The results of the third cohort of the Hero Training program, conducted in partnership with Draper University, have been announced at Astana Hub. Over five weeks of acceleration, startups have enhanced their products, established partnerships with companies from the UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries, and secured deals in the US market, according to the business information center Kapital.kz, citing the press service of the technopark.
This year, 49 startups from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan applied for the program. After an initial screening and online diagnostics, the expert committee selected the top 10 projects. Among the finalists are Kazakhstani companies Outpeer, Beksar, BULT, BeyimTech, AMAN, Oqylyq, Ecodata, Pwron.ai, Q-send, , as well as Onbir.app from Kyrgyzstan.
“Hero Training continues to prove its effectiveness by providing startups with unique opportunities for scaling. During previous cohorts of the program, which included 37 finalists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, startups collectively attracted $2.7 million in investments. We are proud to offer a platform that opens new horizons for startups and helps them reach a global level,” noted Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub.
The finalists of the third cohort also demonstrated impressive results under the mentorship of leading experts from Silicon Valley. They underwent a series of workshops and intensive challenges, including Survival Week, where they learned survival skills and decision-making in extreme conditions.
It is noteworthy that for the first time in Draper University’s history, a participant from Kazakhstan – the company BeyimTech – took first place in the Hero Training program, earning the title of “Best Team Draper University 2024” among 70 participants from 26 countries.
“This recognition of our startup as an innovative solution in the field of digital education opens new horizons for our further development. Now our nameplate will adorn the honor wall of Draper University,” emphasized Nursultan Dyusebaev, CEO of BeyimTech. “We have also established a strategic partnership with Arizona State University to implement our platform beyim.ai and have become contenders for the prestigious GSV Cup 50 award in the USA,” – he added.
The AMAN project, the first innovative service in Kazakhstan providing round-the-clock digital and physical security, tested several hypotheses and gained insights for entering the US market. “Our team established connections with founders of startups from 26 countries, which opened new opportunities for international scaling. The program helped us develop leadership qualities and teamwork skills,” highlighted Shyngys Yerbolat, co-founder and CPO of AMAN.
The Q-Send startup, a platform for blockchain-based money transfers, established partnerships with companies from the US and Kyrgyzstan, which will aid in developing their business in these markets. Meanwhile, the Pwron.ai project, specializing in artificial intelligence for automating business processes and data analysis, conducted customer development on the target market in the US and secured their first deal in Kazakhstan with an annual contract for maximum subscription. Additionally, the startup agreed to sell in the Miami market, which opened prospects for expansion into other markets.
The Hero Training program, founded by venture capitalist Tim Draper, is focused on tech startups with ready products at the MVP stage and beyond. The program provides participants with unique opportunities for rapid scaling and market entry in the US under the guidance of experienced tech entrepreneurs and experts from the Draper Ecosystem, as well as attracting the attention of investors and partners from around the world.
More information about the exclusive acceleration program Hero Training and the participants of the first and second cohorts can be found on the Astana Hub platform.
About Draper Ecosystem
Draper Ecosystem is a unique approach to uniting talents, experts, and investors by providing advanced facilitators and an unprecedented network of mentors, industry experts, corporate partners, and investors to support the innovative ecosystem. The founder of Draper University is Tim Draper, the largest venture investor in the USA.