Launched this year, the Al-Farabi Innovation Hub has made significant strides in developing the IT ecosystem. The Pivot.uz editorial team explored its key achievements and future plans.
Achievements of Al-Farabi Innovation Hub
Opened in March with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development, the World Bank, and Astana Hub, the hub obtained a license to run accelerators in Saudi Arabia. In November, it launched its first program for startups from Central Asia and the Caucasus in partnership with Plug and Play. Startups from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan were selected for the program and are now ready to scale. The online phase is complete, and startups are analyzing the market and identifying partners. Starting January 10, they will spend two months in Saudi Arabia for business development. The goal is to help them register companies in Saudi Arabia and secure contracts. Successful participants will receive funding through the Tumar Venture Fund.
Kazakhstan faces challenges such as a small market size and limited capital depth. With a population of 20 million (60 million including Central Asia and Uzbekistan), the purchasing power and market scale remain limited. Startups must expand internationally to access larger markets, such as MENA or Southeast Asia, to achieve exits. Additionally, Kazakhstan lacks funds for Series A and beyond, prompting startups to seek funding abroad.
Challenges and Plans
The limited market size and investment options in Kazakhstan remain key obstacles. While investments in pre-seed and seed stages are growing, startups require international markets for significant growth. In 2025, the hub plans to finalize its ecosystem, launch a second accelerator focused on DeepTech, and attract additional investment to support startups entering new markets.
Motivation and Vision
The hub is driven by the success of startups and their entry into international markets. Competing globally inspires them to achieve higher results and strengthen Kazakhstan’s venture IT community.
