Softline Invites Kazakhstan Teams to IIkuznitsa («ИИкузница») AI Hackathon

Softline Digital Asset (Softline Group) and Softline Solutions (Softline Group), a leading Russian IT provider of products and services for digital transformation and information security, announce that applications are open for the IIkuznitsa («ИИкузница») hackathon. The event will take place online on 26-27 November 2026, bringing together companies that need practical artificial intelligence solutions and developers ready to build them for real business challenges. Companies and IT teams working in Kazakhstan are invited to participate. Applications for the hackathon can be submitted until 15 November.

IIkuznitsa aims to bring together proven teams, working solutions, training and AI infrastructure to move AI projects from experiments and pilots into practical application. The hackathon is organised by Softline Digital Asset. Softline Solutions will provide integration and infrastructure expertise, as well as information security.

Over 48 hours, participants will create prototypes of AI agents capable of automating specific business processes. This format will enable companies to test several technological approaches quickly, assess their suitability and select the most promising solution for further development and implementation. Developers will be able to test their ideas against real challenges, receive feedback from experts and connect with potential customers. The creators of the best projects will receive cash prizes and an opportunity to sign contracts with the companies that provided challenges for the hackathon. IIkuznitsa's total prize pool will be RUB 1 million.

"Organising industry events in Central Asian countries is an important element of Softline Group's strategy for developing its international business. Working in the region, we see market demand for integrating AI into the real economy and a need for secure products that can be scaled easily. We are confident that the IIkuznitsa hackathon, which will bring customers and IT teams from different countries together on a single online platform, can contribute to addressing these challenges. By combining expertise and infrastructure, we are helping to create a shared environment for developing competitive AI products," said Alexander Rozhkov, Director of International Business Development at Softline Group.

IIkuznitsa's value for the market lies in shortening the path from an idea to a practical AI solution. Businesses receive proven teams, working prototypes and an implementation contract, rather than an endless pilot. Developers receive paid work, training, infrastructure access and entry into the corporate environment. Technology partners gain implementation of their technology stacks and public case studies. The best solutions will have an opportunity to reach the wider corporate market through the Softline Digital Asset ecosystem's online store, which brings together hundreds of products from leading vendors and provides access to more than 100,000 B2B customers across Russia.

Participating teams will be able to choose their preferred technology stack and will receive access to cloud computing resources and mentoring at every stage. Participants will be supported by specialists with experience in creating AI products for some of Russia's largest enterprises. Leading AI experts, representatives of technology businesses and practitioners working on AI implementation in the real economy have been invited to evaluate projects, including representatives of Sk Capital (VEB.RF Group). The jury will assess not only prototype quality but also practical value, feasibility, security and potential for subsequent industrial deployment.

"Generative artificial intelligence is becoming one of the drivers of the digital economy, while AI agents are gradually moving from experimental assistants to a class of tools capable of performing complex tasks independently. At the same time, many companies still find it difficult to move from an idea and a pilot project to integrating AI into their existing infrastructure. Requirements relating to data, information security, reliability and ongoing support for the solution need to be considered in advance. IIkuznitsa will help businesses and developers test the viability of their ideas, create working prototypes and identify which are ready for further development in just 48 hours," said Ivan Krutko, Director of the SMB and Digital Department at Softline Solutions (Softline Group).

Work on the best projects will continue after the competition ends. Softline Solutions is ready to support their development, promotion and implementation, and to help companies establish secure operation of AI agents. For development teams, IIkuznitsa will offer an opportunity to scale their products with technological and commercial support. The hackathon will therefore provide a platform where a promising development can progress from an idea to a contract and subsequent implementation in business.

About Softline Group

Softline Group (Softline PJSC) is an investment and technology holding company that leads a number of technology market segments, with more than 30 years of experience and a broad regional presence in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Indonesia and the UAE.

Softline PJSC is a public company whose shares and bonds are traded on the Moscow Exchange under the ticker SOFL. The Group focuses on new technologies and comprises several clusters:

• Artificial intelligence and the development of custom and packaged software; • High-tech equipment manufacturing, including computer systems and laser technology; • Development of information security solutions; • Delivery of complex IT projects.

Softline Group is a platform for consolidating IT companies and forming new IT clusters to help them access capital markets and finance growth. It provides synergies by giving them access to its customer base in the markets where it operates.

The company employs 10,300 qualified staff, more than half of whom are engineers and developers. It has more than 100,000 customers across all sectors of the economy. Softline Group is currently one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, with average annual growth exceeding 23%. Its turnover exceeded RUB 132 billion in 2025.

Applications and event details: https://xn--80ancabkw0c4a.xn--p1ai/