It’s Time to Host a Hackathon
At Genetech Solutions, learning never stops.
Recently, we hosted a series of prompt engineering workshops where teams from across departments—developers, designers, QA experts, and AI specialists—learned to use AI tools effectively. They explored frameworks, tested approaches, and discussed how AI could improve their day-to-day work.
But learning in a workshop is only the first step. To put these skills into practice, the Genetech leadership decided to arrange a hands-on coding competition—a hackathon where teams could apply their AI knowledge to real challenges, experiment in real time, and see what they could build.
Another important reason for organizing this event was to observe how well the teams applied the new software development SOPs. At the same time, it was an opportunity to see how team collaboration unfolded when people from different departments worked closely on challenging problems.
As Hasnain Abbas (Senior Project Manager) explained, “We wanted to evaluate our internal strengths and identify areas for improvement, both technically and in soft skills. The hackathon could provide valuable insights into how teams approach challenges, communicate, manage time, and collaborate, which is very useful for future training and development. “
Meet The Teams
The hackathon brought together three cross-functional teams, each with 10 members. Neelam Raheel (Director of Engineering) and Hasnain Abbas (Senior Project Manager) carefully selected the participants, ensuring a balance of skills, experience, and perspectives. Every team included designers, product managers, software developers, QA engineers, and AI specialists.
1. Merge Master
Project manager: Muhammad Naqash
Team members Naeem, Okasha, Muzzamil, Talha Shaikh, Muhammad Essa Joyo, Muhammad Fayyaz, Khadim Hussain, Syed Sadiq Hussain, Faizan
2. Git Push Mafia
Project manager: Muhammad Ismail
Team Members: Mashhood, Adnan, Samad, Hadi Abbas, Mazin, Haider Abbas, Mohid Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Ali, Wasib Zameer
3. The Syntax Squad
Project manager: Tehzeeb Fatima
Team Members: Shariq, Daniyal, Muhammad Adnan, Yasir Abbas, Pervez Iqbal, Sajid Ali, Muhammad Faraz, Ali Zain, Muhammad Zeeshan
The Judging Panel
The panel included Taqi Kirmani (Principal Software Engineer), Adil Raza (Creative Lead), Hasnain Raza (HOD UI Dept), Ishraq Aslam (Senior Software Engineer), Qadir Hussain (Senior Software Engineer), and Talha Idress (SQA Analyst)
Evaluation Criteria
The judges focused on how clearly teams understood the problem and how thoughtfully they approached the solution. Strong emphasis was placed on original thinking, effective use of AI tools and prompts, and team collaboration throughout the day.
The Challenges
The challenges given during the hackathon were based on real-world, industry-specific business problems. These problems were researched by Ishraq Aslam (Senior software engineer) and Qadir Hussain (Senior software engineer), and shortlisted by Neelam Raheel and Hasnain Abbas to ensure they were realistic, relevant, and suitable for a one-day working sprint.
1. Project Estimation System
The goal for this project was to build a prototype system that could analyze project requirements and produce accurate project estimates, including timelines, milestones, and working hours. Teams were expected to create a system that could handle inputs like Figma/UI links, user stories, client-provided requirements, pre-recorded videos, or sample data, and generate a structured project plan that aligned with client expectations and competitive pricing.
2. Employee Training & Interview System
Many companies rely on manual processes to train employees, assess skills, and prepare them for interviews, which can be inconsistent and time-consuming. Teams were required to build a prototype system that could evaluate employee skills, assess communication and problem-solving capabilities, offer AI-generated mock interviews, and generate personalized learning paths. The final deliverables included progress tracking and downloadable reports that outlined skill gaps and recommended learning activities for each employee.
3. Lead Generation & Upselling System
Teams were asked to develop a lead management system that aggregated leads into a single dashboard, scored leads to identify the most promising ones, detected upselling opportunities based on client behavior, and enabled automated follow-ups. Deliverables included a functional prototype that consolidated data, predicted high-value leads, and streamlined outreach processes.
Hackathon Day Highlights
1.Morning energy
The hackathon kicked off bright and early at 8:00 AM, buzzing with energy and anticipation. Morning refreshments were served alongside the discussions—coffee, tea, and light snacks kept the energy high and fueled conversations.
2. Orientation
After the morning energy set the tone, the orientation session began. Teams were officially announced, and organizers guided the participants through the hackathon rules, time limits, challenge format, and evaluation criteria, ensuring everyone understood what was expected and how their work would be assessed.
3. Choosing challenges
Teams were given 15–20 minutes to choose their challenge through a Google Form, with full freedom to use any AI tools or frameworks they wanted.
The Syntax Squad chose the Lead Generation & Upselling System. Explaining the decision, project manager Tehzeeb Fatima shared,
“With the limited time we had, we needed to be smart about our choice. This is the kind of work we usually get weeks to complete. For the hackathon, we had only a few hours, so we picked a challenge where we clearly understood the objective and knew we could deliver the prototype within the time constraint.”
Git Push Mafia selected the Project Estimation System challenge because it’s a problem they face every single day. With new client projects coming in constantly, estimating timelines, hours, and costs is a tough, time-consuming job. They saw the hackathon as a chance to build something that could actually make their daily work smoother—a tool that helps plan projects faster, avoid repeated errors, and keep everyone on the same page. In other words, they wanted to address a real pain point, and this challenge fit perfectly.
And lastly, Merge Masters also picked the same challenge as the Syntax Squad.
Naeem Hassan (senior Ui/UX designer) from the team Merge Master shared :
“As a group, we decided to pick the challenge that we felt we could complete within the given time. The overall team, especially the developers, were quite confident that the upselling & lead generation challenge could be handled smoothly and efficiently.”
4. The competition begins
The main competition time was from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Within this time, teams were expected to understand the problem, plan their approach, divide responsibilities, use AI tools where appropriate, and build a working prototype.
5. Lunch break
At 2:00 PM, the teams paused for a much-needed break. Pizza boxes opened, cold drinks were passed around, and the room was filled with chatter and laughter. Designers stretched their legs after a busy morning, developers debated last-minute fixes, and QA quietly reviewed notes for the final push. The break was short but full of energy, recharging everyone for the sprint that awaited in the afternoon.
6. The vibe of the day
As the day progressed, a few moments added some lightness to the intense work mode. Designers wrapped up their tasks early and could be seen casually moving between tables, offering unsolicited design opinions and color suggestions to anyone who would listen. QA, on the other hand, stayed unusually quiet for most of the day—saving their energy for the final minutes, when they suddenly became very active.
There were small debates over AI prompts, last-minute changes that came out of nowhere, and a lot of “this worked five minutes ago” moments.
Sneak peek into all the hackathon day fun.
7. The final hour
As the clock ticked closer to the final hour, excitement in the room was electric. Teams put the finishing touches on their prototypes, QA double-checked the last-minute tweaks, and designers proudly displayed their visuals. Laptops clicked furiously, debates erupted over minor fixes, and somewhere in the corner, someone muttered, “Just five more minutes!
Once the final submissions were locked, teams shifted from building to presenting. One by one, they shared their screens and walked the judges through their prototypes, explaining the problem they chose, the solution they built, and the features they completed within the given time. Judges reviewed each project for problem clarity, completeness of deliverables, use of AI tools, and overall execution.
The demos were done, the judges had made their notes, and now… it was the moment everyone had been waiting for: Hearts raced, whispers floated across the room, and eyes darted between teams. Who had cracked the challenge? Who had turned hours of coding into a solution that impressed the judges? Tension and excitement filled the air as the results were about to be announced.
*Drum Rolls* The Winners
After a day full of coding, designing, and last-minute sprinting, the winners of the Genetech Hackathon were finally announced!
Team Syntax Squad won the first prize. They cracked the problem, nailed the demo, and used AI tools like a pro. The team delivered a complete working prototype within the given timeframe and met all required deliverables. Their demo clearly explained the product flow, and the team responded well to questions raised during the judging session.
A well-earned victory!
Tehzeeb Fatima, Project Manager of The Syntax Squad, the winning team, shared:
“The hackathon pushed us to think fast, collaborate better, and trust our instincts. Using AI tools made the day exciting, and seeing our ideas take shape in real-time was incredibly rewarding!”
Team Merge Masters won the runner-up prize. They showed consistent effort and strong team collaboration throughout the competition. All the participants were awarded certificates in appreciation of their active involvement in the hackatho
Reflections From The Team
The Genentech Solutions hackathon had a highly positive effect across the company. It boosted team morale, encouraged collaboration across teams, and created a sense of healthy competition. Participants felt more engaged, motivated, and confident.
Team members reflected on their experience with enthusiasm. Muhammad Shariq, UI/UX designer, shared:
“The Genetech Solutions Hackathon was a really fun and motivating experience for me. It was my first time participating, and I learned a lot by working closely with the team and developing ideas quickly. Overall, it pushed me to think differently and enjoy the process of creating together.“
Qadir Hussain from the Judges (Senior Software Developer) added:
“Genetech Solutions Code Carnival wasn’t just a hackathon — it was a high-energy sprint where ideas turned into real prototypes. A hackathon is a time-bound innovation challenge that tests creativity, teamwork, and execution. Judges focus on problem clarity, originality, a working solution, and the impact it can create.“
The Way Forward
Genetech Solutions plans to organize similar hackathons with more structured themes, broader participation, and deeper learning opportunities. Ideas explored during the event may also be developed into full-scale solutions. These initiatives reinforce a culture of learning, innovation, and collaboration, ensuring teams are prepared for real-world challenges.
Initiatives like this don’t stop at internal growth—they directly benefit our clients. Teams that experiment, collaborate, and learn together carry that same mindset into client work. The result is resilient, high-performing teams that are not only skilled, but confident and genuinely innovative.
At Genetech Solutions, we connect you with the right talent—people who are ready to bring clarity, adaptability, and momentum to your projects from day one.
As part of our year-end celebration, new partners can take advantage of our exclusive offer: get up to 20% off all software development services until 31 Jan, and start 2026 with teams capable of delivering impactful, innovative solutions.
