A team of Texas State University students has earned international recognition after being chosen as one of 16 winners worldwide in the global Google Maps Platform Awards hackathon, which drew almost 4,000 participating teams from around the world.
TXST computer science students Kelvin Mathew, Vaidic Soni, and Meidad Troper developed “MagiCart,” an AI-powered shopping tool designed to help users save time and money on groceries by personalizing suggestions based on budgetary needs, store proximity, and other factors. Their project was selected because of its innovation, creativity, design, accessibility, and scalability.
The hackathon challenges participants to build a creative application while implementing the Google Maps API within the project in a unique way. For the Texas State team, the goal was clear: create a solution that addresses a real-world challenge that college students (and others) face.
The team said, “We all agreed on three simple facts: we all wish we had more money, more time, and less stress.”
MagiCart is an all-in-one, AI-integrated shopping cart that allows users to compile a shopping list and compare prices in real time across nearby retailers. The platform not only factors in product costs but also sales tax, delivery fees, discounts, and other variables that determine the most efficient and cost-effective option.
By implementing Google Maps APIs into the platform, the team was able to devise a smart route optimization feature that allows users to identify the closest location and map it along an existing route, such as during their commute home.
The project began in summer 2025, when the team started the brainstorming process, eager to put the skills they had developed during the previous academic year to use. What started as an exercise quickly evolved into a fully developed idea.
The team credits their success in part to the mentorship and impact of TXST faculty member Ted Lehr, Ph.D., whose teaching helped them prepare for the demands of the competition. “His teaching style pushed us to think critically every single day, learn through experience, and develop resilience,” the team said.
Following their win, the team is working to expand MagiCart’s capabilities. Planned features include tools like a “cart health score,” which will suggest healthier options, and additional enhancements to improve user experience. The team is excited to continue creating technology that improves everyday life.
Learn more about MagiCart: https://devpost.com/software/magicart-a53xfp.