Mumbai: As India increasingly looks towards technology to solve complex, citizen-facing challenges, the ability to first identify the right problem and understand its human impact is becoming as important as developing the technology itself. Reflecting this approach, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool) hosted the We4Tech 6.0 Exhibition & Final Jury Round, providing students with a platform to develop and showcase technology-enabled solutions to real-world problems.

The sixth edition witnessed enthusiastic participation from 101 teams comprising 606 students, up from 76 teams in the previous edition. Following multiple stages of evaluation, 12 teams were shortlisted for the final jury round, where students presented their projects and ideas before the jury. The shortlisted teams included Jalnidhi, Vendorverse and Prism, among others, with the projects reflecting a wide range of citizen-focused challenges.

Some of the projects showcased at the exhibition addressed everyday challenges through practical, technology-enabled solutions. The students explained that one project focused on the lack of hyper-local, real-time information on waterlogged roads during Mumbai’s monsoons, using a crowd-sourced application where people can report waterlogging, share photographs and provide updates, with AI-based verification to ensure reliability. Another project addressed the challenge of tracking expenses and developing consistent savings habits, transforming conventional expense tracking into a gamified experience where users can set personal savings goals, receive alerts when they move away from those goals and use a virtual pet to create an emotional connection with saving. The students highlighted that their aim was to make these solutions more relevant, interactive and useful in everyday life.

Prof. Kaustubh Dhargalkar, Dean – Business Design, Innowe, NISP & REDX, WeSchool, said, “The enthusiasm among the students is overwhelming. Last year we had 76 teams, and this year we have 101, demonstrating the rising interest and comfort with technology to create tech-enabled solutions for citizen-facing problems. What is particularly encouraging is that some of these solutions have the potential to reach relevant stakeholders beyond the exhibition. Through initiatives such as Global Citizen Leader (GCL), where we collaborate with close to 100 companies on live projects, we continue to create opportunities for students to take their ideas beyond the classroom.”

The exhibition also brought together industry professionals and visitors, enabling them to interact with student teams and explore the solutions firsthand. As part of the initiative, relevant projects will also be taken forward for consideration with appropriate stakeholders, creating opportunities for promising ideas to move beyond the academic environment and towards potential real-world application.

An Audience Poll further added a public dimension to the exhibition, allowing visitors to explore the projects, interact with participants and vote for the Most Impressive Project. पेड़Care emerged as the People’s Choice Award winner, highlighting the audience’s appreciation for student-led innovation with social relevance.