For developing IT solutions, participants were presented with technical challenges in three areas: digital security solutions, business process optimization, and efficiency improvement.

"Today, the world is moving towards the development of technology and digitalization, and Kazakhstan is putting in much effort in this industry", - Ulan Burkitov, head of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, gave a welcoming speech.

On the first day of the event, educational sessions were held. Accelerator program tracker Andrei Kryukov told us how to build a business model strategically. Valery Mayushkin, head of the UR-LI project, gave a presentation titled "How Does a Startup Work Without Pain or Tears?". Aichurok Mederbekkyzy, manager of acceleration programs and business incubators, revealed the secrets of pitching and advised startups on speaking to audiences and investors.

Mentor sessions were also held, where startups received advice and counseling from 10 mentors: director and coordinator of all MOST business incubator programs Anuar Lenzat, CEO of MindSales CRM, a tracker of Astana Hub on acceleration programs Maxim Bezhenar, the tracker of Google for Startups Scalerator and Techpreneurs Tatiana Khasanova, the tracker of acceleration programs Andrei Kryukov, manager of acceleration programs of the MOST business incubator Aichurok Mederbekkyzy, head of oil and gas department of Microsoft Kazakhstan Gumyrbek Sandibekov, product manager and consultant of EPAM Nikolay Alexeyev, CEO of "NEURON OIL" startup Aslan Zhumagaliyev.  

On the second day of the hackathon, 22 teams participated in the semi-finals. The participants presented different IT solutions, from mobile job booking apps to VR training.  

For example, the DevTeam team presented its service based on a microarchitecture for business process optimization.

"A few months ago, we could not even "code," but thanks to the training in the Alem School at the Astana Hub in such a short time, we have learned a lot and were able to participate in the hackathon with our IT product. It was our first hackathon; these two days, we did not sleep, worked on our IT solution, and were nervous before the pitching. However, it was a good experience", - said Aldiyar Bagdatov, a student and member of the DevTeam.

IT solutions were evaluated by: Nurgali Dinmukhamed, Maintenance Engineer, KPO; Abay Absamet, Managing Director, Astana Hub; Alina Issakhanova, Executive Director, White Hill Ventures; Bolat Zhumabaev, Head of Technological Development Service, KPO; Ermek Aizhanov, Engineer, KPO Field Development.

The winners were three teams: HomeLabs.ai, Meris, and Zerek. Each of the winners received a prize of 3,333,333 million tenge from the organizer Karachaganak Petroleum.