The new cohort attracted 373 applications from 15 countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, the UAE, the United States, India, Ukraine, and others. Around 60% of all applications came from Central Asian countries, confirming the region’s growing role as a source of technology solutions with strong international scaling potential.
The panel discussion brought together alumni from different Silkway Accelerator cohorts who are already expanding their products beyond local markets. Participants included CEO of Prometei Daulet Batyrbek, CEO of gro.now Tatyana Plotnikova, and CEO of Biometric.Vision Alibek Narimbayev. The session was moderated by Managing Director of Astana Hub, Tanat Uskembayev.
“Silkway Accelerator closes one of the key gaps for startups in the region — the transition from a local product to a company ready for global markets. Participants gain access to an international network of mentors, experts, investors, and partners from Google for Startups. This helps founders strengthen their business models, prepare for investment, and build strategies for entering new markets. Over the four years of the program, 1,470 applications were submitted, only 73 startups were selected and completed the accelerator. Alumni have collectively raised more than $48 million in investment, with a combined valuation exceeding $500 million. These results show that regional teams are capable of building globally competitive products,” said Astana Hub Managing Director Tanat Uskembayev.
During the session, founders shared how participation in Silkway Accelerator impacted their companies—from revising product strategy and preparing for investment to forming international partnerships and entering new markets.
One such example is Prometei, a B2B platform that helps entrepreneurs and companies launch and scale sales across multiple marketplaces through a single interface.
“Silkway Accelerator helped us take a structured approach to regional scaling: better understand the specifics of new markets, strengthen our business model, and prepare for international partnerships. This was critical for us because Prometei operates at the intersection of e-commerce, logistics, and global supply chains, where strong scaling strategy is essential for rapid growth. As a result, we entered a direct partnership with Alibaba 1688, which gave our users access to hundreds of millions of products and significantly lowered the barrier to global trade. We are now expanding into Uzbekistan and considering further growth across Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and the Middle East,” said Prometei CEO Daulet Batyrbek.
The accelerator runs for 12 weeks and is designed for teams with a ready product and validated demand. Participants receive access to Almaty Hub infrastructure, including co-working spaces and support for international teams, as well as up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, Google Workspace tools, and mentorship from global experts. The program concludes with a Demo Day attended by investors, business angels, and partners. The most promising startups may continue working with Astana Hub Ventures and raise investment for international expansion.
As a reminder, GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026 takes place in Almaty on May 4–5, 2026. The event is held within the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence and brings together government bodies, tech companies, startups, and investors from more than 60 countries. It aims to strengthen Central Asia and the Caucasus as emerging technology hubs. The exhibition is organized by inD, the global operator of GITEX, with support from the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in partnership with Astana Hub and the Almaty city administration.
About Almaty Hub:
Almaty Hub is a branch of Astana Hub in Almaty. It supports the development of the IT community, startup growth, and the formation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. It provides access to Astana Hub programs, knowledge, and ecosystem resources.
The new cohort attracted 373 applications from 15 countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, the UAE, the United States, India, Ukraine, and others. Around 60% of all applications came from Central Asian countries, confirming the region’s growing role as a source of technology solutions with strong international scaling potential.
The panel discussion brought together alumni from different Silkway Accelerator cohorts who are already expanding their products beyond local markets. Participants included CEO of Prometei Daulet Batyrbek, CEO of gro.now Tatyana Plotnikova, and CEO of Biometric.Vision Alibek Narimbayev. The session was moderated by Managing Director of Astana Hub, Tanat Uskembayev.
“Silkway Accelerator closes one of the key gaps for startups in the region — the transition from a local product to a company ready for global markets. Participants gain access to an international network of mentors, experts, investors, and partners from Google for Startups. This helps founders strengthen their business models, prepare for investment, and build strategies for entering new markets. Over the four years of the program, 1,470 applications were submitted, only 73 startups were selected and completed the accelerator. Alumni have collectively raised more than $48 million in investment, with a combined valuation exceeding $500 million. These results show that regional teams are capable of building globally competitive products,” said Astana Hub Managing Director Tanat Uskembayev.
During the session, founders shared how participation in Silkway Accelerator impacted their companies—from revising product strategy and preparing for investment to forming international partnerships and entering new markets.
One such example is Prometei, a B2B platform that helps entrepreneurs and companies launch and scale sales across multiple marketplaces through a single interface.
“Silkway Accelerator helped us take a structured approach to regional scaling: better understand the specifics of new markets, strengthen our business model, and prepare for international partnerships. This was critical for us because Prometei operates at the intersection of e-commerce, logistics, and global supply chains, where strong scaling strategy is essential for rapid growth. As a result, we entered a direct partnership with Alibaba 1688, which gave our users access to hundreds of millions of products and significantly lowered the barrier to global trade. We are now expanding into Uzbekistan and considering further growth across Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and the Middle East,” said Prometei CEO Daulet Batyrbek.
The accelerator runs for 12 weeks and is designed for teams with a ready product and validated demand. Participants receive access to Almaty Hub infrastructure, including co-working spaces and support for international teams, as well as up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, Google Workspace tools, and mentorship from global experts. The program concludes with a Demo Day attended by investors, business angels, and partners. The most promising startups may continue working with Astana Hub Ventures and raise investment for international expansion.
As a reminder, GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026 takes place in Almaty on May 4–5, 2026. The event is held within the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence and brings together government bodies, tech companies, startups, and investors from more than 60 countries. It aims to strengthen Central Asia and the Caucasus as emerging technology hubs. The exhibition is organized by inD, the global operator of GITEX, with support from the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in partnership with Astana Hub and the Almaty city administration.
About Almaty Hub:
Almaty Hub is a branch of Astana Hub in Almaty. It supports the development of the IT community, startup growth, and the formation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. It provides access to Astana Hub programs, knowledge, and ecosystem resources.
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