3 Hyderabad Innovators Enter Top 40 of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026

Three young innovators from Hyderabad have been selected among the national Top 40 in the fifth edition of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 competition for developing technology solutions focused on water scarcity and athlete safety.

Nineteen-year-olds Thuregal Mohammed Ezaz Ali and Dokku Rithwik, competing as Team Mistify, developed Hydryft, a compact device designed to capture atmospheric moisture from fog using specialized mesh and purify it into usable water. The team is currently exploring practical applications for the system across fog-prone communities, trekking camps, and eco-stays.

Another 19-year-old participant from the city, Homanshika Reddy Pullagurla, is working with Team Somatrace to create a wearable system that tracks spinal movement in real time using integrated sensors. While initially tested for rifle shooters, the technology is built to help athletes and coaches identify specific movement patterns that may indicate potential injury risks during training sessions.

The national programme is open to innovators aged 14 to 22. According to the organisers, more than half of the Top 40 teams in this edition come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.

The shortlisted participants will now attend a 10-day innovation bootcamp led by startup founders and industry experts at FITT-IIT Delhi, where they will vie for a place in the Top 20. At the final stage of the competition, four selected teams will share ₹2 crore in incubation grants alongside ongoing incubation support from FITT-IIT Delhi to help bring their prototypes to market readiness.