College of Business Innovators Take Top Honors at Texas Healthcare Challenge Hackathon

Two outstanding students from the East Texas A&M University College of Business—Rithika R. and Nirupama Vallabhaneni—helped lead their multidisciplinary teams to second and third-place finishes in the highly competitive TXHCC Open Track at the 7th Annual Texas Healthcare Challenge Hackathon, hosted by Health Wildcatters at Pegasus Park.

Over the course of a two-day, high-energy innovation sprint, more than 120 participants—including students, researchers, clinicians and entrepreneurs—joined forces to tackle pressing healthcare challenges. This year's teams represented a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds, with students collaborating across several universities throughout Texas.

The Open Track encouraged “bold, boundary-breaking healthcare innovations across all areas,” and the top honors went to:

• 1st Place: Listenwell
• 2nd Place: Praxis (including Rithika R.)
• 3rd Place: Wealth AI (including Nirupama V.)

Rithika's team, EMMI, focused on improving maternal health by using clear visual aids, personalized AI chat and timely guidance to help expectant mothers navigate complex insurance and care pathways. Reflecting on the experience, Rithika shared, “What an incredible experience it was to be part of such an amazing team! I learned so much from each of you, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to collaborate. Looking forward to staying connected and continuing to learn from all.”

Nirupama's team, Wealth AI, brought together clinicians, nutritionists and engineers to address the $1 trillion annual cost of diet-related illness and the more than half a million preventable deaths each year. Reflecting on her participation, Nirupama said, “This experience reminded me why I'm pursuing a Master's in Business Analytics — to use data and technology to solve real healthcare challenges and make a difference.”

Both projects exemplify the College of Business's commitment to data-driven, cross-sector innovation in healthcare—combining technology, empathy, and real-world impact. These results also showcase the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, where diverse talents from universities across Texas come together to create meaningful solutions.