Building Under Pressure: Lakshmikanth’s Journey Into Real-World AI

Student: Lakshmikanth M
Year: 2nd Year, Dayananda Sagar University
Hackathon: Flipr Hackathon 27.1

Background

When you’re in your 2nd year, the world of technology feels huge — full of trends, tools, and possibilities you want to explore.

For Lakshmikanth, that curiosity became the reason to join Flipr Hackathon 27.1.
He wanted to understand the current tech landscape, but there was also a personal challenge behind it —
Could he build an end-to-end project under a strict deadline?

He wanted to prove it to himself.
And that intention set the tone for everything that followed.

The Challenge

Every great project comes with unexpected hurdles.
For Lakshmikanth, the biggest challenges came from:

• Integration,
  
  
• Deployment, and
  
  
• Unexpected security issues.
  
  

These weren’t beginner-level problems — they were the kind of challenges real engineers face every day.
And instead of stepping back, he leaned into them.

Those tough moments became the best learning opportunities.
He walked away with clarity on what it really takes to build something that’s functional, stable, and secure.

The Hackathon Experience

When asked to rate his Flipr experience, he simply said:

“5/5.”

And he meant it.

From understanding deadlines to navigating real-world complexities, the hackathon gave him a complete picture of what production-style building feels like.

He also walked away with a bronze rank, which made the entire experience even more special.
But more than the rank, it was the learning and exposure that left a lasting impact.

The Project

Lakshmikanth built an Automatic AI Customer Support System using GenAI — a solution designed to help businesses respond intelligently and instantly to user queries.

It included:

• Automatic responses,
  
  
• Conversational flows,
  
  
• Language understanding, and
  
  
• Support logic built over LLMs.
  
  

For a 2nd-year student, working on something this real-world and AI-focused was a major leap — but he executed it with intention and clarity.

Lakshmikanth’s Contribution

He handled the frontend and admin dashboard, but also worked deeply on LLM design — crafting the logic that made the customer support experience smart, fluid, and context-aware.

It wasn’t just about UI.
It was about understanding how users interact… and how AI can elevate that experience.

This project taught him how to blend creativity with technical depth — something that stays with you long after a hackathon ends.

Outcome & Reflection

By the end of the hackathon, Lakshmikanth had achieved much more than a bronze rank.

He learned:

• Time management,
  
  
• Teamwork,
  
  
• How to navigate real-world challenges,
  
  
• How deployment and integration actually work,
  
  
• And what to expect in future large-scale projects.
  
  

The hackathon gave him exposure, clarity, and confidence — and opened doors to opportunities he might not have discovered otherwise.

His biggest learning?

“A hackathon is the best place to test your limits, manage time, and gain real-world clarity.”

Student Quote

“Flipr Hackathon gave me exposure to real-world projects and taught me how to manage time and face the challenges that come with building something end-to-end.
It’s a very good opportunity to showcase skills and open doors for future growth.”

Closing Thoughts

From curiosity to clarity, from security bugs to a bronze rank, Lakshmikanth’s journey at Flipr Hackathon 27.1 shows what can happen when a student decides to test themselves under real pressure.

He came in wanting to explore.
He left with experience, confidence, and a strong foundation for the future.

And that’s what Flipr Labs stands for — giving students the right environment to build, experiment, and truly understand what the world of engineering feels like.

Because sometimes, the best way to grow is to challenge yourself before you feel ready.