Hackathons have long ceased to be exclusively "IT parties". Today, they help businesses solve several tasks at once: from generating ideas and testing hypotheses to developing an HR brand and strengthening team spirit. One well—known example is the MSQRD application, which appeared as an idea at a hackathon and was later purchased. Facebook.

This spring, Rocket Tech organized an internal AI hackathon, which was attended by more than 30 employees. In 8 hours, six teams created prototypes of services, from anti-fraud algorithms to medical bots. The service station shared the experience of the organization Rocket Tech Victoria Gorchakova.

A hackathon can solve various tasks: leveling up a team, testing new technologies, and finding solutions for a product. It is important to set a goal and communicate it to the participants. In Rocket Tech's focus has shifted from testing frameworks to finding ideas for integration into Ready Bank's fintech product. Additionally, the event has become a tool for getting to know colleagues working remotely.

The task should be specific, but not overly narrow. The phrase "create an AI service for fintech" works better than "do something useful." Rocket Tech has chosen the areas of fintech, security and process optimization.

The top 3 solutions included:

● algorithm for detecting fraudulent transactions (based on 2.5 thousand transactions),

● a chatbot for selecting medicines and searching for analogues (Aurma.kz ),

● A system for monitoring suspicious customer activity.

Preparation It requires attention to detail: room, Internet, food, logistics. In Rocket The tech process took about a month and included organizing the office into 6 autonomous zones for teams, as well as a separate space for presentations. It is optimal to set more time to evenly distribute the load.

A hackathon can be offline, online, or hybrid. Rocket Tech opted for a hybrid approach: offline participants worked in an office, while colleagues from other cities connected online. Project protection and awards were broadcast via Google Meet.

Participation should be open to all employees, regardless of their position. It is important to prepare in advance: rules, schedules, checklists. Offline - to provide the Internet and jobs. Rocket Tech has paid special attention to the division of space and the creation of comfortable conditions for all teams.

The assessment should be transparent. Participants should understand the criteria by which projects will be judged: implementation, originality, integration into the product. At Rocket Tech , the work was evaluated by top managers deeply immersed in the business. This allowed us to ask precise questions about the technical implementation.

Hackathon — this is not only about projects, but also about the atmosphere. It is important to provide for the costs of:

● Prizes and awards,

● Merch (T-shirts, stickers),

● Nutrition and support participants.

In Rocket Tech, the winners received cash prizes (325,000 tenge for the first place, 175 thousand tenge for the second, 100 thousand tenge for the third). All participants are branded merchandise. The end was an informal pizza party and a discussion of projects.

That 's why an internal hackathon is not only an opportunity to test new ideas and create prototypes, but also a tool to accelerate innovation within a company. This format helps to restart team dynamics, increase employee engagement, and create a culture of experimentation. For businesses, this means not just creative concepts, but real solutions that can be integrated into the product and influence its development.