AI on the table

Most internships start with an existing project, an existing codebase, a fixed list of requirements. Sander and Alberto's didn't. They got a concept, a client, and one open question: build this out. The rest was up to them.

The result is an application for a pool and snooker club that lets players and fans follow matches, scores and statistics — including AI-enhanced livestreams that map what's happening on the table in real time.

"A support application where users can see their matches, scores and statistics, plus livestreams with AI-enhanced overviews," is how Sander sums it up. Alberto adds: "An app for pool players that works on both smartphone and laptop, with your own account, team, statistics and chats to connect with other players."

Sander and Alberto, both Applied Computer Science students — Sander specialising in AI, Alberto in application development — got something not every internship offers: real input.

"The requirements were on paper, but the practical execution was ours to shape, based on what we felt was best for the client and the end user," Alberto explains.

Sander recognises the same: "More freedom in the approach and choices, but also more responsibility for the quality of the end result." Decisions weren't made lightly: "Always start from the end user's perspective," says Alberto.

That freedom didn't mean they were left to figure it out on their own. Sprint reviews, daily stand-ups, short demo sessions and client check-ins gave the project a steady rhythm, backed by ongoing communication over Slack. The project was led by Jens, and the team bonded outside working hours too: a shared pizza night and a client visit were the moments Sander and Alberto felt they'd truly become part of Fenego.

For Sander, the most fascinating part of the project was the AI: a bird's-eye view of the table that recognises the game situation at any given moment. "That gives viewers a much clearer picture of what's happening on the table."

Alberto, meanwhile, built the entire app from the ground up as a Progressive Web App, with live streaming as the biggest technical challenge: "That's something we'd never seen or done in school."

"At school, everything assumes a theoretically perfect world; here, everything is far more focused on results and working in a dynamic environment," says Sander.

Alberto agrees: "School assignments usually have fixed requirements, while the requirements on a real case can change during the project." That demands critical thinking before you start coding, something he names as his biggest growth from the internship.

Sander is proud of how accurately the system reads the game. Alberto is proud of the full feature set: "Different roles, chats, matches and competitions, team line-ups and tracking teams."

His goal went beyond functionality alone: making every feature as simple and accessible as possible, regardless of the user's age. On where the app could be in a few years, both agree: a unique selling point for the club against rival clubs.

Sander points to the atmosphere: "Great colleagues, a good vibe, and the social-impact projects feel like real added value for people's daily lives." Alberto highlights the freedom: "More freedom than on other internships I've heard about from fellow students, which gives you the chance to become more independent and add real value to a project yourself."

Sander is now working full-time at Fenego. Since September, he's officially been part of our team, a fitting close to an internship that began with a colleague's idea and grew into an application an entire club will enjoy.

Curious about an internship at Fenego? Get in touch and discover the possibilities.