Kolkata: Technology events often begin with a schedule, a list of speakers and a venue. But what makes an event memorable is what happens between those sessions — the questions asked, conversations started, ideas exchanged and connections made.

InnovateX Connect’26, organized by the InnovateX Engineers Community, brought students, technology enthusiasts, industry professionals and community organizers together for a day focused on technology, innovation, learning and collaboration.

The event began at 10:00 AM with registration and badge distribution. Students from different colleges and universities arrived at the venue, meeting fellow participants, community members and professionals from the technology ecosystem. The early interactions set the tone for a day that was as much about people and conversations as it was about technology.

From 800+ Registrations to a Community Gathering

The response to InnovateX Connect’26 reflected strong interest among students in technology-focused learning and industry interaction.

The event received 800+ registrations. Following the selection process, 162 attendees were selected for the offline event, with 140 participants attending in person on the day.

The attendees came with different interests and questions. For some, the event was an opportunity to understand the technology industry better. Others were interested in career opportunities, placements, hackathons, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and cybersecurity.

What brought them together was a shared interest in learning and connecting with people working in the field.

Learning from Industry Experts

One of the key parts of InnovateX Connect’26 was its industry-focused sessions. Speakers from the technology sector discussed subjects ranging from design thinking and enterprise project management to cybersecurity, AI and cloud technologies.

The sessions were designed to give students a practical view of technology and professional life, moving beyond purely academic discussions.

Beyond Ideas: Design Thinking, Innovation & the Art of Building

Avik Agarwala conducted a workshop on “Beyond Ideas: Design Thinking, Innovation & the Art of Building.”

The workshop focused on the journey from an initial idea to a practical solution. Participants were encouraged to think about how problems can be understood, ideas developed and solutions built with the needs of users in mind.

The session also explored the mindset behind innovation, giving students an opportunity to look at building solutions as a process rather than simply coming up with new ideas.

Demystifying Enterprise Project Controls

In “Demystifying Enterprise Project Controls,” Srishti Majumder introduced participants to the systems and processes involved in managing projects within large organizations.

For students who are familiar with projects primarily through academic work, the session offered an introduction to how professional teams structure, track and manage projects in an enterprise environment.

It gave attendees a glimpse into the organizational side of technology projects and the processes that support their execution.

Hackers in Movies vs Hackers in Reality

The session “Hackers in Movies vs Hackers in Reality” looked at the difference between cinematic portrayals of hackers and the realities of cybersecurity and hacking.

Devesh Tulshyan used the topic to introduce participants to the practical side of cybersecurity and technology. The discussion helped separate fictional representations from the skills, tools and practices involved in real-world technology and security work.

For students interested in cybersecurity, the session provided a different way to look at a field that is often represented dramatically in popular culture.

When Students Took the Conversation Forward

One of the most interactive segments of InnovateX Connect’26 was the panel discussion featuring industry experts from TCS along with community organizers.

The discussion moved beyond a conventional speaker-led format. Students actively participated by raising questions about issues they are likely to face as they prepare to enter the professional world.

Questions covered placements, corporate life, working environments, hackathons, career opportunities and the transition from academic learning to professional work.

The open format allowed participants to hear directly from professionals and community organizers about their experiences. For many students, these conversations provided a chance to ask questions that may not always fit into a conventional technical session.

The panel also created space for students to understand that building a career in technology involves more than technical skills. Exposure to projects, communities, teamwork, communication and practical problem-solving can also become part of that journey.

The Sponsors Behind the Event

Events of this scale require support from organizations that are willing to invest in community initiatives. InnovateX Connect’26 received support from sponsors who contributed to the event experience.

Myrad joined InnovateX Connect’26 as the Silver Sponsor.

The InnovateX Engineers Community expressed its appreciation to Myrad and Mr. Himanshu Malik for supporting the event and its student-focused initiative.

Gold Sponsor — Miro

Mr. Subha Prasana Parida
Miro Meetup Ambassador

Miro supported InnovateX Connect’26 as the Gold Sponsor.

The InnovateX team thanked Miro and Mr. Subha Prasana Parida for being part of the event and supporting the community gathering.

Giveaway Sponsor — RUIN RUN

Mr. Sukrit Deb
RUIN RUN

RUIN RUN joined the event as the Giveaway Sponsor, adding another element to the experience for attendees.

The InnovateX Engineers Community extended its appreciation to RUIN RUN and Mr. Sukrit Deb for their support.

The Power of Community Partners

Behind the event’s reach was a network of 20+ community partners.

These communities helped spread information about InnovateX Connect’26 and reach students and technology enthusiasts across different colleges and universities.

Community partnerships can make a significant difference for student-focused technology events. Instead of relying on a single communication channel, information moves through multiple communities where students are already engaged.

For InnovateX Connect’26, this network helped connect the event with a wider audience and contributed to the response of more than 800 registrations.

The InnovateX Engineers Community expressed its thanks to all the community partners who supported the initiative and helped bring participants together.

Co-Hosted by GDG JIS University

InnovateX Connect’26 was co-hosted by GDG JIS University, with support from its volunteer team.

The organizers extended their thanks to Mr. Ayushman Bhattacharya, Ms. Anwesha Chakraborty, Mr. Shinjan Kundu, Mr. Sourav Singh and the entire GDG JIS University volunteer team for their support, coordination and contribution.

From attendee coordination to on-ground activities, volunteer teams play an important role in keeping a community event moving according to schedule. Their work, together with the InnovateX team, helped manage the different aspects of the event throughout the day.

The People Working Behind the Scenes

While attendees see the speakers, sessions, discussions and activities on the event day, a considerable amount of work takes place before the doors open.

InnovateX Connect’26 was organized by the InnovateX Engineers Community, led by Mr. Dhrubojyoti Chakraborty and Mr. Jit Sarkar.

Planning the event involved registrations, attendee selection, communication, speaker coordination, sponsor engagement, community partnerships, volunteer management and on-ground execution.

The Core Team worked across these areas to bring the event together. Their contribution formed the operational foundation of the gathering.

The organizers also acknowledged every Core Team member whose time and effort contributed to the event.

More Than a One-Day Gathering

By the end of the day, InnovateX Connect’26 had brought together several different parts of the technology community under one roof.

Students had the opportunity to interact with industry professionals, participate in technical and non-technical discussions, ask questions about careers and discover areas of technology that they may want to explore further.

The subjects covered during the event were equally varied – from design thinking and innovation to enterprise project management, AI, cloud, cybersecurity, placements, corporate life and hackathons.

The numbers tell one part of the story:

800+ registrations.
162 selected attendees.
140 participants present at the event.
20+ community partners.
Industry experts, sponsors, volunteers and community organizers working together.

The other part lies in the conversations that happened throughout the day – between students and professionals, between different communities and among participants who met for the first time.

For the InnovateX Engineers Community, the event represents another step in its effort to create spaces where students and professionals can meet, learn and exchange ideas.

As the community looks toward its future initiatives, the message behind InnovateX Connect’26 remains simple: