For many talented students across Central Asia, admission to the world’s leading universities remains an elusive goal, not due to a lack of ability, but because of complex application procedures, and expensive consulting services. A new AI platform, yoonee.ai, is working to change that. At the heart of the initiative is a woman bridging continents and reconnecting with her cultural roots.
One of the platform’s co-founders is ethic Kazakh Gulmira Sage, who was adopted and raised in the United States. Despite growing up in America, she says her connection to Kazakhstan never waned. Last year, her journey back to Kazakhstan to meet her biological mother captured national attention. Now, she is once again in the spotlight, this time for launching a project that promises to reshape access to global education.
“Coming back to my homeland after many years felt like reclaiming a missing part of myself,” she says. That personal journey now underpins the mission behind yoonee.ai: a platform designed to help students from Central Asia navigate international higher education systems with greater ease and confidence.
From Aviation to AI
Before venturing into the tech sector, Gulmira worked as an analyst at Delta Air Lines, one of the world’s largest carriers. There, she worked with complex datasets, financial models, and global logistics, skills she says sharpened her systems thinking.
“My background is actually in aviation. I worked as an analyst at one of the biggest airlines in the world, dealing with complex data, financials, and the global logistics that keep an airline moving,” she explains. “Aviation connects people physically, and IT does the same thing electronically. Technology connects them digitally.”
That experience fueled her belief that digital tools, and AI in particular, could help eliminate long-standing educational barriers. Together with her co-founders, Feruza and Aidana, she began building yoonee.ai, drawing on their shared academic and professional experiences in the U.S., France, and Kazakhstan.
How the Platform Works
Yoonee.ai allows students to upload academic documents directly into the system. Using AI, the platform translates them with academic accuracy and converts grades into internationally recognized formats. For instance, GPA scores from five-point or 100-point systems are standardized to U.S. benchmarks, allowing students to assess how competitive their profiles are for specific universities.
The platform also offers a “match score” that estimates a student’s compatibility with selected institutions. According to the founders, many qualified applicants are rejected not for academic shortcomings but due to formatting errors or unmet technical requirements.
“Geography Should Not Decide a Student’s Future”
The team sees its mission as the democratization of global education. Their goal is to eliminate what they call the “geographic tax” – the added financial and informational burden on students from developing regions. This is especially relevant in rural parts of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, where access to U.S.-trained admissions consultants is limited and often unaffordable.
To improve accessibility, the platform will be available in Kazakh, Russian, and Uzbek, allowing students to explore global university options in their native languages, directly from their smartphones.
Cultural Roots, Business Values
Despite her American upbringing, Gulmira says Kazakh cultural values have shaped her approach to leadership.
“In the U.S., business is often purely transactional,” she says. “In Kazakhstan, it’s about relationships and genuine care. I want our project to reflect that, to truly support students, not just process their applications.” She adds that nomadic traits such as resilience, adaptability, and openness continue to guide her both personally and professionally.
Beyond Technology
Looking forward, the yoonee.ai team envisions more than just a tech solution. One long-term goal is to establish a two-way academic exchange model, a kind of “mobile classroom” that not only sends Central Asian students abroad but also brings Western students to Kazakhstan and the wider region.
Such exchanges, the founders believe, could highlight the intellectual and cultural wealth of the modern Silk Road. For Gulmira, the project is a form of cultural diplomacy, using education as a bridge between societies.
“Technology alone isn’t enough,” she says. “But when it’s guided by purpose and cultural understanding, it can change lives.”
