GUVI and Tamil Nadu Government Empower 5,555 Students Through Statewide Hackathon Under Naan Mudhalvan Scheme
GUVI, the EdTech startup incubated by IIT-Madras and IIM-Ahmedabad, in collaboration with the Government of Tamil Nadu, has successfully trained and upskilled 5,555 students under the prestigious Naan Mudhalvan scheme. This initiative culminated in the GUVI Hackathon 2025, designed to bridge the industry-academia skill gap and foster innovation among the state’s youth.
The program was executed in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC), offering hands-on, real-world exposure in technology and innovation. A total of 2,885 students actively participated in the hackathon component, making it a standout event in the state’s educational calendar.
The hackathon was structured in a three-tier hybrid format:
Level 1: An online MCQ assessment where 2,885 students took part; 564 advanced.
Level 2: A tougher online technical round that narrowed the pool to 153 top-performing students.
Level 3: An offline hackathon hosted across Chennai, Thanjavur, and Kanyakumari, where finalists developed and presented real-world tech solutions. The top 33 were declared winners.
Each participant underwent 45 hours of expert-led training across 12 sessions, equipping them with practical skills in coding, creativity, and critical thinking.
Arun Prakash, CEO and Founder of GUVI, stated,
“We believe in making learning accessible, hands-on, and relevant. With the Government of Tamil Nadu’s support, we’ve helped thousands of students move beyond passive learning and start building real-world solutions.”
As an empaneled training partner for Naan Mudhalvan, GUVI designed and executed the event based on its earlier success with the NM-AU-TNcpl, where over 82,500 students were trained in digital skills across Anna University.
Dr. M. Jayaprakasan, CEO, Naan Mudhalvan Initiative, TNSDC, emphasized:
“This initiative aligns with our Honourable Chief Minister’s vision of preparing youth with future-ready skills. Partnering with GUVI ensures students learn by doing not just reading.”
Dr. Kalai Selvan Tirucami, Former Additional Director, CUIC Anna University and Advisor to Naan Mudhalvan, highlighted the evolving role of hackathons in recruitment:
“Today, hackathons are as important as campus placements in fresher hiring. They provide a platform for students to showcase practical skills to top recruiters and global companies.”
The grand finale witnessed participation from government dignitaries, tech industry leaders, media personnel, and senior officials from GUVI and TNSDC.
Balamurugan, Co-founder of GUVI, concluded,
“We don’t just teach technology. We drive transformation. This hackathon empowered students to take bold steps into the world of innovation.”
The top 112 students were awarded Certificates of Achievement, exclusive tech gifts, and special accolades from GUVI, recognizing their creativity and performance.
