Club Wars 2026

CLUB WARS 2026

Every club has a different identity, strengths and way of making a mark on campus. Club Wars 2026 brought these identities together through a platform that combined competition with learning, proving that the true value of the event lay in the experience and collaboration, not just in choosing a winner.

The Founders Club held this two-day event, in which around 160 people participated from 20 different SRM Club. The creative, technical and entrepreneurial challenges faced in a series of well-designed Club Wars pushed participants to problem-solve, defend ideas, adapt under pressure and collaborate with people outside their own organisations.

The event was all about Versatility and did not value excellence in any one stream. Each round presented a different challenge in which people could discover the various components of innovation, leadership, communication and teamwork.

Day 1: Ideas, Strategy and Perspective

Club Wars began with an inaugural address introducing participants to an overview of the events goal and the journey that awaited them over the next two days. Teams then stepped into the first competitive round, the Problem Alignment & Tech Showcase.

The clubs began presenting their solution to a set of judges after getting their problem statements beforehand, telling them what they understood about the problem, what method was adopted and whether or not it would work in practice. After each presentation, there was an interactive discussion in which the judges gave feedback and encouraged participants to improve their solutions.

Followed by networking Bingo, which was made for clubs to get engaged with each other outside their own teams, post-technical session. It provided space for the exchange of ideas, learning from one another and building networks across the campus community.

One of the highlights of the day was an Entrepreneurial Challenge (the Barter Round) where groups were required to turn a relatively simple starter item into something that held greater value through strategic negotiations across the campus. The challenge promoted creative design processes, resilience and quick decision-making while also providing a hands-on experience of entrepreneurial concepts like value creation and opportunity recognition.

The Parliamentary Collaborative Debate was the last event of the day, where clubs debated a variety of contemporary topics related to entrepreneurship, technology, digital platforms and business ethics. They supported their arguments with research, industry examples and logical reasoning, resulting in debates that were both stimulating and respectful. This session highlighted the power of well-informed dialogue and also demonstrated how different perspectives contribute to stronger ideas.

The first day concluded with the parliamentary collaborative Debate, where clubs exchanged perspectives on issues shaping today's entrepreneurial and technological ecosystem.

Day 2: Creativity Under Pressure

The following day was full of challenges, which needed more creativity, adaptability and strategic communications after the eventful 1st day.

One of the most remarkable sessions at the event was a Design Sprint, where participants created original visual concepts using AI prompt engineering through assigned themes. Creatively documenting everything from their prompts to the creation of a final design. The competition highlighted originality and experimentation, also responsible use of AI, demonstrating how technology can be used to assist in creative problem solving.

The event continued with the Hustle Round, where candidates pitched in simulated investor interactions, and participants had to think and react in real time. Throughout the day, teams moved from table to table for evaluation sessions where they had one minute each to pitch across themes including sponsorship, partnerships, brand visibility and leadership continuity. They focused on communication, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills.

To balance the intensity of the competitions, participants then took part in the Marshmallow Challenge, a filler game where clubs were encouraged to collaborate as they designed and constructed stable structures using a few sticks and a marshmallow. This was a trial of collaboration, strategy and logistics. The energy continued with a lively dance session that brought everyone together, which added a new layer of sportsmanship and a wholesome end to the day's event.

The day ended with a valedictory ceremony where the participants shared their experiences and feedback on the event along with a participation certificate. Teams were then recognised for their amazing performance across various categories. The ceremony recognised accomplishments in technical excellence, creativity, debating and entrepreneurial thinking. The event ended with the announcement of the overall Club Wars 2026 champions.

An Experience Beyond Individual Rounds

Although each session focused on a different skill, Club Wars succeeded because of the environment it created.

The workshop consisted of multiple sessions, each of which gave participants something new to learn. Technical presentations pushed the boundaries of innovative thinking, while debate sharpened analytical and communication skills. Entrepreneurial simulations challenged participants to adapt under pressure, and AI design activities introduced them to emerging technologies. Outside of the competitions, networking activities and collaborative games provided opportunities for participants to interact with their peers outside their own clubs through conversations that stretched beyond the event.

The participants were challenged to expand their view from the work of their own teams to considering other ways of approaching problems, communicating and leading through this event. Club Wars was a space for personal development and learning by doing.

Lasting Takeaways

Club Wars 2026 offered participants experiences that extended well beyond rankings and awards.

The Impact of Club Wars was far beyond the competition itself.

Over the course of two days, participants showcased their ideas to expert judges, faced entrepreneurial challenges and debates and explored art with AI. This also allowed them to pair those experiences with their academic learning and to enhance their skills. The event helped to strengthen relations between clubs, creating new opportunities for future collaboration across the campus.

By the end of the event, however, participants had gained more than just technical knowledge. They tasted how real innovation emerges from people collaborating and working with an open mindset, sharing different perspectives.

Award Winners

The valedictory ceremony acknowledged the wonderful performance of the clubs over all the rounds of the event. ACM proved to be a great technical team and won the best Technical Team award with their expertise and problem-solving approach, whereas Coding Ninjas was awarded the Best Creative Team award and also became the Winner in Design Sprint. Bionexus: Best Debate Team for Critical Reasoning. Lastly, Cherry + Network won the award for Best Hustle Team by demonstrating impressive strategic thinking and execution. ARL Won the Marshmallow Challenge through teamwork and effective planning

Finally, Coding Ninjas were declared overall Champions of Club Wars 2026.

Conclusion

Club Wars 2026 reflected Founder’s Club’s commitment to creating experiences that prepare students for challenges beyond the classroom. Spanning multiple activities over the course of two days, participants participated in a mix of entrepreneurship, technology and creativity. The epilogue was driven by the aim of showing how collaboration and collective perspectives result in more grounded ideas.

The event concluded with deserving winners and memorable moments, but its greatest achievement lay in the opportunities it created for learning, collaboration and growth. As Founders Club continues to build different platforms that encourage innovation and growth, Club Wars stands as another milestone in strengthening SRM’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and encouraging a culture where ideas are challenged, refined and transformed into meaningful impact.