Project Context & Problem

Before BREACH 2025, Gujarat lacked a large-scale, student-driven fintech hackathon that combined technology, finance, and practical problem-solving. PDEU’s Anirveda identified the need for a professional, outcome-oriented platform for students to showcase skills, engage with industry experts, and experience real-world fintech challenges. The objective was to build a national-scale hackathon that would not only test technical and analytical capabilities but also provide measurable value to participants, sponsors, and the institution.

Planning & Strategy

• Phase 1 – Conceptualization (3 months solo):

  • Designed a 3-day, multi-event festival framework integrating a hackathon, policy simulations, tech quizzes, and keynote sessions.

  • Conducted benchmarking research against national hackathons to define event categories, judging criteria, and participant engagement mechanisms.

  • Developed a sponsorship and partnership model, including tiered benefits, visibility options, and long-term relationship opportunities.

  • Drafted branding concepts, theme, and visual identity; created pitch decks to communicate the vision effectively to sponsors and university authorities.

  • Secured initial university approvals and alignment with PDEU regulations independently.

• Phase 2 – Execution & Scale (3 months with committee):

  • Led sponsorship acquisition: negotiated with top corporate sponsors and VC firms including GVFL, Decimal, White Carbon, and TIME, securing ₹6.5L+ in funding.

  • Coordinated with the university to fund logistics, meals, and infrastructure.

  • Defined the participant journey from registration to post-event follow-up, ensuring clarity, engagement, and measurable impact.

  • Built marketing and outreach strategies, leveraging social media (Instagram, LinkedIn) and email campaigns to maximize registrations.

  • Oversaw the 80-member committee across multiple sub-teams: Event Management, PR & Media, Sponsorship, Technical, and Content.

  • Implemented feedback loops, including pre-event surveys and live monitoring during the hackathon, to ensure smooth execution.

Hackathon Structure & Features

• BREACH 2025 Hackathon: 52-hour national-level sprint with 500+ participants.

• Parallel Paradigm: Techno-economics quizzes and puzzles for cross-disciplinary learning.

• GalaxEcon: Space economics strategy challenge engaging critical thinking and simulation.

• Mock RBI: Central bank crisis scenario simulations for practical policy analysis.

• Speaker Sessions: Industry insights from leaders like Satish Kumar (IIM Calcutta alum, TIME Gujarat Director).

• Multi-track evaluation with real-time scoring, mentorship check-ins, and project presentations.

Tools & Coordination

• Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets for budgeting, sponsorship tracking, and participant data management.

• Notion for task assignment, committee coordination, and workflow tracking.

• Figma and Canva for visual design, event branding, and promotional materials.

• Social media platforms for marketing, outreach, and real-time engagement metrics.

Outcomes & Quantified Impact

• 500+ student registrations from 52 universities, 50 finalist teams (24.65% selection rate), and 15 winning teams (10.27% winning rate).

• Raised ₹6.5L in sponsorships and partnerships, the first record-breaking fundraising by a student club at PDEU.

• Distributed ₹1.5L prize pool + ₹2L seed funding for winning teams.

• 20+ industry mentors and judges participated, providing professional feedback and networking opportunities.

• 10+ internship offers extended to top-performing teams.

• Participant satisfaction score: 4.38/5; Judge satisfaction score: 4.75/5.

• Return intent: 76.6% of participants indicated willingness to attend future editions.

• Smooth coordination of 80-member committee, handling logistics, event flow, marketing, and post-event reporting.

• Comprehensive documentation including detailed schedules, judging rubrics, sponsor reports, and marketing collateral.

Key Takeaways & Learnings

• Demonstrated professional-level project management and leadership in a student-driven environment.

• Validated fundraising and sponsorship acquisition skills at scale with measurable financial outcomes.

• Provided participants with structured exposure to fintech, economics, and product development through hands-on, competitive learning.

• Built PDEU’s first-ever student-led hackathon, setting a benchmark for national-level technical events in Gujarat.