Introduction
It started as just another project idea at NIAT Jaipur — something my team and I were working on out of curiosity and ambition.
We had no idea it would take us to the Buildathon Finals in Delhi.
Along with my two teammates, I got the chance to represent NIAT Jaipur at the NIAT x OpenAI Buildathon Finals, held under the AI Impact Summit 2025. This is how two days changed what we thought the project was.
How We Got Involved
It began when we came across the announcement of the Buildathon being hosted at NIAT Jaipur.
What made it more exciting was that it was not limited to NIAT students — participants from outside could enter too. The energy around the event was unmatched, and we knew immediately that we had to be part of it.
Day One: Nine Hours of Building
Day one started with pure enthusiasm. Collecting goodies, meeting mentors, meeting other participants — everything felt new and genuinely inspiring.
The hackathon ran for nine intense hours, which pushed us to think, adapt and keep improving without stopping. Our mentors mattered more than I expected: approachable, insightful, and always ready to help when we were stuck.
By the end of day one we had significantly refined the project, and the improvements we made gave us both confidence and a much clearer idea of what we were building.
Day Two: Racing the Deadline
Day two brought a completely different kind of pressure.
The submission deadline was 12 p.m., and we had to prepare everything — the project explanation, the GitHub repository, and the presentation.
Like most hackathon teams, we ended up racing the clock and submitted everything at the very last minute. It was stressful. It was also thrilling in a way that is hard to explain to anyone who has not done it.
The Moment Our Name Was Called
As the results approached, the atmosphere filled with nervous anticipation.
Hundreds of teams had participated. Only nine were going to the finals.
When our team name — Fox Tech — was announced, it felt genuinely surreal. All the work, the sleepless hours and the teamwork had actually paid off.
Being selected was not just an achievement. It was a moment of pride for the three of us, and representing our institution on a platform like that is an honour and a responsibility we are carrying with real excitement.
Conclusion
This has been more than a competition. It has been a learning experience built on growth, collaboration and resilience.
From brainstorming an idea to standing among the top teams, every stage of it changed us. And this is only the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the NIAT x OpenAI Buildathon?
A hackathon hosted at NIAT Jaipur and held under the AI Impact Summit 2025, open to participants from outside NIAT as well as NIAT students, with finals in Delhi.
Q2. How many teams reached the Buildathon finals?
Nine, selected from hundreds of participating teams.
Q3. How long did the hackathon run?
Nine intense hours on day one, with a 12 p.m. submission deadline on day two.
Q4. What did teams have to submit?
A project explanation, a GitHub repository and a presentation.
Q5. Can non-NIAT students take part?
Yes. The article makes a point of it — participation was not limited to NIAT students.
Q6. Who was on the team from NIAT Jaipur?
Team Fox Tech: this student and two teammates, representing NIAT Jaipur.