• Kale Logistics Solutions hosted KaiTETHON 2026 in Mumbai, a 48-hour AI innovation hackathon bringing together students, start-ups and industry professionals to tackle real-world challenges across airport cargo systems, port community platforms and logistics operations.
• The winning team developed an AI-powered pre-loading cargo information analyst, with selected solutions set to move into further development as Kale commits to making the initiative an annual event.

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) hosted its first hackathon, KaiTETHON 2026, an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation programme for the air and maritime logistics sectors, from 4th to 7th February in Mumbai, India.

Open to university students, start-ups, industry innovators, and Kale employees, KaiTETHON brought together shortlisted entries for a 48-hour, in-person hackathon focused on solving real-world industry challenges.

Participants designed products within four key themes: port community systems, airport cargo community systems, sales and business operations, and talent and human resources.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly redefining supply chains; ensuring our industry has the skills and mindset to harness that change is essential,” said Rajesh Panicker, Co-founder and COO, Kale Logistics Solutions.

“By engaging directly with students and start-ups through KaiTETHON, we are investing in the next generation of innovators who will help shape more intelligent, connected, and resilient logistics ecosystems.”

Selected by an independent panel of judges, the winners and runners-up in each category received a share of a USD 14,200 prize, with selected solutions progressing to further development by Kale.

More than 300 individuals registered for KaiTETHON, with a final shortlist of 50 participants forming 10 teams selected to compete in the hackathon.

Each team was supported by a mentor from Kale, with final winners decided by an independent panel of judges at the end of the hackathon.

The judging panel comprised leading experts in AI and technology investment, including Sudarshan Mogasale, CEO of Dassault Systèmes Solutions Lab; Rohit Pandharkat, Partner in consulting – AI and Emerging Tech at EY; and Mithun John, Vice President – Startups at HDFC Bank.

The winning team was Logicode, comprising of team members Himanshu Rathore, Tanmay Mandwekar, Sumit Bhagat, and Siddhivinayak Chandrakant.

Mentored by Dhiraj Dhule, Director of Products, FlytBase, Logicode won for their product PLACI, a Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information AI analyst, which detects anomalies, enhancing strategic decision-making.

Kale has committed to holding the KaiTETHON annually, with the next hackathon scheduled to be announced soon.

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