SIIC-IIT Kanpur announces ‘Hack & Reboot 2.0' hackathon winners; 'VivaFeet' sock wins first place

NEW DELHI: The startup incubation and innovation centre (SIIC), at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) announces the top three winners of the 'Hack & Reboot 2.0' hackathon supported by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY).

SIIC-IITK held the final pitching round of the hackathon for 13 technology solutions at IIT Kanpur's Noida outreach centre. The winners were based on the two-day final pitching round was presented to a panel of judges. Akinchan Kushwaha was announced as the winner of the hackathon for his innovation 'VivaFeet', a smart healthcare assistant in the form of a wearable sock that is targeted toward foot-related complications.

Also Read | IIT Kanpur organises training programme on 'Advanced Characterization Technique'

The first runner-up, Abhinav Gupta developed POCCET-Lab ( Point-Of-Care Cartridge-based Emergency Testing Lab), a hand-held blood analyser that uses microfluidic-based cartridges for different tests. Priyaranjan Tiwari was announced as the second runner-up that developed NODex devices that are capable of taking a rapid test for asthma in a non-invasive method for children and adults.

All 13 participants received certificates during the final pitching round. The 'Hack & Reboot 2.0' hackathon was launched with an aim to create entrepreneurial opportunities for young engineering students, innovators and startups to develop solutions for healthcare and clean energy domains.

Congratulating the winners, IIT Kanpur, incubation and innovation, professor-on-charge, Ankush Sharma, said: “Health and Clean energy are two critical domains which require urgent technology interventions in India. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s initiative to support novel indigenous technology solutions in these spaces through Hackathon is a praiseworthy effort. I give my best wishes to the winners on innovating visionary technologies contributing to India’s self-sustainable status.”

Speaking about the hackathon, AIIDE-CoE and FIRST, CEO,Nikhil Agarwa, said: “India is a globally emerging space for technology-driven innovations. I am happy more Indians are taking up entrepreneurship as a career choice and contributing towards the rapid evolution of the national tech space. I congratulate all the presenters on getting shortlisted for the final pitch round under Hack & Reboot 2.0, which is supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the respective winners.”