National Level Inter-University Hackathon

Description

Launch26 - A National-Level Inter University Hackathon for Impact-Driven Innovation Launch26 is a national-level inter-university hackathon organized by the IEEE Computer Society Student Branch Chapter of the University of Kelaniya, designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world software engineering practices. The initiative was created to provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to move beyond theoretical knowledge and develop practical, implementation-driven solutions within a challenging, time-constrained environment. Unlike traditional ideation-based competitions, Launch26 follows an execution-first approach where participants are encouraged to design, develop, test, and present functional prototypes. The hackathon focuses on promoting innovation, technical excellence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills by simulating industry-style development workflows. The competition was conducted through multiple phases. In the initial phase, participants faced a 24-hour technical challenge requiring them to solve a complex problem scenario involving distributed systems, networking, and algorithmic problem-solving. Teams were required to develop working solutions while following professional practices such as version control, documentation, and technical presentation. Based on their performance, top teams were selected for the development and mentorship phase, where they refined their solutions with guidance from industry professionals and technical experts. The final phase featured a Grand Finale where finalist teams showcased their solutions to a panel of academic and industry experts. Projects were evaluated based on technical implementation, innovation, feasibility, and real-world impact. Launch26 successfully attracted participation from over 50 teams representing universities across Sri Lanka , creating a platform for collaboration, competition, and knowledge sharing among undergraduate innovators. Throughout the hackathon, participants gained valuable experience in rapid prototyping, software development, debugging, system design, teamwork, leadership, and technical communication.