
Innovation thrives when bright minds come together to tackle challenges and explore new ideas. That’s exactly what happened when Tessi and WellDev teamed up to host the On-Prem GPT Challenge Hackathon. This event wasn’t just about competition — it was about creating a space where creativity, collaboration, and technology could intersect to solve meaningful problems.
With events held in Switzerland and Bangladesh, the hackathon showcased how teams from around the world could come together, share perspectives, and build solutions that matter. From thought-provoking panel discussions to unforgettable moments of teamwork and discovery, it was an event full of energy and inspiration.
In this blog, we’ll take you through the journey — from the reasons Tessi and WellDev partnered for this initiative to the key highlights of the event. Along the way, we’ll share insights, stories, and reflections on how innovative solutions can shape the future of businesses and communities.
Table of Contents
Why Did Tessi & WellDev Collaborate to Organize this Hackathon?
Tessi and WellDev partnered to host a hackathon in Switzerland and Bangladesh to promote innovation and strengthen their collaborative relationship. At WellDev, client relationships are viewed as partnerships built on mutual growth and shared goals. This hackathon reflected that philosophy, nurturing creativity, active participation, and a sense of shared purpose between the two organizations.
The event also served practical goals, such as exploring solutions using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Large Language Models (LLMs) to address challenges relevant to both companies. It provided a platform to connect industry talents, share insights on trending technologies, and inspire new ideas. The hackathon aligned with their commitment to staying ahead in an ever-evolving tech landscape.
Additionally, the collaboration was supported by WellDev’s history of proactive engagement, including a strong rapport with Wilhelm Bender, from Tessi and a shared interest in hosting such events. The stunning locations, paired with a dynamic atmosphere, further enhanced the experience. Together, Tessi and WellDev demonstrated how meaningful partnerships can unlock innovation and redefine possibilities.
Itinerary of the Hackathon Event
WellDev Hackathon Itinerary - Switzerland

The On-Prem GPT Challenge Hackathon at WellDev's Zurich office on 9th November 2024 was a full-day event packed with innovation and collaboration. The day began with an early start as participants arrived and prepared for the exciting activities ahead. After a brief crew briefing and setup, the morning kicked off with a warm welcome, coffee, and croissants during registration, setting the tone for the event. The opening session included introductions to Tessi and WellDev, an overview of the hackathon theme, and a rundown of the rules and guidelines. The first round of hackathon work began at 10:30 AM, giving participants a chance to dive into their projects.
Following a lunch break, the afternoon featured a thought-provoking panel discussion before teams resumed their work, focusing on refining their ideas and solutions. The evening marked the culmination of the day’s efforts, with final submissions followed by closing remarks for the competition. The event concluded with an exciting award ceremony, celebrating the most innovative and impactful projects developed during the hackathon. This inspiring day was a testament to the power of collaboration and the transformative potential of creative problem-solving.
WellDev Hackathon Itinerary - Bangladesh

The On-Prem GPT Challenge Hackathon at WellDev's Dhaka office on 9th November 2024 was a dynamic and engaging event that brought together innovators and problem-solvers. The day began with a warm welcome and opening remarks to set the stage for the hackathon. Following a brief handover to the tournament conductor, participants immersed themselves in the first round of play, tackling challenges with enthusiasm and creativity. A lunch break provided an opportunity to recharge before the afternoon session resumed with the second round of play, where teams refined their ideas and strategies.
As the day progressed, a snack break offered a moment of relaxation before the intense third round of play, during which participants finalized their solutions. The event also featured a panel discussion at 6:30 PM, offering valuable insights and fostering dialogue among participants and experts. The hackathon concluded with closing remarks, celebrating the collaborative spirit and innovative solutions developed throughout the day. This event highlighted the power of teamwork and the potential to create impactful solutions through focused efforts.
Inside the Hackathon: Its Purpose and Goals

The RAG Hackathon brought together innovative minds to tackle an exciting challenge: building a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system capable of answering complex customer queries. Participants were tasked with leveraging a provided knowledge base to create intelligent, responsive solutions that could revolutionize how businesses handle customer interactions.
At the heart of the hackathon was a clear problem statement. The challenge revolved around constructing a RAG pipeline that could:
Retrieve relevant information from the provided knowledge base.
Generate coherent, accurate, and contextually appropriate responses formatted as customer service emails.
The ultimate objective was to develop a system that could:
Comprehend customer queries and identify the necessary information to address them.
Craft professional email responses that are polite, concise, and customer-focused.
Ensure the generated answers are both accurate and complete, maintaining a friendly tone throughout.
This hackathon was more than a test of technical proficiency; it was an opportunity to explore the transformative potential of RAG systems in delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Insights from the Panel Discussion

The Speed of Progress – Opportunities and Challenges
AI is growing super fast, opening doors for businesses to do things better and faster. But it also means staying updated can be tough. The key is to adapt quickly and focus on learning.
On-Premises vs. Cloud - A Question of Cost and Data Security
On-premises solutions keep data in-house, offering enhanced security for sensitive information but at a higher cost for maintenance and infrastructure. In contrast, cloud solutions are more affordable and scalable but come with potential data privacy concerns depending on storage locations. The best choice depends on your organization’s budget, scalability requirements, and security priorities.
The Challenge of Finding the Right Business Model
It's not just about cool tech, but solving real problems. The winning formula? Show how AI saves time, cuts costs, and drives results. Keep testing, keep learning, and always focus on the value you're creating for your users. Your AI solution isn't just a product—it's a game-changer.
AI as Support – Not a Threat
AI isn't here to replace you—it's your ultimate work buddy. Think of it as a supercharged assistant handling repetitive tasks, freeing you to focus on creativity and strategy. Embrace AI as a tool that amplifies human potential, not a competitor. Your unique skills + AI's efficiency = unstoppable productivity.
The Path to Better Accuracy in AI Models
Accuracy in AI isn't magic—it's science. Good models are built on clean data, smart feature selection, and continuous learning. We're not just training algorithms; we're teaching them to think smarter, recognize patterns, and minimize bias. The journey to AI excellence is about constant refinement and curiosity.
The Importance of Data Quality
Garbage in, garbage out—the golden rule of AI. High-quality data is the foundation of intelligent systems. Clean, well-organized, and balanced data transforms AI from a guessing game to a precision tool. Invest in your data, and watch your AI models become remarkably insightful and reliable.
Hackathon Event Video
Highlights from the Event
The On-Prem GPT Challenge Hackathon, co-hosted by Tessi and WellDev, was a global event that combined innovation, collaboration, and technology. Taking place in both Switzerland and Bangladesh, the hackathon highlighted the power of teamwork across diverse geographies and cultures.
Participants tackled real-world challenges using advanced AI technologies, showcasing creativity and problem-solving skills. From engaging panel discussions on AI advancements to intense brainstorming sessions, the event was a melting pot of ideas and expertise. Notable highlights included:
Dynamic Problem-Solving: Teams worked tirelessly to build solutions for pressing business challenges using on-premises GPT technologies.
Global Collaboration: The event brought together professionals, students, and innovators from different backgrounds to foster cross-cultural teamwork.
Thought-Provoking Panel Discussions: Experts shared insights on AI trends, data security, and the future of business, providing inspiration and direction.
Award Ceremony: The event ended on a high note with the recognition of the most innovative and impactful solutions.
This hackathon was a true celebration of technology's potential to drive meaningful change.
Key Moments and Takeaways

The Power of Collaboration: The hackathon proved that innovation thrives in collaborative environments. Teams from Switzerland and Bangladesh brought unique perspectives, creating solutions that were both practical and visionary.
Insights from the Panel Discussions: Experts shared thought-provoking insights on key topics such as:
The trade-offs between on-premises vs. cloud solutions in terms of cost and data security.
The importance of data quality for AI model accuracy.
How AI serves as a support tool, amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them.
Showcasing Advanced AI Techniques: Participants applied cutting-edge technologies like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to enhance AI's efficiency and contextual understanding. Their work underscored how strategic data manipulation can elevate AI solutions.
Impactful Submissions: Winning projects demonstrated a keen understanding of AI's practical applications, such as improving customer service, refining decision-making processes, and optimizing data analysis.
A Learning Experience: Beyond the competition, the event served as a platform for skill development, networking, and exploring the future of AI-driven innovation.
The hackathon reaffirmed that the right mix of talent, technology, and collaboration can lead to groundbreaking solutions that redefine industries.
Outcome of the Hackathon

The On-Prem GPT Challenge Hackathon wasn’t just a competition—it was a platform for innovation and real-world problem-solving. The event showcased the exceptional creativity, technical expertise, and teamwork of participants as they tackled complex challenges with advanced AI solutions. From groundbreaking projects to valuable lessons learned, the outcomes highlighted the transformative potential of collaboration and intelligent design.
Spotlight on the Winners
As the hackathon concluded, the spotlight turned to the winners who stood out with their exceptional RAG system implementations. We caught up with them to learn more about their journey, experiences, and takeaways from the event.
Q: What motivated you to participate in the RAG Hackathon?
Winner’s Response: “The challenge of creating a real-world solution that could address complex customer queries intrigued us. It was an opportunity to push our technical and creative boundaries.”
Q: What were the most significant challenges you faced during the event?
Winner’s Response: “Designing a system that balanced retrieval accuracy and response coherence was tricky. Integrating the knowledge base effectively while maintaining a professional tone in the generated emails required several iterations.”
Q: What did you learn from this experience?
Winner’s Response: “We learned how to optimize RAG pipelines for efficiency and precision. It also gave us insights into collaborative problem-solving under time constraints, which is a valuable skill for future projects.”
Q: What do you see as the real-world applications of your solution?
Winner’s Response: “Our system could streamline customer service processes, reduce response times, and enhance customer satisfaction by delivering tailored, polite, and accurate responses.”
Q: How do you plan to build on this success?
Winner’s Response: “We aim to refine our system further and explore opportunities to implement it in real-world scenarios. The feedback we received during the hackathon has been invaluable for identifying areas of improvement.”
The winners’ reflections underline the hackathon’s impact not just as a competition but as a platform for learning, innovation, and collaboration. Their solutions showcased the incredible potential of RAG systems in transforming customer service, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-driven interactions.
Key Insights from the Submissions
The submissions revealed the incredible potential of statistical methods in improving AI consistency and accuracy. Participants showcased advanced retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) strategies that dramatically enhanced information retrieval and response generation. We witnessed remarkable approaches to handling unstructured data, particularly in scenarios lacking predefined ground truth. The teams demonstrated an intricate balance between computational performance and accuracy, proving that intelligent design can overcome significant technical constraints. Perhaps most impressively, submissions highlighted the nuanced art of context manipulation, showing how strategic data retrieval can transform raw information into meaningful insights.
Lessons Learned from the Hackathon
Our hackathon was more than a competition—it was a collaborative learning experience that revealed the true potential of RAG systems. We discovered that context is the cornerstone of effective AI, with the right information making the difference between a good and a great solution. The importance of data quality emerged as a critical theme, with teams demonstrating how clean, well-organized data can elevate an AI system's performance. Collaboration proved to be our greatest strength, with diverse skills and perspectives driving innovative approaches to complex challenges.
Reflections on Evaluation Methodology
Our evaluation process was a sophisticated journey into the depths of AI performance and validation. Using Meta’s open source model and the deepeval library, we created a robust framework for assessing RAG systems under real-world conditions. The challenge of validating responses without a predefined ground truth pushed us to develop more nuanced evaluation techniques. We simulated complex data retrieval scenarios that mirrored the unpredictability of real-world AI applications. This approach not only tested the technical capabilities of our participants but also provided insights into the future of AI system validation.
Future Directions for the Winning Solutions
Our hackathon winners showed incredible potential to solve real-world problems across industries like customer service, data analysis, and smart decision-making. These solutions aren't just cool tech—they're practical tools that can make businesses faster, smarter, and more efficient. We're excited to take these projects from cool ideas to real-world game-changers, connecting with partners who can help turn our hackathon dreams into everyday solutions.
How WellDev and Tessi Leverage LLMs and On-Prem GPT Solutions for Clients

WellDev: Powering Innovation Through AI
From deep learning NLP to cutting-edge LLM solutions, WellDev is helping businesses supercharge their systems. Welldev is not just building technology—we are creating intelligent support solutions that transform how companies leverage artificial intelligence. By providing custom LLM and RAG implementations, WellDev turns complex AI challenges into streamlined, powerful tools for their clients.
Tessi: Reimagining Business Processes with AI
As a European leader in Business Process Services, Tessi is bringing AI into the heart of digital transformation. With over 50 years of innovation, they're now using LLMs to revolutionize how businesses optimize their operations. Their customer-centric approach means combining technology and service to create smarter, faster, and more efficient business solutions. For Tessi, AI isn't just a tool—it's a strategic advantage that helps companies focus on what they do best.
The Future of Business: Intelligent, Efficient, Innovative
Both WellDev and Tessi show how AI is no longer just a buzzword—it's a game-changing strategy for businesses looking to stay ahead. By leveraging LLMs and on-premise GPT solutions, they're proving that intelligent technology can unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation.
Conclusion: The Future of AI in the Software Development Industry

The On-Prem GPT Challenge Hackathon by Tessi and WellDev showcased the immense potential of collaborative innovation in shaping the future of the software development industry. Through this event, participants explored practical solutions and demonstrated how advanced technologies like LLMs and on-premises GPT solutions can address real-world challenges, drive efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for businesses.
For WellDev and Tessi, the event underscored their commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology for the benefit of their clients. WellDev is already pioneering the integration of LLMs into custom solutions, enabling businesses to enhance workflows and make smarter decisions. Meanwhile, Tessi is leveraging its expertise in business process services to integrate these technologies into innovative solutions that simplify and accelerate operations.
Looking ahead, the software development industry stands at the cusp of a significant transformation. With tools like LLMs and on-premises GPT solutions, the focus is shifting towards creating intelligent, secure, and adaptable systems. These technologies are not just enhancing processes but are also redefining how businesses approach problem-solving and customer engagement.
The hackathon proved that the future of software development lies in embracing these advancements while fostering collaboration and continuous learning. As WellDev and Tessi continue to lead the way in leveraging intelligent solutions, they are setting the stage for a future where technology and innovation empower businesses to thrive in an ever-changing world.
The possibilities are vast, and with the right mindset and collaboration, the future of the industry is set to be intelligent, efficient, and profoundly innovative.
Ready to Bring Your AI Vision to Life?
At WellDev, we specialize in building and maintaining innovative AI solutions tailored to your unique business needs. Whether you're looking to integrate LLMs, optimize your workflows, or explore on-premises GPT implementations, our expertise can help you unlock the full potential of AI.
Let’s turn your ideas into impactful, scalable solutions that drive efficiency and growth.
Contact us today to discuss how we can collaborate on your next AI-powered project!
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