How NOT to Win a Hackathon!

​Most teams don’t lose because their code is bad. They lose because their strategy is broken.

​We’ve all seen it: The team with the complex backend loses to the team with the flashy slide deck.

​Why?
Because winning a hackathon isn’t just about buildin - it’s about selling.

​As we approach the submission deadline for the GenAI Hackathon Mumbai, ML Mumbai brings you a crucial "anti-workshop" designed to save you from common pitfalls.

​🎤 The Speaker Indranil Chandra Architect ML & Data Engineer @ Upstox | Co-Organiser @ GDG MAD, Mumbai

​With years of experience judging and organizing, Indranil has seen every mistake in the book. He is here to tell you exactly what not to do.

​🔥 What We Will Cover:

• ​The "Losing" Strategy: Common mistakes participants make during idea submission and pitching.

• ​Packaging > Perfection: How to wrap a rough prototype into a winning product narrative.

• ​The Pitch Deck: What judges actually look for (vs. what you think they look for).

• ​Standing Out: How to make your GenAI solution memorable in a sea of entries.

​🗓️ Logistics

• ​Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025

• ​Time: 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM IST

• ​Platform: Online (Link provided upon registration)

​This session is the ultimate prep for the ML Mumbai GenAI Hackathon. The deadline to submit your idea abstract is December 17th (just 24 hours after this session!).

​Haven't submitted your idea yet?
Don't let your best concept get rejected because of bad pitch. Attend this session, refine your abstract, and submit below!

​👉 Submit Your Hackathon Idea Here: https://luma.com/mst7z8ad

​See you in the lobby!

​ The ML Mumbai Team