In 2025, the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan organized two major hackathons: NeuroArt and Tatar.BU. These initiatives were not just competitions for students and professionals — they became pilot projects for a new platform built on Directual. Co-organizer of the hackathons, Ruslan Gaisin, shared how the solution was created and what benefits it brought.
Previously, the organizers relied on familiar tools: Excel spreadsheets, email, video conferencing via Telemost, and a variety of scattered solutions. But for a large-scale event involving hundreds of students and experts, they needed a unified digital tool that would:
The team considered ready-made SaaS solutions for hackathons, but their price was too high and flexibility very limited. The decision was made to use the no-code platform Directual: quickly build their own system that could work not just for a single event, but for dozens in the future.
The deadlines were extremely tight — the organizers needed a working solution within just one to one and a half months. Ruslan took on the challenge and built the system on Directual almost single-handedly.
Key features included:
Importantly, the system worked well both for students without a technical background (e.g., from the Institute of Culture) and for more advanced participants (KFU, ITIS, Innopolis).
The platform was first tested at the spring NeuroArt Hackathon. Organizers noted that even in a pilot format, the system proved itself as a reliable tool that brought all processes into a single window — from team registration to expert evaluations.
In the fall, the second hackathon took place — Tatar.BU, dedicated to the memory of scientist Rais Bukharev. The main goal of the event was to support the national language and culture of the Republic of Tatarstan through digital technologies.
The hackathon was held offline as part of the Kazan Digital Legends program. The prize fund totaled 600,000 rubles, and winners gained the opportunity to present their projects at Kazan Digital Week to potential clients and investors.
Participants worked across three tracks:
All processes — from task setting to final jury voting — were run through the Directual platform. According to Ruslan, the responsibility was “colossal,” but the system held up under pressure and proved itself as a mature product.
The platform demonstrated that Directual is well-suited for:
This story can go far beyond hackathons. Startup selection, acceleration programs, corporate challenges — all of this can be done on the same base. And most importantly, we built it quickly, affordably, and tailored to the organizers’ needs.
The two hackathons in Kazan proved that Directual is an ideal platform for creating custom solutions for educational and acceleration formats.
If you have any questions about this case or want to implement a similar solution — reach out to us at hello@directual.com
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