Ananya Das ‘26 and Kshiti Kangovi ’26 are on a mission to help solve the global problem of water scarcity and inequity impacting millions of farmers and communities. Their solution is an AI-driven irrigation management system that integrates soil sensors, crop data and weather forecasts to tell farmers exactly when and how much to water.
The Texas A&M University multidisciplinary engineering technology (MXET) students’ concept earned a $100,000 prize at Texas A&M’s recent “Building a Better Future Through Business and AI” competition.
The event challenged undergraduate students to create business proposals that leverage AI to address real-world issues. Das and Kangovi’s venture was awarded first place, rising to the top of 103 proposals from students representing 37 universities.
Kangovi and Das believed their project stood out because its tackled a global issue with a solution that is practical, affordable and scalable for communities most in need.
“With over 60% of Texas experiencing drought and arid climates, the problem also resonated on a personal and local level, which made our concept even more compelling,” said Kangovi.
The students’ proposed company, SomaTech, uses biodegradable polymers that expand to store water in the soil, creating a natural buffer. This is especially valuable in drought-prone areas where irrigation water often evaporates or runs off before reaching plant roots. By combining smart irrigation with these water-retaining polymers, the system conserves water, reduces costs and increases crop yields.
“Smarter irrigation has the potential to impact not just individual farmers but entire communities,” explained Das. “In our research, we found that drought-prone regions remain significantly underserved, with no solutions that directly address the unique challenges droughts create. That gap motivated us to pursue our venture with full throttle.”
Das and Kangovi are on MXET’s mechatronics track and pursuing minors in embedded systems. They credit the programs with providing hands-on experience with sensors, data analysis and system design, giving them the tools to take on a large-scale problem and develop a technical-based, practical solution.
Dr. Gaurav Pandey, associate professor in the MXET program of the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution (ETID), worked with the students weekly to strengthen the technical aspects of the project.
“We are very grateful for Dr. Pandey’s guidance, time and belief in our idea from the beginning,” Das said.
“As a mentor, it’s always inspiring to see students grow in confidence and ability as they take ownership of their ideas,” Pandey said. “Kshiti and Ananya’s creativity, persistence and commitment to addressing real-world problems showcase the very best of what the MXET program and Texas A&M University strives to achieve.”
“The ETID Department has been incredible in their support,” Kangovi added. “Professors and graduate teaching assistants all made time to meet with us, share their expertise and give us feedback that helped shape our concept.”
The students also valued the guidance of mentors Jim Donnell, Chris Curran, and Chris Westfall from the Meloy Program.
The award includes a year-long mentorship with a venture capitalist, which will help propel SomaTech to the next stage of development. Das and Kangovi plan to continue refining their system, test it through pilot programs and explore partnerships that will allow them to scale and deliver it to the communities facing the most severe water challenges.
“We are excited to see where this adventure takes us and explore how far we can push its impact,” Das said.