Solve for Goa Initiative Drives Purpose-Led Innovation: GDG
Goa Host AI Workshops and Guided Hackathon in Panaji
Panaji, Goa – Google Developer Group Goa, in collaboration with Google for developers and Sofueled, organized a full-day AI and innovation event under the Solve for Goa initiative at Caculo Mall, Panaji, on January 26th, 2026. Bringing together developers, students, and technology enthusiasts, the program combined advanced technical learning with a guided hackathon designed to turn knowledge
into real-world solutions. While the event featured hands-on workshops in artificial intelligence, cloud-native
development, and modern app frameworks, the central focus was the Solve for Goa Guided Hackathon – a model created to encourage participants to apply technologytoward meaningful, locally relevant problem-solving. Purpose of the Solve for Goa Hackathon
The hackathon was designed not merely as a coding competition, but as a learning-driven innovation platform. Its purpose was to:
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Encourage participants to build solutions that address real-world challenges Promote a builder mindset over passive learning
Provide mentorship and structured guidance throughout the innovation process Help experience the full journey from idea to working prototype Connect global technologies like AI and cloud computing with local and
societal use cases By focusing on structured mentorship rather than isolated competition, the initiative
ensured that participants understood how to approach problem-solving, from defining the problem and choosing the right technology stack to building, refining, and presenting a functional solution. Six teams from Goa, Hyderabad, and Pune presented prototype solutions based on
distinct problem statements aligned with the Solve for Goa theme. The projects demonstrated thoughtful application of AI, cloud tools, and modern development practices, reflecting not only technical skills but also usability thinking and
real-world relevance. Technology Learning That Powered Innovation Earlier sessions equipped participants with the tools needed to perform effectively in the hackathon.
Solve for Goa Initiative Drives Purpose-Led Innovation: GDG
Goa Host AI Workshops and Guided Hackathon in Panaji
Geeta Kakrani, AI Consultant and Google Developer Expert, conducted a deep-dive
workshop on fine-tuning pre-trained AI models using Gemma on Google Cloud
Vertex AI, enabling participants to understand how advanced AI systems can be
adapted for practical use.
Ashutosh Bhakre, AWS User Group Leader, GDE, Docker Captain, and Google
Authorized Trainer, led a session on AI, containers, and serverless architectures for
rapid prototyping, helping attendees learn how to build scalable and deployable
solutions efficiently.
A session by Amey Nerkar on Predictive Payments and AI in Google Wallet
highlighted how AI enhances consumer financial experiences, offering insight into
real-world AI applications at scale.
Participants were also introduced to Firebase Studio by Srushti Raybhoge, followed
by a guided activity where they built a working application – reinforcing
development fundamentals that many teams later applied during the hackathon.
Building a Regional Innovation Culture
Speaking about the initiative, Prajyot Mainkar said: Solve for Goa focuses on
shifting mindsets from simply building technology to delivering meaningful impact.
Our goal in associating with GDG Goa was to help participants move from ideas to
tangible outcomes through guided, hands-on learning. The structured hackathon
model ensures developers have a clear approach to real-world problem-solving, not
just competition-driven output. Such initiatives are essential for building strong and
sustainable innovation ecosystems.
The Solve for Goa initiative reflects a broader goal: nurturing a generation of
problem-solvers who use technology with purpose. By combining global expertise,
hands-on training, and locally relevant challenges, GDG Goa is helping strengthen
Goa’s developer ecosystem and position the region as an emerging center for
innovation.
The event demonstrated how guided, community-driven programs can bridge the
gap between learning and execution, equipping participants with industry-relevant
skills while encouraging solutions that create real impact.
