Since its launch, the number of Astana Hub participants has grown to 1,875 companies, including more than 470 with foreign participation. Cluster participants receive access to tax benefits, simplified visa and labor regimes, infrastructure, and opportunities for international cooperation. As a result, the total revenue of cluster participants since 2019 has reached $4.3 billion, and IT service exports in 2025 are expected to exceed $1.5 billion. Over seven years, Astana Hub startups have attracted more than $840 million in investments.
Today, Astana Hub represents not only the country’s main innovation center but also a network of 20 regional IT hubs, where thousands of events take place, local communities grow, and new talent is trained for the industry. Over the past two years alone, the regions hosted more than 2,900 events, bringing together 65,000 participants and showcasing 700 startups.
Astana Hub actively promotes technological entrepreneurship and nurtures the next generation of IT talent.
A key highlight of the technological year once again became Digital Bridge 2025. Over the years, Digital Bridge has evolved into the largest technological platform in Eurasia, where the future of the digital economy is shaped and dozens of international agreements are signed: more than 127,000 participants, approximately 1,500 speakers, 600 startups from over 100 countries, and around 500 investors and business angels.
Another important area of Astana Hub’s work is talent development for the digital economy. The Tech Orda program, implemented by Astana Hub and aimed at developing human capital in ICT, has already trained 9,037 students across 91 IT schools. Interest in the program remains high: 29,962 applications were submitted this year, and after all selection stages, around 2,600 participants will begin training.
In parallel, Kazakhstan’s first peer-to-peer artificial intelligence school, Tomorrow School, is developing rapidly, now hosting over 300 students from Kazakhstan, the USA, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. Since launch, Tomorrow School has conducted nine selection pools, with 1,276 participants and 16,041 total applications.
The launch of the TUMO Center is also underway — a cutting-edge venue for teenagers aged 12–18 to learn robotics, programming, 3D modeling, and creative technologies. The program covers 11 key areas, including generative AI, game development, 3D modeling, robotics, digital music, filmmaking, graphic and motion design, software engineering, and web development.
Astana Hub also actively promotes digital learning and AI skill development. Partner online courses such as “Foundations of AI: ChatGPT”, “Fundamentals of Data Analysis and Python”, “Prompt Engineering Basics”, and QazCoders have already helped tens of thousands of Kazakhstani citizens master modern digital professions and tools.
Rapid ecosystem growth has been fueled by large-scale acceleration programs.
The Silkway Accelerator, launched in partnership with Google for Startups, has already graduated 73 successful startups, with a combined valuation of $575 million.
The Hero Training program, implemented in Silicon Valley with Draper University, has supported 37 startups, helping them access international expertise and investment.
The Startup Garage incubation program has supported over 1,100 early-stage projects, of which 259 successfully completed training.
Special focus is directed toward AI-driven projects.
Launched in 2024, the flagship program AI’preneurs already has 52 graduates and 22 startup projects, with total investments and pre-sales of $350,000.
The AlchemistX & Silicon Valley Residency program (the first cohort launched with Silkroad Innovation Hub and FPIP; the second with Silkroad Innovation Hub, IT Park, and IT Park Ventures) has opened a pathway for Kazakhstan and regional startups to enter the US market.
Meanwhile, the Astana Innovations Accelerator brings together startups developing solutions aimed at improving quality of life in major cities. The latest cohort collected 160 applications, and 22 projects were selected to test and implement their innovations in real urban environments.
By order of the President, Kazakhstan established the International Center for Artificial Intelligence alem.ai — a magnet for the global AI community and a key institution shaping a new generation of high-tech leaders.
Astana Hub continues to expand its role as an innovation engine, developing a platform for technological challenges that connects enterprises, government agencies, and IT teams to solve real industrial tasks. This tool supports innovation in production, ecology, digitalization, and the development of Industry 4.0.
In support of the region’s startup ecosystem, Astana Hub Ventures, the cluster’s venture capital arm founded in 2024, focuses on early-stage investment in founders from Central Eurasia. The fund invests $50,000 to $500,000 in pre-seed, seed, and pre-Series A startups, with priority given to graduates of Astana Hub programs. Since its inception, Astana Hub Ventures has invested in five projects: Zypl.ai, Grand Games, Uniblock, Axellero.io, and Clarity Flo. Portfolio companies gain access to infrastructure, mentorship, global partnerships, and government initiatives, enabling rapid and sustainable growth. Through this synergy, Astana Hub Ventures is becoming a strategic partner for the region’s tech entrepreneurs and a catalyst for future global success stories from Kazakhstan and Central Eurasia.
Kazakhstan is also expanding its global presence: international innovation hubs already operate in the USA (SilkRoad Innovation Hub, Palo Alto), UK (Eurasian Hub, London), UAE (Tumar Innovation Hub, Dubai), and China (Khan-Tengri Innovation Hub, Shanghai), helping domestic IT companies enter global markets.
International cooperation continues to strengthen. In 2024, Kazakhstan launched the Digital Nomad Visa and Digital Nomad Residency, simplifying relocation for foreign tech professionals. These initiatives aim to attract highly qualified specialists, create new jobs, and foster knowledge exchange between international and local communities. Since launch, 392 applications have been submitted, of which 352 (90.5%) were for Digital Nomad Residency, demonstrating strong interest in long-term work and residence in Kazakhstan. The largest category of applicants consists of software developers, followed by web developers, IT project managers, and ICT business analysts.
Over seven years, Astana Hub has become not just an international innovation cluster but the core of Kazakhstan’s digital transformation. Today, it unites investors, developers, and researchers, creating conditions for growth, collaboration, and global expansion. Ahead lie new challenges, new markets, and new opportunities that will further strengthen Kazakhstan’s role as a technological leader in the region.
Since its launch, the number of Astana Hub participants has grown to 1,875 companies, including more than 470 with foreign participation. Cluster participants receive access to tax benefits, simplified visa and labor regimes, infrastructure, and opportunities for international cooperation. As a result, the total revenue of cluster participants since 2019 has reached $4.3 billion, and IT service exports in 2025 are expected to exceed $1.5 billion. Over seven years, Astana Hub startups have attracted more than $840 million in investments.
Today, Astana Hub represents not only the country’s main innovation center but also a network of 20 regional IT hubs, where thousands of events take place, local communities grow, and new talent is trained for the industry. Over the past two years alone, the regions hosted more than 2,900 events, bringing together 65,000 participants and showcasing 700 startups.
Astana Hub actively promotes technological entrepreneurship and nurtures the next generation of IT talent.
A key highlight of the technological year once again became Digital Bridge 2025. Over the years, Digital Bridge has evolved into the largest technological platform in Eurasia, where the future of the digital economy is shaped and dozens of international agreements are signed: more than 127,000 participants, approximately 1,500 speakers, 600 startups from over 100 countries, and around 500 investors and business angels.
Another important area of Astana Hub’s work is talent development for the digital economy. The Tech Orda program, implemented by Astana Hub and aimed at developing human capital in ICT, has already trained 9,037 students across 91 IT schools. Interest in the program remains high: 29,962 applications were submitted this year, and after all selection stages, around 2,600 participants will begin training.
In parallel, Kazakhstan’s first peer-to-peer artificial intelligence school, Tomorrow School, is developing rapidly, now hosting over 300 students from Kazakhstan, the USA, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. Since launch, Tomorrow School has conducted nine selection pools, with 1,276 participants and 16,041 total applications.
The launch of the TUMO Center is also underway — a cutting-edge venue for teenagers aged 12–18 to learn robotics, programming, 3D modeling, and creative technologies. The program covers 11 key areas, including generative AI, game development, 3D modeling, robotics, digital music, filmmaking, graphic and motion design, software engineering, and web development.
Astana Hub also actively promotes digital learning and AI skill development. Partner online courses such as “Foundations of AI: ChatGPT”, “Fundamentals of Data Analysis and Python”, “Prompt Engineering Basics”, and QazCoders have already helped tens of thousands of Kazakhstani citizens master modern digital professions and tools.
Rapid ecosystem growth has been fueled by large-scale acceleration programs.
The Silkway Accelerator, launched in partnership with Google for Startups, has already graduated 73 successful startups, with a combined valuation of $575 million.
The Hero Training program, implemented in Silicon Valley with Draper University, has supported 37 startups, helping them access international expertise and investment.
The Startup Garage incubation program has supported over 1,100 early-stage projects, of which 259 successfully completed training.
Special focus is directed toward AI-driven projects.
Launched in 2024, the flagship program AI’preneurs already has 52 graduates and 22 startup projects, with total investments and pre-sales of $350,000.
The AlchemistX & Silicon Valley Residency program (the first cohort launched with Silkroad Innovation Hub and FPIP; the second with Silkroad Innovation Hub, IT Park, and IT Park Ventures) has opened a pathway for Kazakhstan and regional startups to enter the US market.
Meanwhile, the Astana Innovations Accelerator brings together startups developing solutions aimed at improving quality of life in major cities. The latest cohort collected 160 applications, and 22 projects were selected to test and implement their innovations in real urban environments.
By order of the President, Kazakhstan established the International Center for Artificial Intelligence alem.ai — a magnet for the global AI community and a key institution shaping a new generation of high-tech leaders.
Astana Hub continues to expand its role as an innovation engine, developing a platform for technological challenges that connects enterprises, government agencies, and IT teams to solve real industrial tasks. This tool supports innovation in production, ecology, digitalization, and the development of Industry 4.0.
In support of the region’s startup ecosystem, Astana Hub Ventures, the cluster’s venture capital arm founded in 2024, focuses on early-stage investment in founders from Central Eurasia. The fund invests $50,000 to $500,000 in pre-seed, seed, and pre-Series A startups, with priority given to graduates of Astana Hub programs. Since its inception, Astana Hub Ventures has invested in five projects: Zypl.ai, Grand Games, Uniblock, Axellero.io, and Clarity Flo. Portfolio companies gain access to infrastructure, mentorship, global partnerships, and government initiatives, enabling rapid and sustainable growth. Through this synergy, Astana Hub Ventures is becoming a strategic partner for the region’s tech entrepreneurs and a catalyst for future global success stories from Kazakhstan and Central Eurasia.
Kazakhstan is also expanding its global presence: international innovation hubs already operate in the USA (SilkRoad Innovation Hub, Palo Alto), UK (Eurasian Hub, London), UAE (Tumar Innovation Hub, Dubai), and China (Khan-Tengri Innovation Hub, Shanghai), helping domestic IT companies enter global markets.
International cooperation continues to strengthen. In 2024, Kazakhstan launched the Digital Nomad Visa and Digital Nomad Residency, simplifying relocation for foreign tech professionals. These initiatives aim to attract highly qualified specialists, create new jobs, and foster knowledge exchange between international and local communities. Since launch, 392 applications have been submitted, of which 352 (90.5%) were for Digital Nomad Residency, demonstrating strong interest in long-term work and residence in Kazakhstan. The largest category of applicants consists of software developers, followed by web developers, IT project managers, and ICT business analysts.
Over seven years, Astana Hub has become not just an international innovation cluster but the core of Kazakhstan’s digital transformation. Today, it unites investors, developers, and researchers, creating conditions for growth, collaboration, and global expansion. Ahead lie new challenges, new markets, and new opportunities that will further strengthen Kazakhstan’s role as a technological leader in the region.
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