From College Hackathons to Real-World Learning: Thanu’s Flipr Journey
Student: Thanu Pal
Year: 3rd Year, MVJ College of Engineering
Hackathon: Flipr Hackathon 26.2
Background
For Thanu Pal, hackathons had always been a space to explore and experiment.
After attending multiple hackathons within her college, she wanted something more real — a taste of what it feels like to work on industry-level problems with company-like structure and expectations.
That search brought her to Flipr Hackathon 26.2, where she got exactly what she was looking for — a real-world learning experience.
The Challenge
Thanu and her team came into the hackathon as beginners. They were full of enthusiasm but also aware that there was so much more to learn.
Their biggest challenge wasn’t the project itself — it was figuring out how to approach real-world development: breaking down a problem, organizing work, and managing time as a team.
But instead of seeing that as a barrier, they saw it as a starting point.
The Hackathon Experience
Thanu describes her Flipr experience as “a good one.”
And it truly was.
The event gave her a chance to experience what actual teamwork under deadlines feels like — the excitement, the chaos, the quick decision-making, and those small victories when things finally start working.
She calls it the perfect bridge between college learning and company-level exposure.
The best part? She loved it enough to join future Flipr hackathons too.
The Project
Thanu and her team built a Full-Stack Stock Market Website — a platform designed to analyze and visualize stock data in real time.
It was a blend of logic and creativity, and for Thanu, it was her first experience building something that felt “complete.”
They used modern web technologies to bring it to life, ensuring that both the backend data and the frontend visuals worked seamlessly together.
Thanu’s Contribution
Thanu played a key role in frontend development, focusing on the user experience and layout design.
From handling UI elements to ensuring the pages worked smoothly, she contributed to the part of the project that users actually see and interact with.
But beyond the code, she learned how to communicate effectively within a team, divide work, and stay focused on the bigger goal — building something that works.
Outcome & Reflection
By the end of Flipr Hackathon 26.2, Thanu had achieved exactly what she came for — confidence and experience.
She learned new technologies, strengthened her teamwork skills, and got a clear understanding of how company-level projects are structured and executed.
The hackathon became more than just a weekend event — it became a turning point in how she viewed collaboration, problem-solving, and learning.
Student Quote
“Flipr Hackathon gave me confidence and exposure.
It helped me understand how teamwork and real-world projects actually work.
It was a good experience — one that made me want to keep learning and join more hackathons.”
Closing Thoughts
From attending college hackathons to gaining real company-level experience, Thanu Pal’s journey through Flipr Hackathon 26.2 is proof that growth begins the moment you step out of your comfort zone.
She came in curious, left confident — and that’s exactly what Flipr Labs is all about.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one good experience to make you want to build again.