Women-owned Enterprises - The Times Of Central Asia

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The Kyrgyz AI Startup Making U.S. Immigration Simpler

These days, public debate is dominated by the issues of immigration and AI. But until the emergence of the new startup Alma, they had existed as entirely separate discussions. Alma's co-founder Aizada Marat, raised in Kyrgyzstan, has been one of the first to ask: can AI be used to simplify immigration? Marat first came to the U.S. as a FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) student when she was 17, before graduating from Harvard Law School in 2015. It was then that her own immigration problems began. Due to visa issues, Marat had to move to London, before coming back to America three years later. “Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2018 [for family reasons] the seed of becoming a founder was planted in my head.” Marat has said on her social media. “When I moved back to the U.S., that's when the immigration nightmare began. As I would with any other service provider, I used Google to find lawyers who could help me with my immigration process. I found a firm. I hired them. I was given the wrong advice. That advice led me to almost miss out on a job offer that, thankfully, I later secured. I also couldn't travel and see my family during that time. With that frustration in mind, I realized I had to start a company to solve the problem professionals were facing.” [caption id="attachment_32658" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Image: Aizada Marat/Alma[/caption] Before Marat could become an entrepreneur, she needed to learn more about business. This is how she ended up at McKinsey, one of the leading global consulting firms. Soon after, Alma was born. Alma is a legal-tech startup, which uses AI to simplify the immigration process. The company was founded in October 2023 by Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva, a former product manager at Step. A month later the startup secured $500,000 of investments from Village Global, John Hale, and other angel investors. In March 2024 Marat and Tuleubayeva found Shuo Chen, who was previously a manager with Uber. In July 2024 Alma raised $5.1 million in combined seed and pre-seed rounds from leading venture capital funds..Last month it was selected for Google Cloud’s AI Accelerator. Alma was founded as a company offering solutions for law firms, but in 2024 it took the decision to help professionals directly, without any intermediaries. Marat, Tuleubayeva and Chen are immigrants themselves, who combined have had to apply for around 15 separate visas to allow them to work in the U.S. This month Alma reached over 300 clients, including both B2C and B2B. “I'm an immigrant who went through the immigration maze myself, so this is deeply personal", Marat tells The Times of Central Asia. "With my legal and business background, starting Alma made perfect sense. Immigrants drive the U.S. economy, and to stay competitive in the AI race, we need to help the best talent achieve their American dream." She adds: “Alma disrupts the immigration in the US and forever streamlines it for the better. Small and big companies...

Women-owned Enterprises Women entrepreneurs Business women's leadership International Legal Forum Tashkent Law Spring ACWA Power

Women’s Leadership Takes Center Stage at Tashkent Law Spring

A standout panel session on women’s leadership took place during the IV International Legal Forum “Tashkent Law Spring” on May 30 at the InterContinental Tashkent Hotel. Hosted by ACWA Power, a major investor in Uzbekistan’s energy sector with $15 billion in local projects, the session explored practical approaches to empowering women in traditionally male-dominated industries, including law, energy, and public service. A Platform for Legal Reform and Gender Dialogue Now in its fourth year, Tashkent Law Spring has become a key event for legal professionals across Central Asia. The 2025 forum drew over 200 participants, including lawyers, judges, academics, and policy experts, with a focus on strengthening Uzbekistan’s legal landscape. Among the many sessions, the ACWA Power panel on women’s leadership stood out for its cross-sector insights and actionable recommendations. Saudi Vision 2030: Progress in Workforce Gender Inclusion Hager Altwegieri, Board Secretary at ACWA Power and an expert in governance and sustainability, shared Saudi Arabia’s progress under Vision 2030. “In 2016, women’s workforce participation stood at 22.8%. Today, it is at 36%,” she said. “We surpassed our original 30% target and are now aiming for 40% by 2030.” Altwegieri emphasized the importance of setting measurable goals and ensuring institutional accountability. She cited a government-backed childcare support program as an example of how targeted policies can reduce barriers for working mothers. Mentorship and Infrastructure as Enablers Altwegieri also highlighted the value of mentorship and career readiness support for women entering the workforce. “Women often need help with CV writing and interview preparation,” she said. “Mentorship plays a crucial role in this journey.” She underscored the importance of respecting cultural traditions, quoting an Arabic proverb: “A mother is a school. If you prepare her well, you prepare a nation for prosperity.” Digital Safety: A New Front in Gender Equality Kamola Alieva, PhD in Law and a gender equality expert at Tashkent State University of Law, addressed the risks posed by digital tools in professional environments. “Digitalization is changing how we work, but it also exposes women to new forms of harassment,” she warned. Inappropriate messages, digital exclusion, and misuse of personal data are increasingly common threats, especially in male-dominated workplaces. Alieva called for legal frameworks that define digital misconduct and protect employee data with gender-sensitive safeguards. The Investment Case for Inclusion Anar Nurbayeva, Gender Advisor and Principal at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), discussed the bank’s inclusive investment strategies. “Gender and economic inclusion is one of our top three priorities,” she said, noting EBRD’s collaboration with ACWA Power and Schrodinger College to promote renewable energy careers among women. “It’s about both fair HR policies and building future-ready skills,” she added. Challenges in Intellectual Property for Women Entrepreneurs Madina Tursunova, Chair of the Association of Patent Representatives of Uzbekistan, outlined the hurdles women face in protecting intellectual property (IP). “IP enforcement is costly and complex,” she said, noting a societal bias that discourages women from innovating. Tursunova advocated for more training in business skills, arguing that support must go beyond...

Start-ups Women-owned Enterprises Technology

Kyrgyz Startup Yessa Helping Women to Reclaim Pleasure

When Begaiym Zamirbek left her job at the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), where everything was stable and predictable, she dove into the significantly riskier world of startups with her new venture, Yessa. That’s how her path of entrepreneurship began, which led her to Vietnam. Yessa supplies audio erotic entertainment for women, like companies including Quinn and Femtasy. Both boast a vast audience and have raised over $3 Million in investments. Quinn is based in the U.S., and its European counterpart, Femtasy, operates out of Berlin. Neither are available in languages other than English, French, and Deutsch, however. But Yessa is trying to fix that by making audio erotica for women available in other languages. My previous partner “did things in bed that I agreed to unconditionally. I didn't even know I had a choice,” Zamirbek told TCA. “I came out of that relationship traumatized and didn't realize, but after the breakup, any thought of sex made me feel disgusted. I accidentally came across an audio where the men were caring, tender and asked for my consent for literally everything. I thought that if such audios exist, then there must be such partners in reality. And I was not mistaken. I regretted that all such content was in English, and then I thought that Russian-speaking women also need such things.”Apart from her full-time job at IWPR, Zamirbek is a seasoned podcast host. Her podcast, Second Shift, which she has been co-hosting for five years, was the first feminist podcast in Kyrgyzstan and quickly became one of the most popular ones. That experience set her on the path toward the launch of her audio company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zamirbek spent a lot of time at home listening to erotica in English, which piqued her interest in exploring her desires and going on dates. In 2024, inspired by TikTok, where more and more women were openly discussing the intimate details of their relationships, she began implementing her startup idea. After seeking advice from a venture capital professional and completing the Y Combinator’s Startup School, Zamirbek started looking for a tech co-founder. “We met at the March 8 march for women's rights in Bishkek. Anna Karamurzina came up to say ‘hello’ because she knew of me. She had worked in IT for over twelve years, and I came to her with an offer to build a startup just when she needed a job. Since August 2024, we’ve been the co-founders of the Yessa app.” The ex-IWPR Program Manager for Central Asia began her journey in the startup ecosystem by participating in the Startup Nation hackathon as the Co-Founder of Yessa in September 2024, where she was awarded a special prize as the strongest startups chosen from over 40 teams. Zamirbek soon realized that she needed resources and expertise to scale Yessa and followed the path of one of the Kyrgyz founders of Antler, one of the leading global accelerators backing early-stage companies with offices worldwide. With the help of several...

Disability Pride Women Empowerment Women entrepreneurs Women-owned Enterprises

An Uzbek Woman Suffers Terribly, Then Starts Over

The lakes, mountains and brisk air of Uzbekistan’s Bustanlik district lie just a few dozen kilometers from the urban sprawl of Tashkent, and tourists as well as conference delegates retreat there for a break or to learn and exchange ideas. Sometimes, people attending a hotel conference barely get outside to absorb the beauty of the surrounding national parks. That’s what happened to me, a reporter for The Times of Central Asia. But then, I found some inspiration within the hotel’s bland walls. I was attending a training course on data journalism for a few days in Bustanlik. During dinner, hotel employees mentioned that Dilorom Yuldasheva, an Uzbek woman internationally acclaimed for her resolve and accomplishment after a catastrophic injury, was also staying there after appearing at an event in Tashkent. Soon after, around 50-60 people in the hotel restaurant applauded as a bouquet was handed to Yuldasheva. It seemed that the hotel administration had arranged the small celebration because most guests weren’t aware that she was there. I approached her table, introducing myself and asking if she’d be willing to talk. She smiled and agreed. Yuldasheva wore light makeup and spoke softly. At the start of our conversation, I mentioned that I already knew her from media coverage. Then I asked if she could share something she had never told anyone before. “There’s nothing left untold,” she said. “But if you’d like, I can tell you the same stories again, just for you.” ----- The BBC released a list of 100 influential and inspiring women for 2024, highlighting women who “have had to dig deep and find new levels of resilience” while facing violence and humanitarian crises in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan, as well as polarization surrounding a record number of international elections, and the growing challenges of climate change. On the list are stranded astronaut Sunita Williams, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, actress Sharon Stone, Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Raye, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, visual artist Tracey Emin, climate campaigner Adenike Oladosu and writer Cristina Rivera Garza. Also on that list is Yuldasheva, a 41-year-old seamstress and entrepreneur from Denov, in Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region. The village where she lives is mainly engaged in livestock raising, crop farming, and gardening. In 2021, while helping with the grain harvest, she lost both her legs in an accident. That day, she had been wearing a long robe to protect herself from the sun, a common style of dress among rural women, many of whom consider it shameful for them to wear trousers. As she worked near a combine harvester, the fabric got caught in the machine’s moving parts, pulling her in. She struggled frantically, and in vain, to escape. “I didn’t even have time to scream, and when I opened my eyes, I was sitting on the combine harvester, but this didn’t last long. The combine harvester blade spun and threw me several meters away,” she said. In August 2022, Yuldasheva was fitted with prosthetic legs...

Legislation Women-owned Enterprises Women's rights small and medium businesses Women Empowerment

Kyrgyzstan to Enshrine Concept of “Women’s Entrepreneurship” in Law

Kyrgyzstan's Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) has approved, in its third reading, a bill to introduce the term “women’s entrepreneurship” into the country’s Law on the Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights. The amendments, proposed by deputies Kamila Talieva, Eldar Abakirov, Daniyar Tolonov, Taalaibek Masabirov, Elvira Surabaldieva, and Nilufar Alimzhanova, aim to recognize women entrepreneurs as a distinct category within small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The initiative is expected to drive the growth of small and microbusinesses in Kyrgyzstan, following the example of international practices. Employment Disparities According to the explanatory note accompanying the bill, the employment rate for working-aged women in 2020 was 43%, compared to 70.9% for men. In urban areas, women’s employment stood at 46.8%, while in rural areas, it dropped to 40.6%. Additionally, women comprise 69% of the economically inactive population, with 97% of them engaged in household work. A Path to Economic Empowerment The bill’s authors emphasize that legislative recognition of women’s entrepreneurship will expand access to state support for women-led businesses. This could enhance women’s participation in the business sector, improve their economic standing, and contribute to the overall wellbeing of families and society. The proposed measures aim to address gender barriers, encourage women’s economic activity, and create favorable conditions for their full participation in the development of SMEs. Lawmakers believe such changes will not only bolster economic stability but also strengthen social cohesion. A Rare Legislative Step Kyrgyzstan’s effort to enshrine women’s entrepreneurship in law is rather rare in the global context. While other countries have some framework to support entrepreneurship among women, provisions are often more vague. For example: – In Uzbekistan, the Law On Guarantees of Freedom of Entrepreneurial Activity provides broad protections but does not specifically address women’s entrepreneurship. – In Russia there is no legal definition of women’s entrepreneurship, though various programs support women in business. – In the United States the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 offers significant support to women entrepreneurs but does not explicitly define the term. By taking this legislative step, Kyrgyzstan positions itself as a leader in fostering gender-inclusive economic policies, potentially serving as a model for other nations.

Social Women Empowerment Women entrepreneurs Society Women-owned Enterprises

BBC Women of the Year List Includes Two Nominees From Central Asia

The BBC has unveiled its annual list of the world’s most inspiring women. The introduction to the list says that the “BBC 100 Women Project highlights women who have shown remarkable determination to drive change in a year marked by global upheaval.” Alongside figures such as Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, actress Sharon Stone, Olympians Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Ray, artist Tracey Emin, climate activist Adenike Oladosu, and writer Cristina Rivera Garza, the list of nominees includes two women from Central Asia. They are: Dilorom Yuldasheva (Uzbekistan) [caption id="attachment_26251" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @BBC| Dilorom Yuldosheva, Uzbekistan[/caption] A seamstress and entrepreneur, two years ago Dilorom Yuldasheva lost both legs in an accident. Undeterred, she pursued her dream of empowering young women in Uzbekistan to earn livelihoods and develop new skills. Yuldasheva established a tailoring business after studying entrepreneurship and resource management. In a short time, she trained over 40 students, offering free classes as her business grew. She secured contracts to produce clothing for workers and schoolchildren, creating income opportunities for herself and dozens of other women. Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva (Kyrgyzstan) [caption id="attachment_26252" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @BBC| Zhanylsynzat Turganbaeva, Kyrgyzstan[/caption] Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva is devoted to preserving and restoring Kyrgyz cultural heritage. She runs an ethnology museum in Bishkek, showcasing unique national artifacts. Her charitable efforts focus on safeguarding Kyrgyz literature, including the epic Manas. This UNESCO-recognized work spans approximately 500,000 lines—20 times the length of Homer’s Odyssey—and recounts the story of a hero who unites 40 Kyrgyz tribes. Turganbayeva creates resources and opportunities for “manaschi,” the traditional performers of the epic. These women exemplify courage and perseverance, inspiring others to bring positive change to their communities.