Sona FutureShift: AI Innovation Roadshow

Team Formation

Build your dream team with the right mix of skills and expertise to create impactful AI solutions.

Team Structure Guidelines

Each team may consist of up to 5 members.
Interdisciplinary teams (mix of branches/skills) are strongly encouraged.
Ensure that team roles (AI/ML, frontend, backend, presentation, domain expert etc.) are clearly distributed.

Registration Deadline

Team registration must be completed on or before 03 December 2025.
No late registrations will be permitted under any circumstances.

Use the official registration link provided at the bottom of this page. Double-check all team member details before submitting.

Event Timeline

The AI Innovation Roadshow is structured in two phases – a preliminary idea/prototype evaluation followed by the final innovation showcase.

Preliminary Evaluation – Idea / Prototype Round

Date: 05 December 2025

Venue: CSE Lab, Sona College of Technology

Evaluation will be conducted by a panel of experts from academia and industry.
Teams will present early prototypes, concept demonstrations, or proof-of-concepts.

Final Presentation – Innovation Showcase

Date: 20 December 2025

Venue: CSE Lab, Sona College of Technology

Teams will present before industry leaders, investors, startup founders, and R&D mentors.
Focus on real-world impact, scalability, and implementation readiness.

Teams qualifying from the preliminary round will be notified with detailed slot timings and additional instructions for the final showcase.

Project Requirements

All submitted projects must strictly follow the below guidelines. Any violation may affect evaluation or lead to disqualification.

AI-Driven & Problem-Focused

Solutions must be AI-driven and address a significant real-world problem (social, industrial, healthcare, education, etc.).
Projects must be original, created exclusively by the team members.
Use of public datasets or open-source frameworks is permitted with proper attribution.
Any form of idea plagiarism or code-copying will result in disqualification.

Mandatory Submission Components

Every submission must include the following:

Project Title
Problem Statement
AI-based Proposed Solution
Technology Stack / Tools Used
Workflow / Architecture Overview
Expected Impact and Practical Applications

Prepare a concise document/slide deck covering all these points. This structure will help evaluators quickly understand your solution.

Evaluation Criteria

Judging will follow Smart India Hackathon (SIH)-style standards. The same criteria will broadly apply in both preliminary and final rounds.

Innovation & Originality

How unique, creative, and forward-thinking is the idea compared to existing solutions?

Relevance & Impact

Does it solve a real and significant problem with measurable social or industrial impact?

Effective Use of AI

Judging the depth and correctness of AI/ML usage (ML, DL, NLP, CV, GenAI, etc.).

Technical Feasibility & Scalability

How well the solution can be implemented, maintained, and scaled.

Prototype Quality & Execution

Completeness of prototype, user experience, performance, and clarity of demo.

Team Collaboration & Presentation

Team synergy, clarity of communication, and quality of final pitch.

Prizes & Funding Opportunities

The Sona FutureShift AI Innovation Roadshow is not just a competition – it is a launchpad for your startup ideas.

Cash Awards

₹1,00,000/-

Total cash awards for winning teams

Multiple categories of recognition may be awarded based on innovation and impact.
Certificates and accolades from industry and academic experts.

Funding Window

Chance for funding opportunities up to ₹10,00,000/- (Ten Lakhs Rupees) from industry and innovation partners.

Shortlisted teams may receive mentoring support from startup founders and R&D mentors.
Funding depends on solution maturity, scalability, and industry relevance.

Note: Funding decisions are subject to partner evaluation criteria and due diligence.

Presentation Guidelines

A clear structure to help you present confidently and effectively.

Preliminary Round 05.12.2025 • CSE Lab

Report 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
Bring project files, demo videos, source code, or hardware models in ready-to-present format.
Working prototypes are an added advantage.
Evaluators may allow 3–5 minutes demo time + interaction.

Final Round 20.12.2025 • CSE Lab

10 minutes for presentation.
5 minutes for Q&A.

Recommended Pitch Structure

Problem Definition

Proposed AI Solution

Architecture / Workflow

Demo / Prototype

Use Cases & Impact

Scalability & Future Scope

Use visuals, diagrams, and demo videos to make your pitch more powerful.

General Instructions & Code of Conduct

Follow the essential guidelines to ensure a smooth and professional event.

Maintain Professional Standards

Maintain discipline, professionalism, and punctuality throughout the event as distinguished guests and industry experts will be present.
Bring Your Own Equipment

Teams must bring their own laptops, chargers, adapters, and hardware components.
Anti-Plagiarism Enforcement

Strict anti-plagiarism rules apply, aligned with National Hackathon Standards.
Follow Laboratory Rules

Respect all laboratory rules and strictly follow all safety guidelines.

Contact & Support

For clarifications related to project scope, AI tools, or event logistics, participants are encouraged to contact the event coordinator.

Event Coordinator

Dr. Muthurasu N
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Sona College of Technology
70107 66097
muthurasu.cse@sonatech.ac.in

Quick Access

Use the following button to directly visit the registration portal:

Register for Sona FutureShift

After registration, keep a copy / screenshot of your response page for reference.

Department of Computer Science and Engineering