IT companies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia will have the chance to visit Silicon Valley in the fall of this year.

The exclusive acceleration program, Hero Training, helps technology companies quickly enter the global market. Applications for the program can be submitted until August 6th. Participants will undergo a rigorous screening process as the number of available spots is limited.

The program consists of two phases. In the initial stage, 80 projects will be selected for a two-week online pre-acceleration. Subsequently, the 15 most promising companies will embark on offline training in Silicon Valley, California. Upon completing the program, startups will gain access to Draper University's infrastructure and the representation of technology startups from Central Eurasia in California – Silkroad Innovation Hub.

The first 15 startups, who traveled to California in May of this year, have already completed their training and are actively working on attracting investments and entering the US market under the guidance of experienced technology entrepreneurs and experts within the Draper ecosystem.

"The program is designed very effectively. After the five-week offline acceleration in Silicon Valley, the Kazakhstani market became small for us. From the very beginning of our startup, we aimed to scale in the US market. Thanks to Astana Hub and Hero Training, we are now one step closer to our goal. The program is intensive both mentally and physically, so it was challenging to maintain focus. It has been an impressive experience for all of us, which has also contributed to personal growth. We have already scheduled calls and meetings with partners and investors from the US in the near future," shared Mukhtar Kuanyshbayuly, CEO of Connected Home.

While in California, Hero Training participants will be able to significantly expand their networking opportunities, which will help attract new investment rounds and establish strategic partnerships in the heart of the world's tech capital.

"Hero Training has provided us with a wealth of interesting experience and helped me unlock hidden potential and talents within myself. None of us knew what to expect. The program is highly dynamic and creative, and the level of creativity displayed by the participating companies is remarkable. We intentionally went to Silicon Valley in search of new partners. We had the opportunity to attend Tech Week 2023, interact with venture capitalists, and engage with mature companies that have successfully raised funds. Tim Draper himself showed interest in us, and overall, we now have a clear plan for our development in the US market," noted Yana Shoybekova, CEO of CITIX.

Graduates of Astana Hub's acceleration programs, such as Silkway Accelerator and Scalerator, as well as startups that did not make it to the first cohort of Hero Training, will have an advantage in the selection process for the second cohort. Learn more and submit your application via the link: https://astanahub.com/ru/l/hero-training 

Draper Ecosystem offers a unique approach to bringing together talent, 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 boasts 38 years of experience in the venture capital business, 11 funds under management, $7 billion in investment volume, 34 unicorn companies, and 6 rhino companies.