Startup projects competition «Startup Bolashak: Menin Armanym»

The selection round of the 4th season of the Startup Bolashak: Menin Armanym in Almaty was held at Abai Universityon May 10-12, 2019.

Three universities took part in organizing the competition: Abai University, al-Farabi Kazakh National University and AlmaU.

The purpose of the Competition is support of socially significant business initiatives of young entrepreneurs aimed at improving the standards of quality of life, as well as the transfer of advanced knowledge and technology into the socio-economic life of the country.

Target audience: beginning entrepreneurs aged 16-29.

Within the framework of the competitionthe participants passed trainings and defended their projects, the mentors selected the participants who got access to the quarter-finals.

The trainings were held by Shetiyeva Asel, who is the head of the startup academy of K. Zhubanova Aktobe Regional State University and the regional coordinator of the competition «Startup Bolashak: Menin Armanym».

59 projects were registered in Almaty in total. 13 projects of them reached the quarter-finals. The projects were provided by Abai University - 1, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University - 3, Kazakh National Women`s Teacher Training University - 1, IITU - 1, Satbayev University - 1, Academy of Civil Aviation - 1, KBTU -1, Lyceum №92 -1, Gymnasium № 148 - 1, individuals -2.

Quarter final. Selected participants invited to Shymkent city for this stage. Preparatory trainings for the participants are held. For the quarter-finals, participants must prepare a prototype. According to the results of the projects protection, at least 150 projects will be selected for the expert jury, which will be selected online by video. At the end of the online selection will be allowed at least 32 participants who will have access to participate in television games.

Semifinal. At this stage, selected 32 projects will invited to Nur-Sultan city for television filming of the Competition. For participants, preparatory training for public speaking, training for the preparation of presentations, business training, preparation for television shooting, speech and project protection are held. 16 participants will selected.

The final. 16 participants, who passed to the semi-final will participate in games and present their projects in a television studio Nur-Sultan city. 4 best projects will be held in the Super Final of the competition and will be able to compete for first place.

Super Final. Final presentations of 4 projects from the contest finalists. At the end jury will determine the winner of the fourth season.

The following people were invited as mentors and jury of the qualifying round in Almaty:
1. President of the University of Synergy - Baurzhan Kasymbergebayev.
2. The head of the construction company SHEBERBUILD, a member of the Bolashak Association, a member of the Union of City Planners of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Erlan Sauranbayev.
3. Business trainer, accounting expert, senior interpreter of AlmaU - Rustem Abdullin.
4. A graduate of the Bolashak program (MA in International Political Economy, Warwick University), the CEO of Changellenge (changling) Kazakhstan, the CEO and co-founder of the educational startup KACH - Alisher Sadykov.
5. The founder of Almaty Hostel Dom, the best hostel in Kazakhstan according to Hostelworld 2018 - Shakir Islambakiev.
6. The founder of Balmuzdak.Net and Grants.Kz web sites, SMM manager of Salem Social Media - Almas Toleubayev.