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ANNOUNCEMENTS

HCL GUVI Hosts Metaverse Hackathon: Real Stories of Discovery and Learning

By Salini Balasubramaniam

HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon was hosted on April 25, 2026, in Tamil, English, and Hindi. The goal was to give beginners a fun way to build apps, boost their creativity, and solve real-world problems. This event helped participants stop being just consumers of technology and start becoming creators.

The hackathon brought together learners from many different programs for an inclusive experience. As the event focused on “vibe coding,” it was easy and enjoyable for everyone.

Participants from the ZenVILT (Zen Virtual Instructor Led Training)  program joined students from Data Science, AIML, BMAI, and Intel AIML batches. Using Google AI Studio, they built real AI projects in just 1.5 hours, even though they had no prior coding skills.

Table of contents


  1. Inside the LIVE Metaverse Hackathon
  2. A Hackathon Built for Everyone
  3. A Spectrum of Ideas, Turned into Real Solutions
  4. A Thoughtfully Structured Virtual Experience
    • Intro & Tool Demo
    • Breakout Rooms & Mentorship
    • The Creative Sprint
    • Winner Showcase: Top Ideas
    • Celebrating the Winners
    • Rewards & Recognition
  5. Why You Shouldn’t Miss No-Code Hackathons in the Future
  6. Wrapping Up the Experience
  7. Frequently Asked Questions  
    • What was the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon 2026?
    • When was the Metaverse Hackathon conducted?
    • Who participated in the hackathon?
    • Did participants need coding knowledge to join?
    • What made this hackathon different from traditional hackathons?

Inside the LIVE Metaverse Hackathon

The HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon stood out as a refreshing shift from traditional, code-heavy competitions. Instead of focusing purely on programming skills, the event created an inclusive space where anyone with an idea could participate, experiment, and build.

A Hackathon Built for Everyone 

Unlike conventional hackathons that emphasize technical expertise, this event was designed to encourage idea-driven innovation. Participants were able to explore and build solutions using no-code tools, shifting the focus from programming to problem-solving.

Raghu Sabapathy, a participant in the event, said,
“It was my first time. It was exciting and full of new learning.”  

This response was widely shared, with the event receiving 100% positive feedback from all participants.

Congratulations to the Winners of the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon 👏

Top performers were selected from both Tamil, English, and Hindi participation tracks.

Tamil Track Winners

🥇 1st Place: Gopinath – Nalan
A virtual companion to battle loneliness and support mental health with empathetic chats, uplifting content, and self-care reminders.

🥈 2nd Place: Navin – FITNEAR AI
A smart app to find nearby gyms, explore plans, book slots, connect with trainers, and access supplements.

🥉 3rd Place: Shreejeevan – Sweet Savage
An AI chat app that shifts between sweet support and savage wit based on user input.

English Space Winners

🥇 1st Place: Sameer Patel – A Car in My Pocket
A profiling app for car customization, inspired by Rolls-Royce personalization, blending lifestyle and luxury.

🥈 2nd Place: Joice J – Funny Alarm Clock
An alarm app with witty snooze comments like “Coffee is waiting, don’t keep it lonely!”

🥉 3rd Place: Karthik Sasi – If Animals Had LinkedIn
A playful concept where animals showcase skills and compete for jobs in a whimsical networking space.

Winners were evaluated based on clarity of ideas, real-world relevance, and creative problem-solving, rather than technical complexity.

A Spectrum of Ideas, Turned into Real Solutions 

Projects developed during the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon reflected a wide range of creativity, blending practical solutions with imaginative concepts.

Some participants built tools like exam preparation assistants and smart travel planners, while others explored wellness apps, digital card studios, and fitness companions 

Some participants created astrology-based prediction applications, while others built tools to solve real-world problems. 

There were also quirky concepts such as alternate universe simulators, networking platforms for animals, and recipe generators that turned cooking into an adventure. 

Together, these ideas showed how no-code innovation can transform simple thoughts into impactful solutions, proving that creativity thrives when barriers are removed. 

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A Thoughtfully Structured Virtual Experience 

What Happened Inside the Metaverse

The Metaverse Hackathon was designed to offer a smooth and engaging journey from start to finish. Each stage was carefully planned to help participants explore, learn, and build with ease. 

Entering the Virtual Metaverse 

Participants joined the Spot Virtual metaverse platform and explored an immersive digital environment designed to make collaboration engaging and interactive during the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon. 

Intro & Tool Demo 

Tech team leads, Amit Arjun and Nehlath  has set the stage with energy and enthusiasm. The agenda was clear: Build. Create. Pitch.

A live walkthrough of Google AI Studio demystified the tool. What seemed complex became accessible in minutes.

Breakout Rooms & Mentorship 

Participants split into smaller virtual rooms, one mentor per group. 

Pseudo team SPOCs facilitated conversations, answered questions, and encouraged exploration. Mentors asked questions that sparked thinking rather than providing ready-made answers.

The Creative Sprint

During the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon, participants entered a 45-minute creative sprint where they rapidly built and refined their ideas.

Some participants worked individually, while others collaborated in teams. Throughout the process, mentors remained available to support ideation and problem-solving.

The Creative Sprint
Astrology Predictor App, built with Google AI Studio

Winner Showcase: Top Ideas

Here are some of the most notable ideas that stood out during the hackathon:

Alternate Universe Generator – Simulates “what if” scenarios in alternate realities.

ExamAce – An AI-powered exam preparation assistant.

Destination Trip Planning – A smart travel planner for personalized itineraries.

MISHA – A personalized AI companion for learning and productivity.

Card Studio – A creative platform for designing digital cards.

Flavor Alchemist – An AI-driven recipe generator experimenting with bold flavor combinations.

Aura Wedding Suite – A wedding planning assistant offering personalized recommendations.

Panic Chef – A quick recipe generator for last-minute cooking emergencies.

Celebrating the Winners

Winners were announced across Tamil and English participation tracks, with top performers receiving recognition for their innovative contributions.

Gopinath – Soul Buddy – Nalan 

A virtual companion designed to help people battle loneliness and support their mental health. It offers empathetic conversations. Beyond companionship, it can share uplifting content, reminders for self‑care, and resources that promote emotional balance 

2nd Place: Navin – FITNEAR AI 

A nearby gym finder app with strong real-world potential. It helps people in a new city discover gyms, explore subscription plans, book time slots, and connect with trainers while checking available amenities.

 Beyond fitness centers, the app also provides access to verified supplement websites and opportunities to learn martial arts, making it a comprehensive fitness companion. 

3rd Place: Shree Jeevan – Sweet Savage 

An innovative chat app that dynamically shifts its personality based on the user’s text input. 

Sometimes it responds in a sweet and supportive tone, while at other times it switches into a savage and witty roast-style mode depending on the conversation context, sentiment, or trigger words.

 English Space Winners: 

1st Place: Sameer Patel- A Car in My Pocket 

A profiling system based on cars and customization options. The app focuses on car modification tailored to customers’ tastes, inspired by the personalization culture of Rolls-Royce. 

It enables the upgradation of cars, blending lifestyle, luxury, and technology into a pocket-sized experience. 

2nd Place: Joice J- Funny Alarm Clock 

An alarm app that makes waking up entertaining by throwing funny comments when you hit snooze. 

For example: Coffee is waiting, don’t keep it lonely! This snooze button is getting more action than your gym membership”. 

3rd Place: Karthik Sasi – Animals Had LinkedIn 

A playful networking concept that imagines animals with professional profiles, skills, and connections. 

Picture lions showcasing leadership, owls highlighting wisdom, or beavers listing engineering expertise, all competing for jobs in a whimsical LinkedIn-style space. 

Rewards & Recognition

S. P. Balamurugan, Co-founder, HCL GUVI, attended the final session and congratulated all participants for their creativity and effort.

“Congratulations to all participants! This hackathon marks your journey from consumer to creator. The projects you built are not just experiments; they’re achievements. Building is the first step toward shaping the future, and today you’ve proven you are ready to create.” 

S. P. Balamurugan, Co-founder, HCL GUVI

The winners were rewarded with the activation of premium courses and received Amazon vouchers in recognition of their innovative ideas. 

Rewards & Recognition

Why You Shouldn’t Miss No-Code Hackathons in the Future

  • Opening doors – Making it easy for anyone to join in and share ideas.
  • Simple building blocks – Drag-and-drop tools that turn imagination into working apps.
  •  Beginner boost – Helping first-timers feel confident and proud of what they create.
  • Guides who care – Mentors who encourage, support, and spark creativity.
  • Come as you are – Multiple language tracks made the hackathon open and inclusive.


Wrapping Up the Experience

The HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon proved that innovation goes beyond technical expertise. By prioritizing accessibility and creativity, the event enabled participants, many of them beginners and first-time learners, to build meaningful AI solutions in a short time. 

The success of the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon highlights that innovation is no longer limited to experienced programmers. With a strong focus on accessibility, even beginners and first-time participants were able to turn ideas into real AI solutions. This marks a significant trend in tech education, where inclusive environments are opening doors for new learners. 

The success of the hackathon points to a growing trend in tech education, where inclusive tools and environments are making it possible for more individuals to participate in innovation.

Grab Your Opportunity to Innovate and Grow

Step into the world of AI with skills that matter. Explore HCL GUVI Zen Class and start solving real problems with intelligent systems.

Learn through hands-on projects, industry-relevant tools, and expert guidance designed to help you go from beginner to job-ready.

Frequently Asked Questions  

1. What was the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon 2026?

 The HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon 2026 was a live virtual innovation event where learners built AI-based projects using no-code tools in an interactive metaverse environment.

2. When was the Metaverse Hackathon conducted?

 The event was conducted on April 25, 2026, bringing together participants from multiple learning programs.

3. Who participated in the hackathon?

 Learners from Data Science, AIML, BMAI, and Intel AIML programs participated in the hackathon.

4. Did participants need coding knowledge to join?

 No, the hackathon was designed for accessibility. Participants used no-code tools like Google AI Studio, making it beginner-friendly.

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5. What made this hackathon different from traditional hackathons?

 Unlike traditional hackathons, this event focused on idea-driven innovation using no-code tools, making it accessible to beginners and non-programmers.

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  1. Inside the LIVE Metaverse Hackathon
  2. A Hackathon Built for Everyone
  3. A Spectrum of Ideas, Turned into Real Solutions
  4. A Thoughtfully Structured Virtual Experience
    • Intro & Tool Demo
    • Breakout Rooms & Mentorship
    • The Creative Sprint
    • Winner Showcase: Top Ideas
    • Celebrating the Winners
    • Rewards & Recognition
  5. Why You Shouldn’t Miss No-Code Hackathons in the Future
  6. Wrapping Up the Experience
  7. Frequently Asked Questions  
    • What was the HCL GUVI Metaverse Hackathon 2026?
    • When was the Metaverse Hackathon conducted?
    • Who participated in the hackathon?
    • Did participants need coding knowledge to join?
    • What made this hackathon different from traditional hackathons?