SheLeads 2.0

About the Hackathon: SheLeads 2.0 is a 24-hour national-level women-led hackathon designed to empower women innovators to take leadership in building technology-driven solutions for real-world societal challenges. Each participating team must be led by a woman, while members of any gender are welcome to participate. The hackathon promotes leadership, collaboration, innovation, and rapid prototyping in an inclusive and impact-driven environment. The event will be conducted offline at Presidency University, Bengaluru. Team Composition & Eligibility: Teams must consist of 4 members from the same institution. The hackathon is open for national-level participation, including Presidency University students. Interdisciplinary teams are allowed and encouraged. Each participant can be a part of only one team. No changes in team members will be allowed after registration. Mandatory Women Leadership Rule: Every team must include at least one female participant. The Team Leader must be a female participant (mandatory). The female team leader will be the official point of contact. Teams not complying with this rule will be disqualified. Tracks & Problem Areas: Participants must select one track while submitting their proposal. Each track contains multiple sub-problem areas. Track 1: EmpowerAbility - Technology Beyond Limitations: Technology that empowers every ability. Sub-tracks: Assistive AI Systems Speech, Vision & Multimodal Technologies Inclusive UX/UI Design EdTech & Language Accessibility Tools Track 2: SheShield – Smart Safety & Empowerment Innovations that protect and empower women. Sub-tracks: Safety & SOS Applications Emergency Response & Geo-Intelligence Smart Wearables for Protection Legal Awareness & Community Support Platforms Track 3: AgriRise – Rural Intelligence Revolution Smart innovation for rural transformation. Sub-tracks: AI-Powered Smart Farming IoT & Crop Monitoring Systems Supply Chain & Market Optimization Farmer Advisory & Decision Support Systems Track 4: CreateX – AI for Digital Expression Reimagining media, storytelling & immersive experiences. Sub-tracks: AR/VR & Immersive Platforms AI-Driven Creative Media Generative & Interactive Content Next-Gen UX/UI & Experience Design Track 5: LeadHer – FinTech & Social Impact Innovation Building financial power & leadership ecosystems. Sub-track: Women-Centric FinTech Solutions Entrepreneurship & Startup Platforms Skill Development & Career Tech Policy, Governance & Impact Analytics Registration & Selection Process: Registration: Teams must register exclusively via Unstop. Registration is free for all applicants. Teams must select one track to submit their idea under. All projects need to be software-based only. Each team must upload a project proposal using the official PPT template. Only one submission per team is allowed. Teams will not be allowed to change their idea after registration. Selection: A total of 50 teams will be shortlisted, with 10 teams per track, based on: Innovation & Originality Relevance to the Chosen Theme Practical Feasibility Social or Technological Impact All shortlisted teams will receive an email and will be invited to attend the in-person hackathon. Teams who have not been selected will also be notified accordingly. Post-Shortlisting Requirements: Shortlisted teams must: Join the official WhatsApp group for further updates and coordination. Pay a non-refundable fee of ₹800 per team (payment link will be shared). Submit a signed Parental Consent Form (mandatory for all team members). Note: Failure to complete any of these steps by the communicated deadline will result in automatic disqualification. Event Schedule & Logistics: Venue & Access The hackathon will take place in-person at Presidency University, Bengaluru. Participants will not be allowed to leave campus during the duration of the hackathon for safety and integrity reasons. Movement outside designated hackathon zones is strictly prohibited unless authorized by an organizer for emergencies. Facilities Provided Wi-Fi access for all participants 24-hour power backup Secure working spaces and designated rest zones Food & Refreshments Organizers will provide: Day 1 – Snacks, Lunch, Dinner, Midnight snacks Day 2 – Breakfast, Lunch, Beverages/Snacks NOTE: Participants are allowed to bring small items (blankets, cushions, eye masks, etc.) for their comfort during the overnight stay. All belongings will be checked upon entry into the campus and organizers are not responsible for loss or damage to participants’ belongings. Project Development Rules Teams may brainstorm and ideate before the event, but all implementation (coding, design) must begin only after the hackathon starts. Only software projects are allowed. The use of Open-source libraries, APIs, Public datasets is permitted with proper attribution. Plagiarism in any form or submitting previously completed work is not allowed. Submissions must be completed by the end of the 24-hour period. Late submissions will not be accepted. Mentorship & Support: Teams will receive on-site mentorship and technical assistance during the hackathon if and when needed. Mentors will be available to provide guidance on design, architecture, strategy, or debugging. Organizers will also assign support volunteers to assist with logistics and queries. Judging Process: A panel of  expert judges (one per track) from industry will evaluate all the teams in the respective track in each of the evaluation rounds and during final submission. A live pitching/demo round will be held after the build phase, where the top team from each track will present their solution to all the jury members. Judges’ decisions are final and non-negotiable. Judging Criteria: Innovation & Creativity – 25% Technical Complexity – 25% Relevance to Track – 10% Implementation & Functionality – 30% Presentation & Communication – 10% Additional Perks: Winners will be announced during closing ceremony Certificates will be provided for all participants Opportunities to network with judges, mentors, and guests for potential incubation/follow-up support Code of Conduct & Disqualification: SheLeads 2.0 is committed to providing a respectful, safe, and fair environment for all. Expected Behaviour: Maintain professionalism and respect with peers, mentors, and staff. Follow all campus, event, and hackathon rules. Cooperate with volunteers and organizers at all times. Prohibited Behaviour: Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate conduct Use of alcohol, tobacco, or banned substances Leaving the venue without approval Plagiarism, cheating, or code misrepresentation Consequences: Immediate disqualification Removal from campus Notification to home institution (if required) Organizers reserve the right to investigate and enforce action on any misconduct. Intellectual Property & Promotion: All participants retain full ownership of their projects and intellectual property. Organizers will not claim any commercial rights or profits. By participating, teams grant the organizers non-exclusive rights to: Publicly display winning projects, team names, or visuals for event promotion (e.g., website, social media, brochures). Only winning project titles will be published post-event. Project code/content will not be shared without explicit permission. Final Notes & Compliance: The event schedule, rules, logistics are subject to change at discretion of organizers. All official communication will be sent through email and WhatsApp only. By registering, each participant agrees to: Abide by all terms listed in this handbook Follow the instructions of the event coordinators