For years, artificial intelligence was largely confined to classrooms and theoretical projects for students. That is now changing as AI enters real-world engineering and construction, giving students the chance to build and test solutions for problems faced by companies. From tracking manpower and materials to identifying cost gaps and providing real-time project visibility, AI is moving beyond experimentation to become a practical tool for the construction industry.
This transition was on display at TakeOver 2026 in Hyderabad, a cross-campus AI and engineering showcase by NxtWave Institute of Advanced Technologies (NIAT), where more than 30 student teams presented their solutions in a Shark Tank-style pitch session before a jury that included Midhula Devabhaktuni, Co-Founder of Mivi, and Dr. Kishore Indukuri, Founder and CEO of Sid’s Farm.
One of the teams at the showcase was BuildTrack, which built an AI-powered platform to help construction companies manage people, inventory, procurement and day-to-day operations. Already used by 120 clients, the student-built venture addresses an everyday challenge in the construction sector: keeping projects, costs and operations on track.
More than 100 student-led startups have emerged through NIAT’s BRAVE entrepreneurship initiative, while over 150 teams have generated more than Rs. 2 crore in revenue in just three months. “Many of these ventures have moved beyond prototypes to gain customers, generate revenue and find real-world applications,” said Rahul Attuluri, CEO and Co-Founder, NIAT, noting that students at TakeOver 2026 are also showcasing AI-powered ventures developed through work with MSMEs across sectors.
Rahul noted that as AI tools take on more coding, NIAT is ensuring students understand the engineering behind what they build. Students are trained to identify real-world problems, design systems, build and test prototypes, and defend their technical and business decisions before industry experts. Hackathons, coding championships, makers’ challenges and startup programmes help turn that process into hands-on experience.
On the biggest gap among engineering students, Rahul said many struggle to turn technical knowledge into solutions for real-world problems. While classroom learning builds foundational knowledge, students often have limited opportunities to build products, test them with users and understand market needs. TakeOver 2026 aims to bridge this gap through hands-on experience in building AI solutions, working with industry, pitching to investors and turning ideas into products and businesses.
“I was inspired by the students’ curiosity, teamwork and clarity of thought. Innovation begins with bold ideas, but its impact lies in taking them forward and putting them into practice. The creativity and entrepreneurial spirit on display reflect the potential of the next generation of product builders and innovators,” said Nivisha Prabhakar, Regional Head of Education at Google Cloud and a jury member.
Meanwhile, Midhula Devabhaktuni, Co-Founder of Mivi, said, “Ideas are quite cheap. The real challenge is turning them into products that customers will pay for. What impressed me about the NIAT students was that they had already moved beyond ideas and built products with real customers.”
As technology evolves, the next generation of engineers is moving from classroom concepts to products with real customers, learning by building what the real world needs.
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