HELPSTiR Innovation Challenge

theoretical problem-solving, inviting participants to engage directly with their communities, identify real human needs, and then conceptualize how technology, particularly HELPSTiR's AI platform, can provide scalable solutions. About the Challenge Every city in India has individuals who are one phone call away from a better life, yet often lack the bridge to existing resources. This challenge seeks sharp, empathetic, and field-ready minds who can observe societal gaps and design impactful solutions. It emphasizes practical application: participants will meet real people, understand their challenges, and then apply a founder's mindset to leverage technology for change. Who Should Apply This challenge is open to all Indian undergraduate and postgraduate students. Participation is strictly solo. Both signing up on the HELPSTiR platform and registering on Unstop are mandatory. Challenge Categories Participants are required to identify two individuals across any of these three critical categories: Education Help: For those whose access to learning is hindered by fees, distance, family circumstances, or lack of digital access. Livelihood Help: For individuals whose path to earning is blocked, such as migrant workers between jobs, women with skills but no market access, or those whose income source has disappeared. Disability Help: For people living with physical, sensory, intellectual, or developmental disabilities who are not receiving entitled support, schemes, assistive devices, therapy, or inclusion. How it Works: Your Case Study This is a single-round challenge. Participants will sign up on HELPSTiR, then meet two real people in their community, raise help requests for them on the HELPSTiR platform (with documented consent), and finally build an 8-10 slide case study. This case study must detail their learnings, the beneficiaries' needs, and propose how HELPSTiR's AI can solve similar problems at scale. A branded HELPSTiR case study template will be provided. What to Submit Your final submission on Unstop must include: Your case study as a PDF (8-10 slides). Your HELPSTiR username (mandatory for verification of linked help requests). Your full name, college, course, and year of study. Contact email and phone number. Prizes & Recognition HELPSTiR offers a total cash prize pool of ₹10,000, alongside significant recognition and opportunities: 1st Place: ₹5,000 cash, LinkedIn feature on HELPSTiR's official handle, and a HELPSTiR Certificate of Merit. 2nd Place: ₹3,000 cash, LinkedIn feature on HELPSTiR's official handle, and a HELPSTiR Certificate of Merit. 3rd Place: ₹2,000 cash, LinkedIn feature on HELPSTiR's official handle, and a HELPSTiR Certificate of Merit. 4th & 5th Place (Runners-up): A 30-minute one-on-one session with founder Alice Luke, priority preference for the HELPSTiR Campus Ambassador programme, and exclusive HELPSTiR branded merchandise. Top 10 Ranked Submissions: HELPSTiR Certificate of Merit and a public LinkedIn shoutout. All Participants (with verified submissions): HELPSTiR Certificate of Participation, community member status, and priority consideration for HELPSTiR internships. Evaluation Rubric (100 points) Submissions will be judged on: Field rigour and depth of insight from the two help requests: 30 points Quality of pattern recognition between field and solution: 20 points AI solution feasibility and creativity: 25 points HELPSTiR platform fit: 15 points Communication and design quality: 10 points Non-Negotiable Guardrails Consent First: Documented beneficiary consent in their preferred language is mandatory. Dignity Always: No beneficiary identifiers will appear on public leaderboards or social media. Public-facing decks must blur faces and remove identifying details if requested. No Fabrication: Any participant submitting fake help requests or whose case study does not match verified requests will be immediately disqualified and publicly named. About HELPSTiR HELPSTiR is India's first AI-powered, location-based philanthropy technology platform. It connects people in need with verified NGOs and CSR funders rapidly. Founded by Alice Luke (Harvard, IIM Bangalore, Azim Premji University, UNESCO advocate for ethical AI), HELPSTiR is dedicated to building the infrastructure for how India helps.