Top 5 Opportunities for Startups in Kazakhstan

Developing a startup in Kazakhstan is a great idea if you are aware of opportunities from local incubation and acceleration programs. In this article, we tell you which organizations will help you boost your startup and attract investments.

Astana Hub

The largest international IT technopark in Central Asia. This is the platform for the development of innovative projects, which helps in the growth of advanced startups and attracts young IT professionals from all over the world to Kazakhstan. Astana Hub works in such areas as:

• Educational programs (Startup School, Freelancing School, Community Managers, Beta Career, Technology Entrepreneurship Course in Universities, LMS, Tech Orda, Startuphana, No Code) that promote technology entrepreneurship and teach the skills needed to launch a startup.

• Business programs (Techpreneurs, Acceleration, Tracker School, Incubation, IT export accelerator, Smart City Accelerator Almaty) aimed at accelerating the growth of existing startups.

• Development of regions, within the framework of which activities to support and develop start-ups are implemented in the regions.

• Support for Astana Hub participants, which provides for tax benefits and a simplified visa regime.

Astana Hub also hosts many events for startups. Information can be found on the website, in Telegram, Instagram, Facebook.

MOST business incubator

The first private incubator in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The organization works to build an ecosystem for technology entrepreneurs, investors and corporations in the region, providing knowledge and infrastructure. MOST holds corporate acceleration programs, hackathons, startup weekends, mentor programs, investment days, PR campaigns, and events.
To stay up to date with new opportunities offered by the MOST business incubator, subscribe to the organization's Facebook community and Instagram.

NURIS business accelerator

Works on the basis of Nazarbayev University. NURIS conducts the Quick Start Business Acceleration Program for startups twice a year. The program covers such areas as sales, promotion, entering the international market, includes weekly meetings with mentors, workshops and expert consultations, networking sessions and PR support.
Among the criteria for participation in the program: a completed team, where at least 1 participant is fluent in English, the presence of a working MVP prototype and the first sales. The best startups, following the completion of acceleration, raise seed investments in the amount of up to $50,000 and access to a pool of investors.
In addition to the acceleration program, NURIS conducts educational events for startups. Announcements can be found in the Facebook community, and on Instagram.

Grants from DAR

DAR is a group of companies that creates digital products to improve the quality of people's lives. The organization implements a number of projects that help novice startups improve their skills and even raise investment. Among the projects:

• Online platform for professional development 5Q — an educational platform that contains courses in popular specialties and allows you to master the desired profession from scratch.

• A grant program for entrepreneurs in the field of sports, its goal is the opening and development of sports clubs throughout Kazakhstan. Applications can be submitted until July 31st. Details

• Events for everyone who is interested in IT and startups. 

To stay up to date, subscribe to Telegram, Facebook, Instagram.

Tech Garden // Innovation cluster "Park of innovative technologies"

It implements a number of programs and projects aimed at developing start-ups and digital transformation of industrial enterprises. Priority areas are smart city, fintech, mining and processing, new materials, energy, financial technologies, industry 4.0.
To keep up to date with Tech Garden opportunities, follow the Facebook community.