From March 15 to May 6, 2025, the unique educational project «ASSYL AI» was successfully implemented in the Abai region. The project was organized by the regional hub Abai IT Valley in partnership with the public foundation «ASSYLTAS» and Alikhan Bukeykhan University, with financial support and initiative from Dulat Tastkeev, CEO of Tas Group, who served as the main inspirer and driving force behind this large-scale educational initiative.

For nearly two months, 100 talented students from the region studied the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI), while simultaneously developing their own startups based on modern AI technologies. The training was conducted by Magzhan Jumayev, a Harvard graduate from Boston, USA, and a recognized global expert who inspired participants to create innovative projects and apply their knowledge in practice.

On May 10 and 11, 2025, the long-awaited hackathon took place, where teams presented their projects and competed for prize-winning positions. The hackathon results were as follows:

Third place was awarded to the team «SHE WOLVES», receiving a prize of 300,000 tenge. Second place went to the team «ONEMED», awarded 500,000 tenge. The winner and recipient of the grand prize was the team «ALGA».

The grand prize is an educational trip to the United States, including visits to Boston’s leading universities — Harvard and MIT — as well as opportunities to meet with global technology giants such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. All expenses for airfare, accommodation, meals, and visa processing are covered by the organizers.

The project «ASSYL AI» is not merely an educational program but a powerful catalyst for the development of the IT sector in our region and country. The Abai region has become a platform for implementing a large-scale and promising project that provides young people with the opportunity to unlock their potential and contribute to Kazakhstan’s digital future.

We are confident that initiatives like this are shaping a new generation of IT leaders and entrepreneurs who are ready to create innovative solutions and promote startup culture on an international scale.