Over two unforgettable days—March 8th and 9th—I dove into the whirlwind of BFCET Hack 2.0, a 36-hour hackathon hosted by Baba Farid College of Engineering and Technology, Bathinda. My team, 4FIVE6, clinched 2nd place, walking away with ₹31,000 and memories that still bring a smile to my face.

The Hackathon Begins

BFCET Hack 2.0 was a 36-hour coding marathon that gathered bright minds to tackle real-world challenges through technology. The venue buzzed with energy—laptops humming, ideas bouncing around, and the faint aroma of coffee fueling late-night sprints. It was a test of creativity, endurance, and collaboration.

Hackathon coding session
Late-night coding with my teammate Madhav—caffeine and code kept us going!

Our Project: A Beacon for Mental Wellness

Our team, 4FIVE6, set out to create a meaningful solution for mental wellness, specifically for those battling depression. We built an Android app that combined agentic workflows, sentiment analysis, and dedicated dashboards for both psychiatrists and patients. The app aimed to provide real-time support, emotional insights, and a seamless connection between patients and mental health professionals.

The Road to Victory

Those 36 hours were a blur of challenges and small victories. We kicked off with a brainstorming session, sketching out our idea on a whiteboard littered with sticky notes. Tasks were divided—frontend, backend, UI/UX—and we dove into the grind. Late-night debugging sessions tested our patience, but the camaraderie kept us going.

Standing before the judges, we poured our hearts into the presentation, showcasing not just the app but the impact it could have. When they announced Team 4FIVE6 as the 2nd place winner, the room erupted in cheers. We won ₹31,000, certificates, and a trophy that still gleams with the memory of that day.

Team celebration
Team 4FIVE6, beaming with pride after our 2nd place win
Trophy
Our hard-earned trophy

Tools of the Trade

  • React Native: For the cross-platform mobile application.
  • Node.js & Express.js: Powering the backend API.
  • MongoDB: For flexible data storage.
  • Agentic Workflows: To provide personalized AI assistance.
  • Sentiment Analysis: For analyzing patient mood and emotional trends.

Looking Back

BFCET Hack 2.0 wasn’t just a competition—it was a journey that taught me the value of teamwork, resilience, and dreaming big. Winning 2nd place with Team 4FIVE6 was a moment I’ll cherish forever. The lessons I learned—working under pressure, collaborating seamlessly, and presenting with confidence—continue to shape my path as a developer.

~ Vishawjeet Sidhu