Three engineering students from Rajarambapu Institute of Technology in Maharashtra have won the national GRASP 2026 hackathon with an AI-powered chatbot aimed at supporting parents of autistic children. The tool provides evidence-based guidance between therapy sessions, helping families manage behavioural challenges in real time.

The winning team, known as Team Neurostars, consists of Ganesh Ramchandra Mahadik, Vaishnavi Rajkumar Patiland Abhishek Shivprasad Patil, who saw a critical gap in support for families caring for children with autism. In India, most such families can access professional therapy only once a month, if at all, due to barriers such as geography, cost and a shortage of specialists.

“Our aim was to take structured clinical knowledge and make it accessible when families need it most,” the team said. “Think of it as a therapeutic companion that’s always available.”

GRASP 2026 Focuses On Impactful Problem-Solving

GRASP 2026 was organised by KRUU in partnership with ASME India and challenged more than 5,000 students nationwide to apply reasoning-led AI design to solve human problems.

Unlike many traditional hackathons that emphasise speed coding, GRASP’s organisers highlighted the importance of problem understanding and social impact. “We’re not looking for students who can just prompt an AI model,” said Anil Srinivasan, Founder and CEO of KRUU. “We want students who understand the problem deeply. Team Neurostars didn’t build a demo; they built a bridge for families.”

Madhukar Sharma, President of ASME India, added that “when technical skill is paired with empathy, engineering creates real impact,” underlining the competition’s emphasis on solutions that address real-world challenges.

Prizes, Mentorship And Future Prospects

Team Neurostars secured the top prize of ₹1 lakh, national recognition, internships and an opportunity to collaborate with a European university. The first and second runners-up — Team Dr. Engineers from K J Somaiya College and Team Generic from Christ University — also presented healthcare-oriented solutions.

The total prize pool for the hackathon was ₹1.85 lakh. Winners will receive mentorship from ASME and KRUU, and guidance to develop prototypes into viable products with the potential to scale.

The chatbot developed by Team Neurostars demonstrates how AI can help families in regions where human resources are limited, supporting caregivers in moments when professional help may be days or weeks away.

GRASP 2026 highlighted a new generation of Indian students who leverage technology not just to build, but to help and uplift communities. Team Neurostars’ work shows how AI, when combined with empathy and social insight, can make a meaningful difference in daily lives.

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