Opportunity brief
Overview:
Innovate with AI. Solve for Society. Build for Impact.
Sociathon 2026, in collaboration with the Social Welfare and Development Committee, VIT Pune, is a flagship innovation initiative that brings together young innovators, developers, designers, and problem-solvers to leverage Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies to address real-world social challenges.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sociathon 2026 provides participants with a platform to transform ideas into impactful solutions across domains such as Healthcare, Sustainability, Education, and the Future of Work.
Participants will get an opportunity to explore and apply cutting-edge technologies including Generative AI, Agentic AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Granite LLM, and other emerging tools while collaborating in interdisciplinary teams.
Hackathon Journey:
Round 1 — Online | Idea Submission: FREE
Participants will submit their innovative solution idea through a PPT, following the prescribed template and aligned with the hackathon themes.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Innovation
- Feasibility
- Alignment with SDGs
Eligibility Requirement:
All team members must complete the designated free Guided Learning Experience (GLE) and submit the corresponding badge/certificate.
This is what GLE look like:
https://skills.yourlearning.ibm.com/activity/PLAN-FA448E08E2A9?ngo-id=0331&utm_campaign=aca-1M1B-hackathon
Round 2 — Online | Idea Pitching: Rupees 500 per team
Shortlisted teams from Round 1 will make payment of rupees 500 and will present & pitch their ideas virtually before a panel of judges.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Clarity of the solution
- Feasibility
- Presentation skills
- Q&A handling
Round 3 — On-Campus | Prototype & Final Pitch:
The finalists will move to the on-campus finale, where they will transform their ideas into working prototypes and present their solutions before an expert jury.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Working prototype
- Innovation
- Social impact
- Presentation
Themes:
Participants can build solutions addressing challenges in areas such as:
- Healthcare
- Sustainability & Environment
- Education
- Future of Work
- Other Social Impact Challenges aligned with the SDGs
Team Formation:
- Team size: 2–4 members
- Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.
- Participants are encouraged to bring diverse skills across technology, design, research, and problem-solving.
Project Deliverables:
Teams will progress through three stages:
- Round 1: PPT-based Idea Submission(Free)
- Round 2: Online Idea Pitch(500 fees)
- Round 3: Working Prototype + Final Pitch Presentation
Disqualification:
A team may be disqualified if:
- The submission is copied, plagiarized, or lacks originality.
- The team fails to follow submission guidelines or deadlines.
- The team does not meet the prescribed team-size or eligibility requirements.
- Participants engage in misconduct, academic dishonesty, or disruptive behaviour during the event.
- If selected for 2nd round but not completed payment.
Why Participate?
Sociathon 2026 is an opportunity to go beyond simply building a project. Identify a meaningful problem, leverage emerging technology, collaborate with diverse minds, and build a solution that can create real-world impact.
Bring your ideas. Build with AI. Create for society.
Are you ready to build the future with purpose?