How we brought Nym to Crack It 2026 - and why it was more than just a partnership
This marks the end of my two-month journey of organizing Nym’s participation in the Crack It business case championship in Almaty.
To be honest, it all started quite randomly. After one of my lectures, a student approached me with the idea of getting involved. At that moment, it felt like a small local initiative. But very quickly, it turned into a full-scale “turnkey” project where I ended up handling pretty much everything:
- case development
- communication with organizers
- coordination with Nym
- preparation of materials
- logistics for Sudo’s visit
- participation in the jury
At some point, it became clear that this was no longer just “participation” - it was a full representation of Nym in the region.
(And yes, I hope after these 10 days Sudo have an understanding why i’m Uncle Lem 
)
The Nym case - not about VPN, but about mindset
We didn’t give teams a typical marketing task.
The case was built around a direct and uncomfortable question:
“Would you sell your freedom for convenience?”
And the core challenge:
How can digital privacy become a cultural trend in Central Asia?
We also set strict boundaries:
- no fear-based messaging
- no politics
- no manipulation
Only:
- creativity
- ethics
- real behavioral change
Teams were expected not just to “make an ad”, but to:
- trigger emotional response
- start real conversations
- convert awareness into action
- make privacy feel “cool”
This immediately set a very high bar.
10 days with Sudo - when work becomes a story
The culmination of everything was @Sudonym’s 10-day visit to Almaty.
This wasn’t just about showing up for one event. It was a full regional activation for Nym:
- meetings with universities
- networking
- an interview with local media
- a community call
- discussions on positioning and marketing
- many long, often philosophical (and not only) conversations stretching for hours
- and of course, experiencing Kazakhstan
Honestly, this was one of those rare moments where you work a lot, but you also realize this is something you’ll remember for a long time.
The championship
March 27, AlmaU.
Around 300+ participants, 5 partners, strong teams from across Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan).
10 teams received our case.
And what stood out:
there were no weak presentations.
The weakest ones were still solid.
Beyond that, it became a real competition between genuinely strong ideas.
3 hours of presentations.
Discussions.
Debates.
Doubt.
And that’s where the hardest part began.
Winners
Mega Minds from AUCA, Bishkek
A very mature and well-rounded solution.
They didn’t just come up with an idea - they built a system:
- research and data
- behavioral insights
- clear marketing logic
- http://157.230.145.67:8001/
Strong message:
“Family first, privacy always”
They understood the key point - privacy must become part of everyday life, not an abstract concept.
Normale Team from SDU, Almaty
A very strong conceptual approach.
They nailed the core issue:
- people see privacy as optional
- until it becomes personal
Their key message:
If you wouldn’t post it - why are you okay with apps collecting it?
This wasn’t just marketing.
This was about changing mindset.
SDU University from SDU, Almaty
A very structured and well-thought-out strategy.
- clear funnel (offline → online → product)
- strong trigger:
“Would you leave your front door open?” - use of Tumar as a protective symbol - a powerful cultural bridge between physical and digital protection
- integration of the idea of “Köz timesyn” (may no evil eye touch it) - a deeply rooted concept in Kazakh culture reflecting the instinct to protect what is personal and valuable
- real-world interaction points (photobooths, physical experience)
They managed to connect privacy with local culture in a way that felt natural and relatable.
Pulse from UIB, Almaty - 4th place (spontaneous decision)
We didn’t plan to have a 4th place.
But during the discussion, we decided to create it on the spot.
Why:
- strong visual identity
- deep cultural grounding
- QORGAN concept as a symbol of protection
- a very powerful carpet theme - representing comfort, tradition, and trusted personal space
- privacy presented as strength, not defense
- https://qor-an-privacy-app-w-qpnq.bolt.host/
The work wasn’t fully finished.
But the potential was too strong to ignore.
Other partners
Alongside Nym, the championship included:
- Verigram - biometrics and anti-fraud
- Mars - global FMCG leader
- Kcell - telecom
- BI Group - construction
This set a high standard across all cases and expectations.
A personal moment
The hardest part for me wasn’t the organization itself.
It was accepting that everything was actually going well.
That I was handling it.
That we didn’t mess it up.
That turned out to be the hardest thing.
And the moment I realized it all worked out was very simple:
Sitting in a bar with Sudo after everything.
Exhausted.
Quiet.
We clink glasses.
And both understand:
that’s it. it worked. we can finally relax.
What this means
I truly hope the Nym core team sees this not just as participation in an event.
But as:
- real interest in the topic across the region
- strong talent pool
- depth of ideas
- and clear potential for Nym in Central Asia
Because it’s absolutely there.
Final
The 10 days are over.
But the feeling remains.
Thank you to everyone who made this happen.
Thank you for the trust.
Thank you for the opportunity.
And I really hope this is just the beginning.
Looking forward to welcoming back
Sudo, the team,
and everyone who wants to build the future of privacy together.
P.S.
A special thank you to my wife for holding everything together these 10 days while I was fully absorbed in all of this - especially taking care of our little daughter.
Not sure which part was harder - the championship itself or managing both of us 
