About Me

As someone passionate about technology, I have honed my skills in Java, C, Python, and web development frameworks like React.js and Next.js. My experience with databases like MongoDB and SQL, coupled with my love for data analysis and machine learning, has driven me to explore innovative solutions to real-world problems. The Nomura KakushIN 8.0 hackathon provided the perfect platform to put my skills to the test.

About Nomura

Nomura is a global financial services conglomerate with a broad network across more than 30 countries. It operates through three key business segments: Retail, Investment Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Nomura serves a diverse range of clients including individuals, institutions, corporations, and governments. For more information, visit their website.

The Nomura KakushIN 8.0 Competition

The Nomura KakushIN 8.0 competition is a platform that challenges participants to develop innovative solutions with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and impactful technology. Our goal was to create a web or mobile application that enhances financial literacy among students supported by NGOs through gamification.

Elegibility Criteria

• Branches Eligible are BE (CMPN, INFT, EXTC, ECS, AIDS) and MCA

• As such no other criteria were mentioned

Timeline

• 4 June 2024: Launch of the competition

• 5 June 2024: Online Registrations open

• 14 June 2024, 5:00 PM: Deadline for Executive Summary submission and registration closure

• 21 June 2024: Communication of shortlisted teams

• 24-25 June 2024: Presentation Round

• 27 June 2024: Communication of finalist shortlists

• 4 July 2024: Day 1 of the Grand Finale – All-day coding to finalize the solution

• 5 July 2024: Day 2 of the Grand Finale – Presentation of final solutions to Nomura’s senior technology professionals and Results announcement for full-time offers

Compensation Breakdown

Note: As Nomura is a dream company, it blocked the selected students hence they were out of the placement process and cannot go for higher studies for the Academic year 2025-26.

Round 0 - Team Formation

We were required to form two-person teams (inter-class teams were permitted) and register on the company's website with a team name. Choosing your team wisely is important, as it will have a significant impact later in the process. Ensure that both team members are proficient in the same tech stack.

Round 1 - Executive Summary Submission

The Executive Summary submission round was the first major challenge of the Nomura KakushIN 8.0 competition. With over 100 teams competing for a spot, only 18 were selected to move forward. This round proved to be a tough hurdle, as the problem statement was intricate and required a deep understanding of the core issues at hand.

Our team dedicated significant time to breaking down the problem statement and crafting a solution that was both innovative and practical. The key to success in this round was presenting a clear, concise, and compelling summary that demonstrated our grasp of the problem and outlined a feasible solution.

The Executive Summary needed to be no more than two pages long and required us to effectively communicate our understanding and approach. It was essential to think creatively and propose unique features that could set our solution apart from the rest. In addition to summarizing the problem and solution, we included a flowchart to visually represent how our application would function, ensuring that the concept was easy to grasp.

Executive Summary

Here’s the problem statement we worked on for Nomura KakushIN 8.0:

The problem statement for the competition required developing an innovative web or mobile application that uses gamification to enhance financial literacy among students supported by NGOs. The application needed to focus on teaching practical financial skills such as saving, expense tracking, managing chores, and goal-based investment recommendations, all within a gamified environment. The aim was to make learning about finance engaging and accessible, helping students develop financial responsibility from a young age.

Round 2 - Presentation

Our presentation lasted between 15-20 minutes, followed by a Q&A session, bringing the total time to around 30-40 minutes. We explained our application and its features in detail. A crucial tip is to include Figma designs of your application; this not only helps you explain your solution with ease but also adds an extra layer of professionalism to your presentation.

The panel asked about the tech stack we planned to use for building the application, so make sure you have your answers ready. They were particularly interested in the feasibility of completing the solution within the 10-hour hackathon timeframe. We assured them that our solution was not only feasible but also well within our capabilities.

Another important tip: ensure that the presentation is equally divided between both teammates. This shows that both team members are equally knowledgeable and involved in the solution, which can significantly boost your chances of getting selected. If only one person does all the talking while the other stays silent, it may give the panel the impression that only one team member understands the solution, which can create a negative impression.

3 teams were selected for the final round.

Round 2 PPT

Final Round - Hackathon

The actual Hackathon is undoubtedly the highlight of the KakushIN experience. Nomura provided us with cabs for all three days, ensuring smooth transportation between home and their office.

Day 1: Setup Day

We arrived at the office at 7:30 a.m. and started with an introduction to the company, followed by the necessary setup of our project. It’s crucial to install all the required tools that you mentioned in your executive summary, and ensure that your machine is working flawlessly, as you’ll be using the same setup for the coding day. After completing the setup, we left the office around 2 p.m.

Day 2: Coding Day

On the second day, we arrived at the office by 8 a.m., and the coding session started at 9 a.m. Although we were excited to interact with our mentors, unlike our senior’s experience, we had fewer interactions, about three times during the entire day. Despite this, we managed to complete our solution within the given time frame. The day ended at 8 p.m., and we were driven back home, ready for the final presentation.

Note : Github is blocked, Drive is blocked, and URL tracking is active. Do not copy codes from websites; the phone can only be used for calling; Stack Overflow is permitted; official documentation is permitted; and ChatGPT is prohibited. Git is available for collaboration, and your Git repositories have been deployed on AWS.

Day 3: The Final Presentation

The final day began with a 30-minute window to complete the setup of our project, after which coding was prohibited. We then proceeded to present our solution to the senior technical team. Our presentation lasted for about 30 minutes. We were confident in our solution and presented it with full enthusiasm, but unfortunately, a small error occurred at the end due to a library installation issue. However, the panel understood the situation and didn’t penalize us for it.

After the presentation, we had a 4 to 5-hour wait for the final results. The anticipation was quite nerve-wracking.

The Results

The results were announced around 4:30 p.m. Unfortunately, we did not make it to the top three. However, one of the judges personally approached us to appreciate our work, which was a huge morale booster.

As we were on our way back home in the cab, we received a message from our college's Training and Placement Cell. Both my teammate and I had received Pre-Placement Offers (PPO) from Nomura(8 PPOs and 15 internships were distributed in total). That was an emotional moment for both of us – all our hard work had finally paid off.

Tips

1. Wear blazers during rounds 2 and 3 and behave formally.

2. While KakushIN is a great opportunity, don't solely rely on it for placements. Selection depends on various factors, including your technical abilities, communication skills, and a bit of luck. Continue preparing for other companies alongside this competition.

3. Interact with your mentors during the hackathon, discuss your project confidently, and try to make a good impression to increase your chances of being selected.

4. Participate in other hackathons beforehand to build valuable experience. If you achieve success, you can mention these experiences to mentors and judges during Rounds 2 and 3, which may help strengthen your case.

Resources

Resources that I used and recommend:

1. Web Dev (HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB): https://www.udemy.com/course/the-web-developer-bootcamp/

2. React.js: https://scrimba.com/learn/learnreact

3. Next.js: https://www.youtube.com/@javascriptmastery

4. DSA from beginner to advanced: https://takeuforward.org/strivers-a2z-dsa-course/strivers-a2z-dsa-course-sheet-2/

5. Data Science: https://www.udemy.com/share/101WeA3@HXRIfmNlMbVp-XXnQ0sT9UXCA5gAUccQVxZcOhycit36TQN0mYOuoL6uMJxCLc9NOA==/

6. AWS: https://www.udemy.com/share/103aFP3@-JcO7WHCE1L8wwwAWk-4G3K7uEIoeiBMgm-aOweejDrOsH0H1vm7yXYzBahWhweGXw==/