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My Bitter Experience at Hackout 2025: A Hackathon That Failed Our Expectations

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My Bitter Experience at Hackout 2025: A Hackathon That Failed Our Expectations

In this candid blog, a student participant shares a disappointing experience at Hackout 2025, the flagship hackathon of DAIICT. From a flawed proctoring process to the shocking victory of a disqualified team, it exposes how mismanagement and favoritism can ruin the spirit of fair competition. Written in a reflective tone, this post contrasts high expectations with harsh reality — and raises important questions about transparency in hackathons._

🎯 Expectations vs. Harsh Reality

Hackathons are supposed to be platforms for innovation, collaboration, and fair competition.

When my team and I registered for Hackout 2025, organized by DAIICT (Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology), our excitement was sky-high.

DAIICT is a reputed institute, and we expected professionalism, transparency, and fairness.

But what we encountered left us not just disappointed, but questioning the credibility of both DAIICT and Unstop (the platform chosen for the first round).

🖥️ The First Round: Online Assessment via Unstop

The hackathon began with an online assessment on 24th August 2025, conducted on Unstop’s proctoring solution.

  • ⏱️ Window: 12 PM – 6 PM

  • 📋 Format: MCQs, coding questions, and aptitude problems

  • ⌛ Duration: 45 minutes

We solved all the problems correctly within 30 minutes and left with confidence, convinced we had done well enough to move forward.

⚖️ What We Expected vs. What Happened

With proctoring in place, we trusted the system to ensure fair play.

The rules seemed clear: if someone cheated, they’d be disqualified immediately.

Here’s what actually happened:

  • At 4:43 PM, one team (name withheld) was caught cheating.

  • That night at 12:10 AM, they received an official email:

“We are deeply sorry to share that your team has been disqualified from Hackout 2025.”

✅ So far, so good — the system worked.

But shockingly, that same team later received another email:

“We are delighted to inform you that you have been shortlisted from the online assessment round for Hackout 2025, the flagship hackathon of the Sympanium community, DAIICT. We are excited to host you on campus and look forward to seeing your innovative ideas come alive.”

It even included reporting instructions for the offline round on 9th August 2025, 3:30 PM at DAIICT Gandhinagar.

❓ How can a disqualified team suddenly become qualified?

💥 The Biggest Blow: A Disqualified Team Won

The ultimate shock came later:

➡️ The same disqualified team not only qualified for the offline round but also went on to win Hackout 2025.

I won’t disclose their exact rank (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), but yes — they were on the winner’s podium.

⚠️ Let that sink in:

  • A team caught cheating was allowed to continue.

  • A team that should have been permanently disqualified was instead rewarded.

What does this say about the credibility and fairness of the event?

🤔 My Thoughts

This incident reflects poorly on both Unstop and DAIICT.

When a reputed institute allows a disqualified team to win, it raises troubling questions:

  • ❓ Is the proctoring system just a formality?

  • ❓ Are selections influenced by connections or favoritism?

  • ❓ Is innovation truly valued in such hackathons?

My team worked hard, followed every rule, and played fair.

Yet we were left behind while a disqualified team was celebrated.

This is not what hackathons should stand for.

📌 Conclusion

Hackathons are meant to inspire young innovators, providing a fair platform to learn, build, and compete.

But Hackout 2025 at DAIICT became the opposite:

a frustrating, demoralizing experience marred by poor management and questionable decision-making.

As participants, we don’t just give our time and effort — we give our trust. Sadly, that trust was broken.

🚨 Final Note

To DAIICT and Unstop:

If you truly care about nurturing talent, incidents like this must be taken seriously.

A disqualified team should never end up as a winner — it’s unfair, unethical, and destroys the spirit of hackathons.

👉 If you’re considering joining future hackathons at DAIICT or through Unstop, think twice.

My experience is proof that things may not be as transparent or fair as they appear on paper.

J

Jatin

Author