The 26-hour “Code For Nagaland” hackathon concluded on October 16, bringing together 113 students from eight colleges and universities, with six teams recognised across three innovation tracks and a total prize pool of Rs. 1 lakh.
Organised by NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA in collaboration with ICFAI University Nagaland, the two-day event held on October 15 and 16 aimed to encourage practical problem-solving, teamwork and technology-driven innovation among students. Organisers expressed their intention to develop the initiative into a recurring platform for young innovators across Nagaland.
The competition featured three tracks: Naga Heritage, Culture and Community Tech; Campus, Youth and Community Life; and Wildcard Track: Open Innovation. Each category recognised first- and second-place teams, allowing participants to explore technological solutions related to cultural heritage, community needs, campus challenges and open-ended problems.
In the Naga Heritage, Culture and Community Tech track, Team 4th Dimension from the School of Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, Meriema Campus, secured first place, while Team Merge Conflict from St. Joseph’s University, Chümoukedima, finished second.
Team Brogrammer from ICFAI University Nagaland, Sovima, won the Campus, Youth and Community Life track, with Team L from the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Kohima, securing second place.
In the Wildcard Track: Open Innovation, Team Set Kalua from the School of Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, Meriema Campus, emerged as the winner, while Team Ostereo-Ai from the National Institute of Technology Nagaland secured the second position.
The Rs. 1 lakh prize pool recognised the achievements of the winning teams while encouraging participants to develop their ideas into practical solutions.
Testing innovation and endurance
One of the defining features of the hackathon was its continuous 26-hour format, which required participants to work under tight deadlines to develop projects, resolve technical difficulties, refine features and prepare their solutions for evaluation.
As the competition continued through the night, teams had to balance ambitious ideas against the limitations of time and resources. Participants were required to prioritise tasks, distribute responsibilities, make quick decisions and adapt when their initial approaches did not work as planned.
Beyond technical skills, the challenge tested communication, coordination and teamwork. Participants had to manage competing priorities, resolve disagreements and determine which features could realistically be completed within the available time.
The format was designed to simulate pressures associated with real-world project development, giving students practical experience in handling deadlines, overcoming setbacks and working towards shared objectives.
Mentorship and professional engagement
The programme also featured mentors and speakers from different professional fields, including artificial intelligence, technology and wellness. Their participation provided students with opportunities to seek guidance, exchange perspectives and gain exposure to emerging fields and potential career pathways. The participation of students from eight institutions further encouraged peer learning, enabling them to interact with others working towards similar goals and learn from different approaches to problem-solving.
The organisers sought to make the event more than a competition by combining project development with mentorship, networking and professional engagement.
The participating teams were evaluated by a panel comprising professionals from entrepreneurship, business and academia. The panel included Neikepekho Shosahei, associate director (Entrepreneurship) at YouthNet; Rishav Sethi, chief executive officer of NITI Group; and Er. Shanchamo Yanthan, assistant professor in the Department of Information Technology at the School of Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema.
The judges brought diverse professional perspectives to the evaluation process. Participants were required to explain their ideas, present their approaches and demonstrate what they had achieved within the allotted time.
Organisers plan recurring event
Speaking after the conclusion of the hackathon, CEO and director of NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA, Pangerkumzuk Longkumer, said the initiative was conceived to provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in practical settings while developing skills beyond technical expertise.
He said the 26-hour format challenged participants to manage their time, collaborate effectively and make decisions under pressure.
Longkumer said the organisers did not view the programme as a one-time event and intended to develop it into a larger platform for students across Nagaland. He added that the inaugural edition had provided valuable lessons for the organising team, which would use participant experiences and feedback to improve future editions and make them more inclusive.
Director of operations at NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA, Masetshiba Imsong, said the value of the hackathon extended beyond the final results and awards.
He emphasised that participants should leave with new skills, meaningful connections, a better understanding of their abilities and the motivation to continue developing their ideas. He added that feedback from participants, mentors, judges and institutional partners would help improve programme delivery, mentorship and the overall experience.
Building a sustained innovation platform
The organisers said their long-term ambition was to bring together educational institutions, mentors, professionals and students interested in developing practical solutions through technology.
They acknowledged that a hackathon alone could not guarantee that every project would become a finished product or viable venture. However, they said such initiatives could provide an important starting point by allowing students to test their assumptions, identify knowledge gaps, receive feedback and understand the further development required for their ideas.
The three innovation tracks encouraged participants to explore technology-based solutions for heritage preservation, community development, campus life and open-ended challenges.
The organisers said continued mentorship, opportunities to refine projects, wider institutional participation and stronger engagement with professionals would be important in extending the benefits beyond the competition.
