Deriv’s first AI Hackathon: Innovation meets impact

AI solutions shine at Deriv's AI Hackathon

At the start of November, Deriv's headquarters in Cyberjaya transformed into an innovation hub as we hosted our inaugural AI Hackathon. The event, powered by JomHack Labs, a leading hackathon organiser, brought together Malaysia's brightest minds to tackle real-world trading challenges using AI, low-code, and no-code solutions. The response exceeded our expectations:

• 169 team applications (650+ participants)
• 57 teams selected for the final event
• 194 participants on-site
• 51 completed prototypes
• RM40,000 total prize pool

Teams tackled real-world problems across five key areas: product enhancement, customer sentiment analysis, real-time risk monitoring, security and fraud detection, and operational efficiency. Using modern low-code/no-code tools like Outsystems, Unity, Buildship, supabase & AI tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Codeium, participants worked around the clock to build innovative solutions.

What set this hackathon apart was the deep engagement between participants and Deriv's technical teams. Mentors from our Client Apps, API, Trading, Security, Customer Support, Internal IT and Fraud teams provided hands-on guidance throughout the 24-hour building period. This direct access to domain experts helped teams better understand the complexities of fintech and the challenges faced on a daily basis, so they could create more impactful solutions.  The participants’ systems were backed by Deriv’s fast and secure internet networks and we livestreamed all the final presentations. You can catch them on YouTube here.

Meet the AI Hackathon winners

After 24 intense hours of coding, debugging, and fine-tuning, three teams emerged victorious with solutions that stood out for their innovation, practicality, and potential impact on the trading industry. Here are the teams that impressed our panel of judges and took home the top prizes:

Champion: Legacy Builders (Operational Efficiency)

Prize: RM15,000

The team revolutionised the KYC (Know Your Customer) process with their "Next Gen KYC" solution. Their AI-assisted POA (Proof of Address) verification system demonstrated exceptional potential for streamlining one of the most crucial yet time-consuming aspects of user onboarding, setting a new standard for operational efficiency in the trading environment.

First Runner-up: Team AI Lahh (Product Enhancement)

Prize: RM10,000

"Dorin" emerged as a groundbreaking solution in the product enhancement category. This innovative AI assistant helps users build Deriv trading bots through natural conversation, transforming complex trading insights into actionable strategies within seconds. The team's approach to making bot creation more accessible showcases the powerful combination of AI and user-centric design.

Second Runner-up: FortuneTellers (Operational Efficiency)

Prize: RM5,000

The team tackled the critical challenge of POA verification with their automated solution. Their project streamlines the verification process, potentially reducing processing times and improving accuracy while maintaining compliance standards, ultimately enhancing the overall trading experience.

Special Recognition

• Most Liked Video: Sharvind Kumar (Team Anti-Juju)
• Best Video: Mohamad Amirul Haziq Bin Ahmad Affzan (Team Mavericks)

From prototypes to production: Building on the momentum

Beyond the competition aspect, the event proved to be a powerful window into Deriv's engineering culture. The smooth execution - from robust network infrastructure to continuous technical support - showed how we tackle complex challenges as a team.

One participating team, having competed in hackathons organised by major banks and corporations, noted that Deriv's event stood out for its exceptional technical mentorship and collaborative atmosphere. Their feedback tells us we're on the right track in creating meaningful technical events.

The most exciting outcome wasn’t just the innovative prototypes developed but the connections formed. Several high-performing teams have already expressed interest in joining Deriv, aligning perfectly with our goal of attracting top engineering talent who share our passion for technical excellence.

Looking ahead, we're working to integrate the most promising solutions into our product ecosystem. Our team is evaluating both external submissions and internal team projects leads for potential implementation.

The success of this first AI hackathon has set a high bar for future tech events at Deriv. It showed our position at the forefront of technology while building meaningful relationships with the broader tech community.

Want to be part of our next big tech initiative? Check out our career opportunities at deriv.com/careers.

Catch a wrap up of the hackathon here, along with insights from some of the participants: