On October 18-19, 2024, the West Kazakhstan Innovation and Technology University hosted a large-scale multilocation hackathon Decentrathon 2 with a prize fund of $50,000. The event was organized by Astana Hub and the regional Jaiq Hub in partnership with the Blockchain Center research laboratory.
The main goal of the hackathon is to offer innovative solutions to current problems in 48 hours and demonstrate non-standard approaches in the fields of AI, Blockchain, GameDev and mini-applications for Telegram.
This year, more than 2,000 IT enthusiasts from 17 regions of Kazakhstan, including Astana and Almaty, took part in Decentrathon 2.0. The participants from Uralsk represented several educational institutions, such as West Kazakhstan University of Innovation and Technology, West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University named after Zhangir Khan, West Kazakhstan University named after M. Utemisov, Ural College of Information Technology and Nazarbayev Intellectual School. A total of 63 participants formed 16 teams, focusing on tasks in the field of artificial intelligence, blockchain, game development and the creation of mini-applications for Telegram.
The opening of the hackathon began with a welcoming speech by the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Jaslan Madiyev, as well as speeches by Astana Hub CEO Magzhan Madiyev, BAITC CEO Aidana Kaskyrbek, a representative of McKinsey & Company and a representative of Satbayev University.
All participants of the hackathon received branded merch, including T-shirts and stickers with the symbols of the event.
The hackathon ended on October 19 with a closing ceremony and a job fair.