 45 in China requiring ongoing speech training. VoiceBridge AI’s affordability and accessibility make it a game-changer for families who would otherwise spend up to 40,000 RMB annually on traditional rehabilitation. This innovation not only reduces costs but also makes high-quality training available to those who need it most, bridging the gap between demand and access.

AukTalk’s Legacy of Social Impact

Beyond the technology, AukTalk’s journey reflects a commitment to social good that goes beyond borders. The team’s participation in the AI for Impact APAC Hackathon underscores the importance of inclusivity in innovation. By focusing on a solution that addresses one of China’s most pressing challenges, they have set a benchmark for what is possible when empathy meets technology.

For Bertram and his team, VoiceBridge AI is more than a product — it’s a movement to change the narrative for millions of hearing-impaired individuals. It’s about enabling a future where barriers to communication no longer limit potential, and where technology serves as a bridge to a more inclusive world.

The Future of VoiceBridge AI

As AukTalk moves forward, their vision for VoiceBridge AI remains ambitious. They aim to expand the platform’s capabilities, reach more individuals across China, and create a ripple effect of empowerment. With a solution that’s scalable and deeply impactful, they are well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming the hearing rehabilitation landscape.

Team AukTalk’s story is a shining example of how technology, when combined with empathy and purpose, can create a profound and lasting impact. The AI for Impact APAC Hackathon was about changing lives, and AukTalk has done just that — building a bridge between challenges and possibilities for millions of people.

To know more about the hackathon, you can visit: https://vision.hack2skill.com/event/aiforimpact_reg?utm_source=hack2skill&utm_medium=homepage

The Google Cloud presents AI for Impact APAC Hackathon powered by Hack2skill celebrating innovation and creativity under the theme AI for Social Good, uniting participants from over 26 APAC countries to tackle some of the region’s most pressing challenges. With 22,000+ registrations, 1227 project submissions & 1.6 million+ reach, the grand finale on December 23, 2024, unveiled the winners who stood out for their impactful and transformative solutions.

Winning Team: Padayon Ko

Team Padayon Ko from Indonesia worked on Tech for better Education and created an AI-driven platform to simplify scholarship discovery and application for Filipino students. Padayon Ko, translating to “Let’s move forward” in Cebuano, is an AI-powered scholarship platform tailored to the unique needs of Filipino high school students. This platform simplifies the scholarship application process, making it accessible, intuitive, and empowering.

To read more about their solution, click here.

First runner up: Savour

Savour, a team from Australia, developed an AI-powered platform dedicated to combating food waste at both individual and institutional levels. The app uses AI to help users track their food consumption and optimize their inventory. Its features include smart suggestions for recipes based on available ingredients and alerts to consume items before expiration.

The platform’s mission aims to instill a culture of sustainability. It equips users with the tools to make informed choices while also fostering mindfulness about food consumption. The team envisions a future where every meal contributes to a greener planet.

To know more about their solution, click here.

Second Runner up: BaldMann

For many, the aftermath of an accident means adapting to new physical limitations while wrestling with the emotional toll of feeling burdensome to their loved ones. These feelings of dependency can spiral into mental health challenges, often leaving individuals isolated and disheartened. Team BaldMann from India worked on Empowering People with Disabilities.

Bald Buddy, a dual-mode EEG band, is designed not just to support physical rehabilitation as well as address the mental health struggles that often accompany these journeys. Thoughts after an unfortunate incident can weigh heavily on a person’s mind, often leading to anxiety or depression. Bald Buddy helps break this cycle by empowering users to reclaim their independence while providing tools to monitor and improve mental well-being.

Click here to know more about their solution.

Best Usage of Google GenAI Tools: Ayu App

Ayu App aims to solve the issue of 3 out of 4 medical records being paper-based or unorganised digital files, and patients struggle to maintain lifelong medical histories.

Critical health information is often lost when switching between healthcare providers.

To tackle these issues, they started building a privacy focused app to maintain and access your health history and records easily and efficiently, to head towards an easier way to manage health records and an efficient way to share them with doctors.

To know more about their solution, click here.

Best User Experience: Noodles

Mental health challenges affect an estimated 1 in 3 people in Malaysia. Team Noodles understood that this alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for effective mental health care. Therapists spend an average of 10–40 hours each month on administrative tasks like documentation and case notes.

To address this challenge, Team Noodles worked on Empowering Healthcare Workers and created Case Crafter to ease the administrative burden on therapists and give them back valuable time. By leveraging AI, the platform automates essential but time-consuming tasks like case note generation and progress tracking, helping reduce documentation time by an estimated 50%.

We would like to wish the winning teams congratulations once again. Their contributions towards the society as a whole will definitely lead to positive changes. With this hackathon coming to an end, let’s look forward to more positive changes that technology can bring and let’s keep building for a better tomorrow!

To know more about the hackathon,you can visit: https://vision.hack2skill.com/event/aiforimpact_reg?utm_source=hack2skill&utm_medium=homepage

The launch of the AI for Impact APAC Hackathon, an initiative designed to inspire innovation, empower communities, and address pressing social challenges through Google Cloud AI tools marked a great moment in the field of technology. This initiative united brilliant minds including IT practitioners, startups, entrepreneurs, from across the APAC region under a shared mission of leveraging AI for social good.

As the hackathon began in October 2024 with a vision to bring about positive change in the society using AI, we saw more than 6 million+ impressions & 1.6 million+ reach on marketing campaigns resulting in more than 22,000 signups from professional developer ecosystem of 26 APAC countries joining hands to bring this vision to life, creating a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and perspectives.

Region wise breakdown of registrations

Participants were challenged to develop AI-powered solutions addressing critical real-world problems across eight carefully curated themes:

1. Empowering Healthcare Workers: Tackling challenges in global healthcare, from improving diagnostics to optimizing workflows.
2. Forecasting Natural Disasters: Enhancing disaster preparedness through predictive AI models and real-time data analysis.
3. Creating a Greener World: Promoting sustainability with AI-driven solutions for energy efficiency, waste management, and conservation.
4. Tech for Better Education: Bridging educational gaps by delivering personalized learning experiences to underserved communities.
5. Helping People with Disabilities: Developing tools that improve accessibility and empower individuals with disabilities.
6. Transforming Public Service: Revolutionizing public administration with AI solutions for better governance and service delivery.
7. Solutions for Community Empowerment: Enabling grassroots innovation to uplift and empower local communities.
8. Open Innovation in Social Good: Encouraging out-of-the-box ideas to address unique societal challenges through AI.

The hackathon saw 1,227 teams submitting their solutions to make a change in the society, each centered on one of these impactful themes. These ideas ranged from revolutionizing healthcare systems and advancing education to forecasting natural disasters and fostering inclusivity for individuals with disabilities.

As part of the marketing campaigns, participants were invited to share a video in their native language showcasing their motivation, the social challenge addressed, AI’s role in their solution, and the impact they aim to achieve through this hackathon. The campaign’s localized approach highlighted the diverse perspectives within the APAC region.

Selected startups and professionals were also invited to create a short video highlighting their social contributions and outlining how they plan to leverage this hackathon opportunity to drive meaningful impact for social good.

After rigorous evaluation by industry leaders and subject matter experts, 98 teams were selected for the prototype round. From these, the Top 10 teams emerged as Grand Finalists, showcasing projects that exemplified innovation, feasibility, and potential for social impact.

The Grand Finale

The culmination of the AI for Impact Hackathon, the Grand Finale took place on December 23, 2024. This event saw the Top 10 teams present their polished prototypes to a panel of distinguished judges. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as each team shared their journey, challenges, and solutions.

The panel of Jury then announced the top 3 winners along with special mentions for Best User Experience and Best Use of Google’s GenAI tools.

The winning teams of the AI for Impact Hackathon 2024 highlighted the true localization of this global initiative, showcasing diverse talent and innovative solutions from across the APAC region.

Team Padayo Ko from Philippines chose the problem statement Tech for better Education and worked on AI to simplify scholarship applications, providing a centralized resource, personalized essay assistance, and test prep tools, empowering students to pursue higher education.

Australia’s Savour addressed food waste by enabling smarter consumption and inventory management. Their app analyzes on-hand ingredients, prioritizing usage based on freshness and safety. By providing tailored recipe recommendations, Savour empowers households to minimize waste and maximize the value of their food.

Team BaldMann from India worked on an affordable EEG-based band for India. This dual-mode device monitors emotions and mental health while also enabling intuitive control of prosthetics.

Ayu App, a team from India, worked on Empowering Healthcare Workers, developed a privacy focused app to maintain and access your health history and records easily and efficiently, to head towards an easier way to manage health records and an efficient way to share them with doctors.

Team Noodles from Malaysia created Case Crafter which automates essential but time-consuming tasks like case note generation and progress tracking, helping reduce documentation time by an estimated 50%.

As we close this chapter, we look forward to seeing how the ideas born during this hackathon evolve and impact the world. Here’s to creating a better, more equitable world one solution at a time.

To know more about the hackathon,you can visit: https://vision.hack2skill.com/event/aiforimpact_reg?utm_source=hack2skill&utm_medium=homepage