TinkerFest 2025 concluded on a high note in Hyderabad on 10th November 2025, marking a successful collaboration between Young Tinker Foundation and ServiceNow. The event brought together young innovators, educators, and leaders in technology to celebrate hands-on learning, creativity, and problem-solving.
The festival was graced by notable leaders from ServiceNow — Supriya Saripalli, Praveen Damodaran, Saraja Panda, and Ilango AP — whose support played a crucial role in the event’s success. They were joined by distinguished guests and jury members including Anil Pradhan, Sidhartha Mohanty, Dr. Reena Das, B.K. Mohapatra, Dr. Dilip Kumar Mohanty, Archana Suresh, and Yashwant Kalyanam, all of whom generously contributed their time and expertise to guide and evaluate the young participants.
Young Tinker Rover Challenge: The Heart of TinkerFest 2025
One of the most exciting highlights of this year’s TinkerFest was the Young Tinker Rover Challenge. Students were given a unique and challenging problem statement:
Design and build a functional rover capable of navigating an obstacle course track designed by the Young Tinker Foundation team.
This challenge pushed students to apply design thinking, robotics, creativity, and teamwork, bringing their classroom learning into a real-world, engineering context. The rovers, each built with passion and ingenuity, displayed outstanding innovation as they attempted the obstacles with determination and resilience.
Eight teams participated in the challenge — two each from Young Tinker Spaces at Montfort School Hyderabad, Cheers Foundation, AP Model School, and Touch Foundation. Each team demonstrated a unique design strategy and showcased the technical skills they have been developing in their respective Young Tinker Spaces.
The atmosphere was electric — filled with excitement, curiosity, problem-solving discussions, cheering peers, and a spirit of learning that defined the entire event. More than a competition, it became a shared journey of exploration, creativity, and innovation.
Winners of the Young Tinker Rover Challenge
At the end of the day, the event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony recognizing the effort and talent of every participant. Awards and certificates were presented to celebrate their creativity, teamwork, and perseverance.
1st Prize – Fearless Champions
Ganesh and Charan — Young Tinker Space, Cheers Foundation, 1778D
2nd Prize – Young Champions
Nameera, Kaneez, and Zoha — Young Tinker Space, Montfort School, 1778B
3rd Prize – Super Inventors
Dominic and Bhaskar — Young Tinker Space, Cheers Foundation, 1778D
Launch of Tinker-on-Wheels: A New Chapter in Accessible STEM Learning
A major milestone of TinkerFest 2025 was the inauguration of the Tinker-on-Wheels, 1778B, a mobile innovation lab developed by the Young Tinker Foundation in partnership with ServiceNow. The code 1778B comes from the longitude and latitude coordinates of Hyderabad. And, ‘B’ denotes that it is the second vehicle deployed on field. This mobile makerspace is designed to bring STEM learning directly to schools and communities, ensuring that access to tinkering, experimentation, and innovation is not limited by geography or infrastructure.
With Tinker-on-Wheels, thousands of students will now have the opportunity to explore robotics, electronics, and hands-on building — anywhere, anytime.
TinkerFest 2025 stands as a powerful reminder of the potential that lies within every child when given the right tools and opportunities. The Young Tinker Foundation remains committed to nurturing a generation of thinkers, creators, and innovators. Events like TinkerFest, supported by partners like ServiceNow, continue to strengthen this mission by making STEM learning inspiring, inclusive, and impactful.
Here’s to many more milestones, many more young innovators, and many more celebrations of creativity ahead.