On November 7–8, Nazarbayev University hosted Data Challenge 2026, a 24-hour data analytics hackathon where young IT specialists put their knowledge into practice and turned ideas into practical technology solutions. The event was organized by NU Data Science Club, with the support of NU Impact Foundation, and sponsored by Freedom Bank.
“Partnerships like the one between Freedom Bank and NU Impact Foundation are essential. Businesses constantly face challenges that need solutions, and bringing fresh ideas into the process can be incredibly valuable. This is how a strong technology partnership takes shape: we support young professionals in generating new ideas, while businesses benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative solutions,” said Alexey Zaitsev, Business Analytics Specialist at Freedom Bank.
The competition brought together 565 participants across 192 teams. Over 24 hours, they tackled a real-world business challenge provided by Freedom Bank, applying data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence techniques. The teams explored datasets, tested hypotheses, built models, and turned their findings into practical solutions for business.
On November 8, the hackathon concluded with the announcement of the results. A total of 177 teams submitted their solutions, of which 52 advanced to the final pitching stage following an expert evaluation. During their presentations, participants explained their approaches, shared their findings, and answered questions from the jury.
“When we first started preparing for Data Challenge, we weren’t entirely sure what kind of response to expect. In the end, 565 participants joined us, and 177 teams completed and submitted their solutions. For us, this is the clearest indication of how interested young people are in data science and artificial intelligence. We are incredibly grateful to NU Impact Foundation for supporting us, believing in our idea, and helping us take the event to a larger scale. Special thanks also go to Freedom Bank. For a student club, it means a great deal when a bank brings a real business challenge and gives students the opportunity to work on problems that truly matter to the industry,” said Amina Baizak, President of NU Data Science Club.
The winners of Data Challenge 2026 were:
1st place: gtbsbe
2nd place: DepaTeam
3rd place: yaTebyaMognu
Data Challenge 2026 was more than just a competition. It provided a platform for exchanging knowledge, building connections, and developing skills that will shape the future of technology. The hackathon demonstrated how collaboration between the student community, the university, NU Impact Foundation, and business partners creates meaningful opportunities for young professionals. Over the course of two days, participants progressed from understanding a business challenge to presenting their own solutions to industry experts, gaining valuable experience beyond the classroom.
Data Challenge 2026 marked the second major data-focused hackathon held at NU this fall with the support of NU Impact Foundation. In October, Datathon’26 attracted more than 1,200 registered participants. Such initiatives help strengthen the data science and AI community, build closer connections between education and industry, and help develop Kazakhstan’s next generation of IT professionals.