Chennai: An AI-powered construction technology platform developed by students of the NxtWave of Innovation in Advanced Technologies (NIAT) emerged as one of the top innovations at TakeOver 2026, a startup showcase held in Hyderabad, earning its creators an international industry learning trip.

The platform, named BuildTrack, was presented during a Shark Tank-style pitching session before a jury comprising entrepreneurs, including Mivi Co-founder Midhula Devabhaktuni and Sid's Farm Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr Kishore Indukuri.

Developed as an AI-powered Construction Cost Intelligence Platform, BuildTrack helps construction companies manage people, inventory, procurement and operations while providing real-time project visibility for stakeholders, including non-resident Indian (NRI) property investors.

According to NIAT, the platform already serves 120 clients and is being used by construction businesses, making it a commercially operational solution rather than a prototype.

The startup showcase marked the culmination of BRAVE, NIAT's startup accelerator programme that combines three months of online mentoring with an intensive offline training phase. Organisers said more than 30 student startup teams participated in the final pitch event, while over 150 teams collectively generated more than Rs 2 crore in revenue during the three-month programme. One student team reportedly earned Rs 15 lakh in revenue from construction sector clients during the period.

Addressing the participants, Mivi Co-founder Midhula Devabhaktuni said successful entrepreneurship depends not merely on generating ideas but on converting them into products that customers are willing to pay for.

Sid's Farm Founder and CEO Dr Kishore Indukuri encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on solving practical problems and building strong business foundations through persistence and continuous learning.

Google Cloud Regional Head of Education Nivisha Prabhakar, who was also on the jury, said the students demonstrated creativity, teamwork and the ability to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions.

NIAT said its four-year, on-campus programme, offered in collaboration with more than 30 universities and colleges across India, focuses on training students in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, robotics and other emerging technologies through industry-oriented projects and real-world product development.