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KRUU GRASP 2026 Winners Prove AI is a Force Multiplier for Human Empathy
INDIA | FEBRUARY 12, 2026 – In a landmark moment for India’s student innovation ecosystem, KRUU, in partnership with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), has announced the winners of GRASP 2026. Moving beyond traditional ’speed coding’ this national hackathon challenged 5000+ students to solve real human challenges using ‘reasoning led’ AI design. Most parents of autistic children in India see a therapist once a month, if they’re lucky. Geography, cost, and specialist shortages mean families go weeks without professional guidance during critical behavioral moments. Three engineering students from Maharashtra just changed that.
Team Neurostars from Rajarambapu Institute of Technology has won GRASP 2026, a national AI hackathon run by KRUU and ASME India. Their prize: INR 1 lakh, national recognition, internship opportunities, and a chance to work with a partnered university in Europe. But their real win is the solution itself.
When Therapy Ends, AI Steps In
The team built an AI-powered chatbot that acts as a 24/7 clinical bridge. It doesn’t replace therapists. It fills the silence between appointments with evidence-based behavioral strategies parents can use in real time. “Think of it as a therapeutic companion that’s always available,” says the team. “We took structured clinical knowledge and made it accessible when families need it most.”That kind of thinking is exactly what GRASP 2026 was designed to surface.
Not Another Coding Sprint
GRASP isn’t about who codes fastest. The 72-hour hackathon uses a worksheet-driven framework that mirrors how real R&D teams work. The 5,000+ students who participated had to think, not just build. “We’re not looking for students who can prompt an AI model,” said Anil Srinivasan, Founder and CEO of KRUU. “We’re looking for students who understand the problem deeply enough that AI becomes a force multiplier for their reasoning. Team Neurostars saw a gap in care that affects millions of families. They didn’t build a demo. They built a bridge.”
“GRASP reflects the very essence of engineering education we champion at ASME India,” said Madhukar Sharma, President and Director, ASME India. “It goes far beyond teaching students to use tools—it prepares them to confront the challenges that shape their communities. When technical excellence is paired with deep human empathy, engineering transforms into meaningful, lasting impact.”
The Full Winner’s Circle
GRASP 2026 drew projects across healthcare and social impact. The top three teams were:
National Champions: Team Neurostars, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Maharashtra
1st Runner Up (Health): Team Dr. Engineers, K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Maharashtra
2nd Runner Up (Health): Team Generic, Christ University, Bengaluru
All three teams focused on medicine. All three built solutions for communities that existing systems don’t reach. Winners share a total prize pool of INR 1.85 lakh.
What Happens Next
Winners will connect with mentors at ASME and KRUU, access internship opportunities, explore collaboration with partnered universities in Europe, and receive structured feedback on turning prototypes into products.
More importantly, they’ve proven something bigger: India’s next wave of AI builders isn’t interested in demos. They’re interested in impact.
