The hero of the March issue of the Invest Dala podcast is Adil Nurgozhin, a Kazakhstani investor with many years of experience in the field of venture capital. In a frank conversation, he shares his path, principles, and perspective on the future of the startup industry.

1. For me, there is only one way to learn – to act.

"I can't learn just by reading books. I need movement, practice, and real tasks. That's when real understanding comes."

Everything should be applicable in practice. Adil follows the experimental method: invented — made — analyzed — improved.

According to Adil Nurgozhin, books are most useful when they are read at the moment of solving a specific task or problem. Knowledge becomes really valuable if it can be immediately put into practice. The book should be relevant and aimed at mastering practical skills. 

2. The system inside is the key to sustainability

"In order to create a stable system, I deliberately expose it to crises."

It is through stress situations that resilience is formed, whether in business, government, or a person. Adil compares this to the Japanese system, where regular earthquakes have taught people to act coolly.

The most important thing is to have an internally built system. Thanks to regular training, people know how to act in a crisis.: what steps to take, what rules to follow, and what resources to use. It's not an accident— they're taught that. Generations change, and it is through such systematic training that the character of a nation and its mentality are formed.

3. Basic knowledge and skills are the foundation of confidence in an unstable world.

"Every child needs their own approach. It's like a startup portfolio — everyone has their own path, their own strengths."

Nurgozhin emphasizes the importance of not only academic knowledge, but also qualities such as discipline, critical thinking, and the ability to ask questions.

First of all, it is important to master the basic scientific disciplines:

• Mathematics remains indispensable;
• Physics, biology, chemistry are the fundamental knowledge on which the understanding of the surrounding world is based.

These sciences form the basic principles of thinking. All key changes and processes are based on this knowledge, so they are still relevant and necessary.

Language proficiency is the key to information and communication

• Kazakh language is the basis of self—identification and cultural affiliation;

• English is a tool for obtaining global information. 

Quick adaptation is a vital skill.

A person must learn to be "in the center of events", be able to retrain and navigate new information.

These are the basic settings of a modern person. Everything else is a consequence of these skills.

4. Analyzing trends, you can predict what will happen next.

“Technology tracking is not a hobby. This is a daily work function.”

If you don't keep up to date with technological changes, you can lose everything. It is necessary to constantly be in the epicenter of events, especially at such moments when a global transformation begins.

You will have to accept this and learn how to work with it. Otherwise, all the rest of the work that you will do will be in vain.

New technologies and information opportunities appear every month.  

If you don't keep track of these changes, don't understand their essence, and don't know how to put them into practice, you risk losing money.

5. When you take a big step, you need to trust your partner.

"Even in quarrels with my partner, we continued to talk. This is the real work on relationships.

Business is about people. And if you have a model and technology, that's a bonus."

Nurgozhin emphasizes the importance of the human factor and the dynamics between the founders — this is what he sees as the key to startup success.

It all starts with capital and the pursuit of knowledge. The rate of change is huge.

But if you know your basics and know how to adapt, you have a chance.

The main thing is to be where everything happens.

You can listen to the full version of the issue with Adil Nurgozhin here:

YouTube   

Audio

Invest Dala Podcast is the first podcast about the venture capital market of Kazakhstan in the Kazakh language. Here we are honestly talking about startups, investments and the future of technology business in the country.