ULM computer science students win Nexus Louisiana’s DevDays HealthTech Challenge

Published December 12, 2025

A group of four women smile while holding a large check.

CAPTION:ÌýChampions of theÌýDevDaysÌýHealthTech Challenge, Yukta Karki,ÌýSianRoseÌýVincent, and Nirjara KC, pictured with their faculty advisor, PrasanthiÌýSreekumari,Ìýawarded $5,000 prize.Ìý


MONROE, La. –ÌýThe ULM Department of Computer Science is proud to announce that a student team has won theÌýDevDaysÌýHealthTech Challenge, hosted by Nexus Louisiana inÌýpartnership with Ochsner Health.ÌýKneva,Ìýthe winning teamÌýcomposed of computer science studentsÌýYukta Karki,ÌýSianRoseÌýVincent, and Nirjara KC,Ìýwas awarded a $5,000 prizeÌýat the competition in Baton Rouge onÌýNovember 14.ÌýÌý

TheÌýDevDaysChallengeÌýattractedÌý160ÌýstudentsÌýfrom 11 Louisiana universities whoÌýsubmittedÌý45 innovative solutions, addressing issues ranging from athlete safety to carbon management.ÌýÌý

Kneva is an innovative health technology platform focused on addressing a long-overlooked crisis in sports medicine: female athletes face up to eight times greater risk of experiencing a catastrophic ACL injury. This groundbreaking project aims to end the era of compromise in women’s sports by delivering technology and insights that support safer performance and long-term athletic health.ÌýÌý

The system unifies two critical data points, hormonalÌýfluctuationsÌýand biomechanical movement, to predict elevated injury risk and deliver real-time, micro-adjusted training feedback. A wearable knee sensorÌýmonitorsÌýmovement patterns, while the platform maps an athlete’s menstrual cycle toÌýidentifyÌýwhen they are more susceptible to injury, creating a personalized, adaptive approach to performance and injury prevention.Ìý

TeamÌýKnevaÌýshared that the competition affirmed their mission to build injury-prevention tools that truly reflect the physiology and experiences of female athletes—not systems retrofitted from male data.ÌýÌýÌý

“I was raised in a world shaped by strong women, andÌýKnevaÌýlets me pour that energy into a platform that finally acknowledges and supports female athletes,â€� said KC. “Leading the research and development for our ACL prevention prototype proved that innovation is iterative, and this win fuels our next chapter.ÌýWe’reÌýexcited to take on the engineering challenges needed to move from concept to a production-ready solution.â€�Ìý

The six-week competition brought together student teams from across the state to confront a real and pressing sports medicine issue. “DevDaysÌýis about putting our state’s brightest minds on our state's hardest problems,â€� said Tony Zanders, President and CEO of Nexus Louisiana. “The quality of ideas we saw reflects the strength of the talent emerging from Louisiana’s universities and the value of connecting that talent to real industry needs.â€�Ìý

As the presenting partner, Ochsner Health emphasized the importance of strengthening pathways between students and industry. “DevDaysÌýshows what happens when we give young people real problems to solve and the room to innovate boldly. These studentsÌýaren’tÌýjust imagining the future of sports medicine —Ìýthey’reÌýbuilding it.ÌýI’mÌýproud that Ochsner is helping open doors, strengthen pathways, and champion the next generation of Louisiana talent,â€� said Christy Reeves, Vice President, Network Development and Government Relations at Ochsner Health.Ìý

“We are extremely proud of all the students whoÌýparticipatedÌýin the competition. Their dedication, passion, and perseveranceÌýshowcaseÌýthe strength and spirit of our department,â€� said Dr. PrasanthiÌýSreekumari, Program Chair of the ULM Computer Science Department and Associate Professor of Computer Science.ÌýÌý

“Kneva’sÌývictory is a powerful validation of their mission and the impact their work can have on the future of sports medicine,â€� addedÌýSreekumari.Ìý

“The team would like to thank Dr.ÌýSreekumariÌýfor her guidanceÌýthroughoutÌýthe development ofÌýKneva. We also extend our thanks to Dr. Paul Wiedemeier and Dr. Paul Rojas for providing the resources and support we needed to bring this project to life,â€� said KC.ÌýÌý

Team Kneva’sÌýwinÌýmarks the second victory for a ULM Computer Science team atÌýDevDaysÌýthis year. Carbon HorizonÌýwon the NexusÌýDevDaysÌýClimateTechÌýChallenge in OctoberÌý2025. Read more about their win atÌý/news/2025/comp_science_devdays_111125.htmlÌý

About Nexus LouisianaÌýDevDaysÌý

Nexus Louisiana’s mission is to accelerate the growth of high-potential technology-enabled companies by providing them with coaching, capital, and connections. Their programsÌýleverageÌýregional collaboration to foster mentorship, investment, and opportunity for local entrepreneurs to grow their ideas and transform the technology industry in Louisiana.Ìý

DevDaysÌýare one-of-a-kind events that fuse technology, competition, and Louisiana’s legendary football pride.ÌýOver six weeks, participants tackle real-world challenges from leading industries and bringÌýtheirÌýsolutionsÌýto life in an impactful, one-day demo event in Baton Rouge.Ìý

Nexus Louisiana has confirmed thatÌýDevDaysÌýwill return next year with new challenges and expanded collaboration opportunities.ÌýÌý

For more information, please visitÌý.Ìý