Foundathon 3.0

Foundathon 3.0 was organized by the Founders Club at SRM Institute of Science and Technology. It was held from 9 of March to 11 March 2026. This was a 36-hour hackathon. The main theme of Foundathon 3.0 was "Build Your Empire. Code Your Future."

The event had more than 500 students from academic backgrounds. They came together to work on solutions for real-world problems. Foundathon 3.0 helped students improve their skills and make them think like entrepreneurs, work in teams and solve problems. It also encouraged students to think about issues that affect society and industries.

Foundathon 3.0 was different from hackathons as it mainly focused on creating solutions that could make a real impact. The Founders Club worked with technology companies, NGOs, startups and other groups to create problem statements. These statements covered topics like development AI education, sustainability and digital platforms for social impact.

Day 1: Startup Fundamentals and Brainstorming

On the first day of the event, participants were introduced to the event's vision and the fundamentals of starting a business. Students learned about how to come up with business ideas, how to make sure people want their product and how to get funding. The organizers explained how the hackathon would work and what the problem statements were. Then teams started brainstorming and planning their solutions.

Day 2 :Guidance, Pitching, and Project Selection

The second day was about documenting ideas, gaining insights from mentors and evaluating projects. Teams worked on their ideas with the help of mentors and industry experts. They then presented their ideas in four-minute pitches followed by question-and-answer sessions. The judges assessed the ideas on the basis of innovation, technical feasibility, scalability, business viability, and their potential to create a meaningful impact. The best two teams for each problem statement moved to the last round held for the last day of the event.

Day 3: Showcasing Innovation and Awards Ceremony

The final day had pitching sessions in front of a panel of expert judges. The finalist teams showed off their prototypes, business models and plans for implementation. They answered questions from the judges. After evaluation, Team Caffeine was declared the overall winner of Foundathon 3.0 followed by Team AstraX and then Team Code4Life. All these teams were provided certificates and cash prizes. Some participants were also offered internships, which showed how connected the event was to the industry.

Foundathon 3.0 was more than a competition. It created a space where students could learn from mentors, entrepreneurs, judges and their peers. The students liked the fact that the event was well-organized that they got feedback and that they got to see the startup ecosystem up close. The event helped strengthen innovation, collaboration, leadership and the spirit of entrepreneurship among the students.

Foundathon 3.0 ended up being more than a hackathon. It was a starting point for ideas, practical problem-solving and future entrepreneurial journeys. The event reflected the Founders Club's commitment to fostering innovation and empowering the next generation of leaders. Foundathon 3.0 was a success because it combined excellence, mentorship and industry collaboration.