Share your Ideas here. Be as descriptive as possible. Ask for feedback. If you find any interesting Idea, you can comment and encourage the person in taking it forward.
Problem/Pain Point Addressed
Campus dining is often expensive, repetitive, and not aligned with students’ tastes or diet needs. Many students—especially those in hostels—struggle with:
Lack of affordable, healthy, and customizable meal options
Inadequate cooking facilities or skills
Unexpected class schedules making it hard to plan or prepare food
Late-night cravings or dietary restrictions not served by campus messes
Solution Overview
DormChef is a Smart Community Kitchen Box: a network of secure, self-cleaning, IOT-powered communal kitchen “pods” placed in strategic hostel/common areas. Each box has modular, plug-and-play appliances (induction hob, rice cooker, toaster, etc.), clean utensils, and ingredient kits stored in code-access lockers.
App-based reservation and ingredient pre-order, ensuring access and waste control
Step-by-step video micro-tutorials on the screen, sourced from student creators
Allergy and diet filter, recipe suggestions, and portion control built into the system
“Cook with friends” social mode encourages collaborative group meals and sharing costs
Unique Edge
Not just a kitchen—it creates micro-communities, supports healthy eating, and uplifts those who are homesick or from diverse culinary backgrounds, while tracking usage data to optimize stock and reduce food waste. A share of each micro-kitchen’s profits goes to a student emergency meal fund.
Impact
Reduces food waste, promotes healthy and independent eating, and enhances peer connection
Empowers students who cook for others to earn “Meal Points” redeemable for discounts or campus perks
Makes campus more inclusive for vegans, Jains, athletes, and anyone with dietary needs unmet by mess/canteen
