There were 199 applications from countries of the Turkic Council, as well as Tajikistan and Mongolia, and 80 projects were selected for the first stage.

"In the first stage of the program, participants will have the opportunity to raise to $100,000 in seed funding from Draper University's dedicated alumni fund, which can be a deciding factor for a startup. In addition, the program partner, My Ventures, will invest in at least five projects for a total of no less than $30,000, which will be selected for the next stage of the program in Silicon Valley," said Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub.

During the two-week online pre-acceleration program, participants will have access to valuable resources and insights, as well as valuable experience from global leaders in the technology industry. The fundamentals of the entrepreneurship program will help participants gain the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the highly competitive world of business. Speakers will discuss sales, marketing, startup growth strategies in the global market, and how to expand opportunities and attract funding in the global market. After the program, several startups will be selected to participate in an online Demo Day with venture investors from Silicon Valley.

Additionally, 20 promising projects will be selected for the second stage of Hero Training, a 5-week intensive program based on the Draper University campus in Silicon Valley, with living arrangements and coworking space for up to six months. It is worth noting that the agreement between Astana Hub and Draper University was signed on March 10, 2023, in San Mateo, California, during the official visit of the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bagdat Mussin, to the United States.

Draper Ecosystem is a unique approach to bringing together talents, experts, and investors by providing cutting-edge facilitators and an unprecedented network of mentors, industry experts, corporate partners, and investors to support the innovative ecosystem. Draper University was founded by Tim Draper, who has 38 years of experience in venture capital.