Adaptiq

The Grand Finale of AdaptIQ marked the concluding stage of the three-phase innovation challenge organized by the IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group of IIT. Bringing together the top ten teams selected from the second phase's six-hour challenge, the finale was designed to test creativity, innovation, and adaptability in a real-world problem-solving environment. Held at the IIT premises, the 24-hour competition offered participants an intense but rewarding experience, pushing them to work collaboratively under time-sensitive conditions.

At the start of the competition, teams were required to independently identify a meaningful real-world problem they wished to solve from the given industry. Once the problem statement was finalized, teams moved on to designing their solutions, focusing on user relevance, feasibility, and innovation. The expectation was not just an idea, but a functional minimum viable product (MVP) ready for demonstration at the end of the 24 hours.

A defining feature of AdaptIQ's Grand Finale was the introduction of hourly "adaptability twists" — unexpected constraints or changes communicated to teams throughout the event, requiring them to revisit, rethink, and adjust their solutions accordingly. The twists ranged from new feature requirements to design limitations and user-group changes, adding a dynamic layer to the competition and ensuring participants demonstrated not only technical capability but also quick decision-making and the ability to adapt under pressure.

At the end of the 24 hours, each team presented their problem, solution concept, MVP, and adaptation strategy to a distinguished panel of judges made up of experienced industry professionals from IT companies in Sri Lanka. Ms. Sheron Kitchilan, a senior software engineer at TIQRI, Mr. Chanuka Gunadasa, a senior tech lead at Zone24x7, and Mr. Manojith Thiyageswarakumar, a senior software engineer at Kickstart, served as the judging panel for AdaptIQ's Grand Finale. Teams were evaluated on innovation, technical execution, usability, real-world impact, and how effectively they responded to the twists.

After a competitive series of presentations, Smile Labs from the University of Moratuwa emerged as champions, impressing the judges with their creativity, strong technical implementation, and professionalism in delivering their final pitch. The winning team was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 40,000 in recognition of their commitment.

The Grand Finale of AdaptIQ concluded successfully, reflecting the hard work and enthusiasm of all participants. With more than 300 participants, over 40 volunteers, and 19 industry partners, AdaptIQ stood out as one of the biggest initiatives undertaken by the IEEE WIE Affinity Group of IIT.