In 2026, Startup Garage received 317 applications, of which 151 startups were selected to join the program. A total of 88 projects successfully completed the incubation process, while the 16 most promising teams presented their ventures to investors and industry experts during Demo Day.
Startup Garage is Astana Hub’s incubation program that helps teams progress from an idea to their first sales and prepares them for scaling. Over a three-month period, participants test hypotheses, identify target audiences, build business models, and receive guidance from trackers and industry experts. The program includes workshops, one-on-one consultations, and lectures from leading IT market professionals.
“Startup Garage helps early-stage teams move from an idea to their first sales and prepare for scaling. By the end of this cohort, program participants had generated more than KZT 68 million in sales, while several projects had already entered international markets and begun export sales. Today, startups are launching pilots with companies, working with international clients, attracting investment, and validating market demand for their solutions. Most teams were developing products at the MVP stage, with 58 startups advancing to the next stage of development and 19 projects reaching product-market fit,” said Ashimbek Abilgazinov, Director of Business Programs at Astana Hub.
One of the most notable success stories was Voiceclinic.ai, an AI agent for healthcare providers that automates patient appointment scheduling, inbound inquiry processing, and call center operations. During the program, the team integrated its solution with two major healthcare networks in Kazakhstan and expanded to four pilot implementations, some of which have already transitioned into paid deployments. The startup was also accepted into Hero Training, the international acceleration program delivered in partnership with Draper University.
Another participant, Wanted AI, secured KZT 21.2 million in investment to test hypotheses and further develop its product. The startup is building a personalized AI-powered growth environment that combines courses, AI tools, mentors, and personal notes. The platform assesses a user’s current level and goals, creates an individualized learning pathway, and guides progress step by step, transforming fragmented learning into a structured and long-term development process.
Several startups have already moved on to pilot implementations and scaling activities. OpenSchool AI is preparing to launch its platform in 52 schools across the Ulytau Region, FTT Adapt-AI has completed pilot projects and signed partnership agreements with the HR association SMILE HR, while QCM has signed multiple pilot agreements, including with Chinese partners, and is currently testing onboarding processes with them.
The program concluded with Demo Day, where 16 startups presented their projects to investors and market experts. Participants included aitomaton, an AI platform for business automation with more than KZT 10 million in sales; EpiQ AI, an ERP platform for laboratories and clinics; UNIRENT, a SaaS solution for rental management; JumbaQ, an EdTech platform that prepares developers for careers at Big Tech companies; as well as startups operating in MedTech, LegalTech, business analytics, e-commerce, and AI services.
Since its launch in 2023, Startup Garage has become one of Astana Hub’s flagship platforms for supporting early-stage startups. Participants gain access to expert mentorship, an industry community, and tools that help them enter the market and scale their projects further.
In 2026, Startup Garage received 317 applications, of which 151 startups were selected to join the program. A total of 88 projects successfully completed the incubation process, while the 16 most promising teams presented their ventures to investors and industry experts during Demo Day.
Startup Garage is Astana Hub’s incubation program that helps teams progress from an idea to their first sales and prepares them for scaling. Over a three-month period, participants test hypotheses, identify target audiences, build business models, and receive guidance from trackers and industry experts. The program includes workshops, one-on-one consultations, and lectures from leading IT market professionals.
“Startup Garage helps early-stage teams move from an idea to their first sales and prepare for scaling. By the end of this cohort, program participants had generated more than KZT 68 million in sales, while several projects had already entered international markets and begun export sales. Today, startups are launching pilots with companies, working with international clients, attracting investment, and validating market demand for their solutions. Most teams were developing products at the MVP stage, with 58 startups advancing to the next stage of development and 19 projects reaching product-market fit,” said Ashimbek Abilgazinov, Director of Business Programs at Astana Hub.
One of the most notable success stories was Voiceclinic.ai, an AI agent for healthcare providers that automates patient appointment scheduling, inbound inquiry processing, and call center operations. During the program, the team integrated its solution with two major healthcare networks in Kazakhstan and expanded to four pilot implementations, some of which have already transitioned into paid deployments. The startup was also accepted into Hero Training, the international acceleration program delivered in partnership with Draper University.
Another participant, Wanted AI, secured KZT 21.2 million in investment to test hypotheses and further develop its product. The startup is building a personalized AI-powered growth environment that combines courses, AI tools, mentors, and personal notes. The platform assesses a user’s current level and goals, creates an individualized learning pathway, and guides progress step by step, transforming fragmented learning into a structured and long-term development process.
Several startups have already moved on to pilot implementations and scaling activities. OpenSchool AI is preparing to launch its platform in 52 schools across the Ulytau Region, FTT Adapt-AI has completed pilot projects and signed partnership agreements with the HR association SMILE HR, while QCM has signed multiple pilot agreements, including with Chinese partners, and is currently testing onboarding processes with them.
The program concluded with Demo Day, where 16 startups presented their projects to investors and market experts. Participants included aitomaton, an AI platform for business automation with more than KZT 10 million in sales; EpiQ AI, an ERP platform for laboratories and clinics; UNIRENT, a SaaS solution for rental management; JumbaQ, an EdTech platform that prepares developers for careers at Big Tech companies; as well as startups operating in MedTech, LegalTech, business analytics, e-commerce, and AI services.
Since its launch in 2023, Startup Garage has become one of Astana Hub’s flagship platforms for supporting early-stage startups. Participants gain access to expert mentorship, an industry community, and tools that help them enter the market and scale their projects further.
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