ADCET Hackathon S3 — 2nd Rank Winner (Team Horizon)

Team Horizon Co-Lead & Lead Developer · 2026 · 72 hours · 4 people · 1 min read

Co-led Team Horizon to secure 2nd Rank in the Software Category at ADCET Hackathon S3 during an intense 72-hour engineering sprint.

Overview

Architected and developed a full-stack real-time application for Team Horizon during the 72-hour ADCET Hackathon S3, earning 2nd Rank in the Software Category.

Problem

Rapid prototype development under strict 72-hour deadline pressure, requiring zero-downtime real-time data handling and high-concurrency client updates.

Constraints

  • Non-negotiable 72-hour competition deadline
  • Must deliver a production-deployed demo with live real-time feedback

Approach

Co-led team architecture, choosing a modular TypeScript + React + Node.js tech stack deployed to Vercel for instant iteration cycles.

Key Decisions

Use serverless architecture (Vercel + Express APIs) for hackathon deployment

Reasoning:

Eliminated server setup overhead, allowing 100% focus on core product logic and feature completion within the 72-hour window.

Tech Stack

  • TypeScript
  • React
  • Node.js
  • Express
  • Vercel
  • Tailwind CSS

Result & Impact

  • 2nd Rank (Software)
    Competition Rank
  • 72 Non-Stop Hours
    Sprint Duration

Awarded 2nd Prize by eYantra Robotics Club ADCET leadership and mentors for technical execution, speed, and product presentation.

Learnings

  • Pragmatic scope prioritization is the single most critical factor in hackathon success.

Hackathon Execution & Leadership

Competing in the 72-hour ADCET Hackathon S3, Team Horizon focused on rapid iteration, clean UI design, and bulletproof live demonstration.

Co-leading the software effort involved rapid scope definition, assigning frontend/backend tasks, and maintaining continuous delivery through Vercel.

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