The journey to ENLIT 2024 began long before October. My first encounter with the event was through stories shared by seniors from the previous intake. Initially, I assumed it was just another hackathon, but a Career Impact Challenges (CIC) webinar in July revealed the true scale and impact of ENLIT, instantly sparking my interest. I quickly booked my flight to Milan and registered for the challenge.

In September, we were assigned to teams based on GC Index scores, each tackling a unique challenge presented by leading companies. I joined Team Galp-1 with a group of equally driven peers. Through regular meetings with company representatives and a pre-event webinar by InnoEnergy alumni, we gained valuable insights and prepared to formulate impactful solutions.

On October 21st, 2024, we arrived in Milan, where InnoEnergy Year 2 students from partner universities around the world gathered, reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones. After a good night’s rest, we were ready to embark on the three-day journey ahead.

Day 1 began with a warm welcome at the Fiera Milano Di Rho, where the venue’s scale and energy set the tone. The morning was spent networking and exploring booths from over 1,500 companies, leading to insightful exchanges. The opening keynote speeches were inspiring, touching on innovation, sustainability, and leadership, with live sketches capturing the essence of the talks.

After lunch, we focused on our challenge with Galp, guided by a feedback session with our mentors, which helped refine our approach. The rest of the day was spent fine-tuning our solution, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, and exploring the booths. Dinner with friends wrapped up a productive and memorable first day.

Day 2 was the most intense. After multiple iterations, we submitted our pitch deck with just minutes to spare. To unwind before the next day, I visited the Duomo and the statue of Il Maestro before returning to the hostel. Late into the night, the co-working space buzzed with energy as teams, including ours, rehearsed and refined their pitches, exchanging ideas and encouragement. The atmosphere was charged with focus and excitement, driven by a shared determination to give our best.

Pitch Day arrived with palpable excitement, akin to athletes preparing for a big race. After a quick breakfast, teams began presenting their solutions within the strict 5-minute time limit. Each pitch was followed by jury questions, focusing on technical feasibility, implementation, challenges, and team dynamics. These questions pushed us to showcase both the practical value of our solutions and the strength of our collaboration.

After 18 impressive pitches, we relaxed over lunch, eagerly awaiting the results. Winning the Galp challenge was the perfect culmination of the ENLIT experience, celebrating our hard work and teamwork. Though only six teams won, pride in everyone’s efforts was evident. Prizes for winning teams varied depending on the company and included internships, thesis opportunities, gadgets, and more – further demonstrating the importance of this event in connecting students with the industry. The ultimate goal of CIC is to foster these connections in the hopes that students might eventually join the teams of these companies.

The day ended with goodbyes, networking, and discussions about future opportunities. Despite the challenges, it was the camaraderie and shared experiences that made a lasting impact. I’m already looking forward to the next event!

-This blog was written by Saran Kakarlapudi, 2nd year EFSC student