Speaking at Digital Almaty 2025, Yoram Wijngaarde highlighted the rise of emerging ecosystems and the opportunities they present for the global market. While the U.S. and Europe remain dominant in the number of startups, Asian countries are experiencing rapid growth. Kazakhstan already accounts for 15–20% of all venture capital invested in Central Asia.

“Kazakhstan has emerged as a major player in the global startup ecosystem. The country is home to a growing number of high-tech startups, and venture capital investment in the region has increased significantly. Not only is Kazakhstan catching up, but it is actually outpacing the U.S. in the rate of new 'decacorns'—startups valued at over $10 billion. In a relatively short period, Kazakhstan’s still-young tech ecosystem has already produced companies like Kaspi.kz, valued at over $10 billion, highlighting the country’s immense potential to attract international VC funding and create globally competitive companies,” said Yoram Wijngaarde.

As part of Dealroom.co's research, 101 startups in Kazakhstan have already been analyzed—marking just the beginning of the platform’s deeper exploration of the region. Wijngaarde expressed confidence that over the next year, strengthened collaboration with Astana Hub will significantly expand Dealroom’s database, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of Kazakhstan’s startup ecosystem and investment potential.

Integrating Kazakhstan’s ecosystem into Dealroom.co is a strategic move that opens new doors to international investments and partnerships. This will help Kazakh startups attract funding, accelerate global expansion, and cement Kazakhstan’s position on the world innovation map.

From January 31 to February 1, 2025, Digital Almaty 2025 is taking place at Atakent Expo in Almaty, focusing on "Industrial AI: Technologies for a New Era." The event is organized by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Akimat of Almaty, and ACF Park of Innovative Technologies.

For reference: Dealroom.co is a global platform that collects and analyzes data on startups, venture capital investments, and corporations worldwide. Founded in 2013 in Amsterdam, Dealroom.co has established itself as a leading source of analytics for VCs and startups. The platform covers over 2 million startups and investors, providing unparalleled insights into investment opportunities, ecosystem analysis, and market trends.