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Kazakh AI Startup Enters U.S. and Japanese Transportation Markets

Astana-based startup Call2action.ai, a resident of the Astana Hub International Technology Park, is making strides in the US market. Currently, over 40 transportation companies in the United States have expressed an interest in the startup’s product. Two companies have already become commercial clients, and three others are engaged in pilot projects. Call2action.ai has developed the world’s first SaaS solution based on Generative Artificial Intelligence for automating hiring in the transportation and logistics sectors. This innovative platform streamlines the hiring process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Following the successful validation of its project hypotheses, Call2action.ai has launched an investment round and entered negotiations with venture capital funds and business angels, some of whom are already supporting the startup and planning investments. “The American market is vastly different from the Kazakh market, but its potential for revolutionizing hiring processes is enormous,” said Ersultan Dzhusakinov, CEO and co-founder of Call2action.ai. “Participation in the Silicon Valley Residency Program, supported by Astana Hub and the Ministry of Digitalization, has allowed us to accelerate our progress in Silicon Valley. Within a few months, we’ve secured contracts with two companies, three pilot projects, and attracted interest from major Japanese corporations like Persol Group and Mitsui Group. We expect our product to reach a valuation of $1 billion in the coming years.” The startup collaborates with US innovation hubs, including the Silkroad Innovation Hub, and actively participates in international trade shows such as TechCrunch Disrupt and CESV 2024. Additionally, Call2action.ai has been selected to join Mitsui Group’s accelerator program, which begins in 2025. Call2action.ai is among 22 Central Asian startups that participated in accelerator programs in Silicon Valley under the AlchemistX and Silicon Valley Residency Program initiatives. These programs were organized by Astana Hub and Silkroad Innovation Hub, with support from the World Bank and FPIP projects. Kazakhstani startups are becoming competitive on global markets. For example: • ZebraEye project, led by Yana Ten, specializes in diagnosing ophthalmic diseases using artificial intelligence and attracted investor attention at Web Summit Qatar 2024. • ClickLog, which develops freight optimization software, has established companies in Estonia and Poland to target European markets. • Dereknet plans to expand into the Middle East and Europe, including Kuwait, Qatar, Norway, the UK, and the US.

Digitization Start-ups Silicon Valley Reforms Digitalization Eurasian

Startups From Central Eurasia Set to Conquer Silicon Valley

The following 10-15 years will see the birth of large tech companies originating from Central Eurasia, a vast region including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. This was stated at the first technology conference entitled Central Eurasia at Silicon Valley. The conference brought together the region's top 100 startups, American venture investors, large company leaders, and tech giants from Silicon Valley. According to the event organizers, Central Eurasia has enormous untapped potential. With a population of more than 100 million people and an average age of 27, about 200,000 young people in the region annually receive an education in the field of STEM (science, technology, education, mathematics). The area has everything necessary to develop the tech industry: universities, a startup ecosystem, venture funds, and its representative in Silicon Valley — Silkroad Innovation Hub, which, in the first year of its operation, attracted 80 resident startups and more than $30 million in investments. At the conference, Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, said that Kazakhstan accounts for 50% of GDP in Central Eurasia. Kazakhstan is in 10th place in the UN GLOBAL Online Services Index and 3rd place among Central and South Asian countries in the Global Innovation Index (after Iran and India). “Recently, there has been a rapid development of new technologies, AI, blockchain, and all this stimulates the market and entrepreneurs to create startups,” Madiyev said. The minister added that Kazakhstani investors are ready to invest $100,000-$200,000 in startups at an early stage. Still, finding $1 million or $2 million in investment can be challenging, even in a more mature stage. Therefore, he urged the promotion of Kazakhstani startups abroad, especially in Silicon Valley.

US Culture Social Science Silicon Valley

Uzbek Female Scientist Awarded Gold Medal at SVIIF 2024

The Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) was held in Santa Clara, California, United States, from July 26 to 28 this year. According to UzA, Parahat Matyakubova, head of the Tashkent State Technical University, an Uzbek woman scientist, participated for the first time. More than 350 inventors from over 30 countries participated in the SVIIF 2024 festival, exhibiting their inventions and innovative developments in various fields of technology, food, medicine, chemistry, and industry. The Uzbek scientist demonstrated her scientific work and achieved results based on her invention, “Capacitive moisture meter for liquid products and pool materials,” at a competition organized within the festival's framework, wherein Matyakubova was awarded the Inventor Specialist Special Prize and a gold medal in the SVIIF-2024 Finals category. The scientist received this award for her patent on a device for controlling the moisture content of grain products and solid dispersion materials. It was reported that the results of the invention were introduced to enterprises processing grain products, and a high level of economic efficiency was achieved due to the expansion of functional capabilities.

Silicon Valley IT Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan Makes Inroads into Silicon Valley

On a visit to San Francisco (USA) on April 21, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov was guest of honour at the opening of the High Technology Park (HTP) House of the Kyrgyz Republic in Silicon Valley. Speaking at the event which brought together Kyrgyz IT specialists working in international technology corporations, the prime minister, emphasized the state’s readiness to support IT initiatives and the Cabinet of Ministers’ goal to make Kyrgyzstan a centre of excellence for the development of the industry: “All of you, young people, working in international IT companies are the pride of our country. Your innovation, talent and dedication make us stronger and more competitive on the world stage. It would be great if we could attract your companies to open development centres in Kyrgyzstan. We believe in you, in your capabilities and are ready to support you at every stage of your path to success.” During meetings with IT corporations at the head offices of Apple Inc., the Nvidia Corporation, and Hewlett-Packard, the Kyrgyz delegation led by Akylbek Japarov, focused on prospects afforded by collaboration to enable the government to fulfil its plans to create an IT park in Kyrgyzstan.