Think cyber. Innovate forward.
PwC AC India proudly conducted the third edition of the Fiercest Competitor Cyber Hackathon, a flagship competition that challenged top engineering students to solve real-world cybersecurity problems. Participants applied their coding, ethical hacking and cybersecurity expertise to identify vulnerabilities and develop innovative security solutions, gaining hands-on experience in one of the most critical fields of technology today.
Format: 60 minutes | Virtual | Individual challenge
Strengthen your cybersecurity skills through a dynamic, hands-on simulation designed to reflect real-world scenarios.
You’ll navigate a gamified technical challenge focused on identifying and understanding common security vulnerabilities. This round is designed to assess your awareness of secure coding principles and your ability to evaluate risk in a controlled environment.
What you’ll focus on:
Strengthen your cybersecurity skills through a dynamic, hands-on simulation designed to reflect real-world scenarios.
You’ll navigate a gamified technical challenge focused on identifying and understanding common security vulnerabilities. This round is designed to assess your awareness of secure coding principles and your ability to evaluate risk in a controlled environment.
What you’ll focus on:
- Recognizing common security issues
- Applying foundational cybersecurity concepts
- Demonstrating analytical and problem-solving skills
Format: In-person | Team challenge
Apply your knowledge, collaborate with your peers, and bring your ideas to life in this final round held at the PwC office.
You and your team will develop a working application prototype and present your solution to a panel of professionals from PwC’s Cybersecurity practice.
What’s involved:
Apply your knowledge, collaborate with your peers, and bring your ideas to life in this final round held at the PwC office.
You and your team will develop a working application prototype and present your solution to a panel of professionals from PwC’s Cybersecurity practice.
What’s involved:
- Prototype development: Work collaboratively to design and build a secure application using standard cybersecurity tools and libraries.
- Presentation: Explain your solution, outline your development approach and highlight the security measures integrated into your build.
What you’ll be assessed on:
- Innovation and technical quality Team collaboration
- Application of cybersecurity best practices
- Clarity and impact of your presentation
Winners of Fiercest Competitor
"Our participation in Fiercest Competitor 4.0 was an enriching journey that pushed us to innovate, solve problems under pressure and collaborate on real-world cybersecurity challenges. From ideation to building a working prototype in just six hours, the experience was intense, rewarding and full of creativity and learning. While winning was a proud milestone, the true value lay in the teamwork, mentorship and exposure we gained. We are grateful to the PwC Acceleration Center India team, mentors and judges for their guidance and for fostering such an inspiring environment that strengthened our skills and reinforced the power of collaboration."
Ishan Bhardwaj (Jorhat Engineering College)
Kuraku Ambica (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham)
Nihal Sivapuram (SRM institute of Science and Technology)
Ishan Bhardwaj (Jorhat Engineering College)
Kuraku Ambica (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham)
Nihal Sivapuram (SRM institute of Science and Technology)
1st runner up of Fiercest Competitor
"The Fiercest Competitor 4.0 was an incredible experience! As first runner-up, we tackled real-world cybersecurity challenges within an intense 6-hour timeframe. What made it exceptional was solving genuine industry problems and presenting to PwC directors. The networking with cybersecurity professionals and fellow top 30 participants from across India was invaluable. This journey strengthened our technical expertise, enhanced our problem-solving skills, and boosted our confidence as a team. We are grateful to PwC AC for creating such a transformative opportunity."
Amrinder Singh (Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre)
Debashish Tripathy (Manipal Institute of Technology)
Jayesh Gaba (SRM Institute of Science & Technology)
Amrinder Singh (Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre)
Debashish Tripathy (Manipal Institute of Technology)
Jayesh Gaba (SRM Institute of Science & Technology)
2nd runner up of Fiercest Competitor
"The hackathon was an amazing experience for our team! The finale especially was exciting, intense, and full of learning. From the moment the challenge was revealed, we had to quickly brainstorm, divide responsibilities, and trust each other’s strengths to move forward under pressure. Competing with great teams from all over the country was a privilege, and getting valuable feedback from our mentor always gave us a new perspective to the problem. More than just coding, it was about teamwork, creativity, and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. We’re really grateful for the opportunity and the memories we’ve made!"
Alwin Showi (Lakshmi Narain College of Technology, Bhopal)
Harika Naguru (Anurag University)
Sarthak Sarthi (Graphic Era University)
