A 26-hour test of innovation, teamwork and endurance concluded on October 16 with the successful completion of Code For Nagaland, a hackathon that brought together 113 students from eight colleges and universities, with a total prize pool of Rs. 1 lakh.

Held on October 15 and 16, the event provided a platform for students to move beyond classroom learning, develop technology-driven solutions and collaborate with peers from different institutions under tight deadlines.

Organised by NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA in collaboration with ICFAI University Nagaland, the hackathon aimed to encourage practical problem-solving, creativity, teamwork and the application of technology to challenges relevant to communities and everyday life.

The competition featured three tracks: Naga Heritage, Culture and Community Tech; Campus, Youth and Community Life; and Wildcard Track: Open Innovation. Each track recognised a first- and second-place team, with six teams receiving awards.

Six teams win across three tracks

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.

In the Campus, Youth and Community Life track, Team Brogrammer from ICFAI University Nagaland, Sovima, emerged as the winner, followed by Team L from the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Kohima, in second place.

In the Wildcard Track: Open Innovation, Team Set Kalua from the School of Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, Meriema Campus, secured the top position. Team Ostereo-Ai from the National Institute of Technology Nagaland finished second.

The three tracks accommodated a range of interests, from technology-based solutions for Naga heritage and community development to challenges affecting students and campus life, alongside an open category for ideas beyond the predefined themes.

The Rs. 1 lakh prize pool recognised the winning teams and reinforced the event’s focus on encouraging students to turn ideas into practical solutions.

Overnight challenge tests innovation and endurance

One of the defining features of Code For Nagaland was its non-stop 26-hour format. As the competition continued through the night, teams worked to develop projects, resolve technical difficulties, refine features and prepare their solutions for evaluation.

While some participants took short breaks to regain their energy, many spent much of the night working on their projects. The atmosphere reflected the intensity of a time-bound development challenge, requiring teams to balance ambitious ideas against the practical limitations of time and resources.

The format was designed to simulate some of the pressures associated with real-world project development. Participants had to prioritise tasks, distribute responsibilities, make quick decisions and adapt when their initial approaches did not work as planned.

Beyond coding, teams were required to communicate effectively, resolve disagreements, manage competing priorities and decide which features could realistically be completed within the available time.

The experience gave participants an opportunity to test their technical abilities while learning the importance of planning, discipline, adaptability and teamwork. It also offered practical lessons in meeting deadlines, overcoming setbacks and working towards a shared objective.

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Mentorship and professional engagement

Beyond the competition, the programme featured mentors and speakers from professional fields including artificial intelligence, technology and wellness.

Their participation provided students with opportunities to seek guidance, exchange perspectives and explore subjects beyond their immediate projects. The interactions were also intended to help students gain exposure to emerging fields, understand different career pathways and build professional connections.

Bringing together students from eight institutions encouraged peer learning by exposing participants to different approaches to problem-solving and innovation.

The organisers said the broader objective was to make Code For Nagaland more than a competition by combining practical project development with learning, professional engagement and collaboration.

Judging panel combines industry and academic expertise

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 perspectives from entrepreneurship, industry and higher education to the evaluation process.

Organisers plan recurring hackathon

Speaking after the conclusion of the event, Pangerkumzuk Longkumer, CEO and Director of NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA, said the initiative was conceived to provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in a practical environment while developing skills beyond technical expertise.

“Code For Nagaland was built around a simple idea: students should have opportunities not only to learn about technology but also to build, experiment, collaborate and test their ideas in a practical setting. The 26-hour format challenged participants to manage their time, work as a team and make decisions when they had limited time to deliver a solution,” Longkumer said.

He said the organisers intended to develop the initiative into a recurring platform for young innovators across Nagaland, adding that the first edition had also provided important lessons for the organising team.

“We do not see this as a one-time programme. Our intention is to make Code For Nagaland a recurring event and build it into a larger platform for students across the state. We are learning alongside the participants, understanding what worked, identifying what needs improvement and finding ways to make future editions better, more inclusive and bigger in scale,” he said.

Longkumer added that the aim was to continue improving the platform and create more opportunities for students to develop their ideas, establish professional connections and pursue innovation beyond the competition.

Masetshiba Imsong, Director of Operations at NEXUSCIPHERGUARD INDIA, said the value of the hackathon extended beyond the final results and the recognition received by the winning teams.

“A hackathon involves much more than the hours spent developing a project. It requires planning, coordination, teamwork and the ability to respond when circumstances change. What matters to us is that students leave with something more than a result on the scoreboard. We want them to take away new skills, meaningful connections, a clearer understanding of their own abilities and the motivation to continue developing their ideas,” Imsong said.

He added that feedback from participants, mentors, judges and institutional partners would be important in shaping future editions.

“Every edition gives us an opportunity to learn. The experiences of the participants and the feedback we receive will help us identify where we can improve, from programme delivery and mentorship to the overall experience. Our aim is to build something that students can look forward to returning to, and that can grow in value with each edition,” he said.

The organisers said their long-term ambition was to establish Code For Nagaland as a continuing platform bringing together educational institutions, mentors, professionals and students to develop practical solutions through technology.