Among the companies to showcase their products were Planys Technologies, Unexplored Bastar, Eco 365 Neo Systek, Green Biotech Solution, Devrai Art Village, Global Enterprises, Stree Swabhiman Sanitary Napkins, AN Spice Industry, JS Enterprises, Scoutmy Trip, SURA and Aspartika. There is another special feature to this event.

IIT Madras expo features award winning startups

There was another special point to the exposition, companies featured in it were the winners for fourth edition of National Entrepreneurship Award (NEA) 2019. The prestigious award was conferred by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

A total of 4,136 applications were received various regions of India including the North East – Manipur, Sikkim and Meghalaya – besides the Andaman and Lakshadweep. They were rigorously evaluated by the partner incubators/institutes.

Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, said there is visibly lot of change in the country, where youngsters are aspiring to become job providers and not job seekers.

Congratulating the winners for their work and efforts, Professor Jhunjhunwala said winning awards are great motivation, but your success depends on your continuous hard work and efforts. ‘Start-up success should be measured by the economic impact and wealth creation which enables you to create true social impact.’

SRM Students held 3rd Place at HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026

The winning team comprised Rajat Kumar Singh and Shruthi Bhagawan, third-year B.Tech students in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and active members of Next Tech Lab (NTL), the university’s flagship student-led innovation and research ecosystem. Representing SRM University-AP on an international stage, the duo competed against some of the brightest young minds from across the world.

The HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026 was organised in collaboration with several globally reputed institutions, including the University of Texas at El Paso (USA), University of Piraeus (Greece), University of South Florida (USA), and SUNY Polytechnic Institute (USA). The event attracted significant international participation, with over 280 shortlisted teams from 14 countries, making the competition both intense and highly selective.

Aligned with the hackathon theme “Code. Comply. Conquer.”, participants were challenged to develop innovative solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cyber law. Rajat and Shruthi stood out by presenting a solution that addressed a real-world issue often overlooked in the digital ecosystem user awareness and understanding of privacy policies.

The system identifies key aspects such as types of user data collected, intended data usage, third-party sharing practices, and applicable legal frameworks, including regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By simplifying dense legal language into accessible summaries, Privy empowers users to make informed decisions while encouraging organisations to adopt more transparent data practices.

The global jury commended the team for the solution’s practical relevance, clarity of design, and strong alignment with regulatory compliance requirements. Their effort was recognised with a cash award of USD 250 along with an official Winner’s Certificate, further validating the impact and quality of their work.

Reflecting on the achievement, Rajat Kumar Singh shared that the team deliberately chose to focus on a problem that affects millions of users daily but rarely receives adequate attention. Rather than building superficial technical complexity, they emphasised accuracy, usability, and real-world applicability, which resonated strongly with the hackathon’s evaluation criteria. He also noted that the team plans to further develop Privy into a scalable and deployable solution that organisations can seamlessly integrate into their digital workflows to enhance accountability in data privacy practices.

Shruthi Bhagawan attributed the success to rigorous hands-on preparation in cybersecurity concepts, HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026, strong team collaboration, and continuous mentorship from Next Tech Lab. She highlighted that the hackathon experience reinforced her aspiration to work at the convergence of AI, cybersecurity, and cyber law, creating solutions that foster digital trust and user empowerment in an increasingly data-driven world.

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This accomplishment reflects the innovation-driven culture and academic excellence nurtured at SRM University-AP. Through platforms like Next Tech Lab, students are encouraged to tackle complex global challenges, collaborate across disciplines, and gain exposure to international research and development ecosystems.

By securing a top position at the HackSecureX International Hackathon 2026, SRM University-AP students have not only brought pride to the institution but also reaffirmed its growing reputation as a hub for cutting-edge technology education and impactful innovation on the global stage.