Astana Hub has announced the start of applications for the fifth cohort of Startup Garage, an incubation program designed for early-stage IT startups. The program targets projects at the MCI (idea) and MVP (early prototype) stages and helps teams turn concepts into real products with their first market traction, DKNews.kz reports.
Applications are open until February 6, 2026 via Astana Hub’s official platform.
From Idea to Market in Three Months
Startup Garage is built for teams ready to move beyond theory and test their products in real market conditions. Over the course of three months, participants:
- validate their hypotheses
- identify and analyze target audiences
- build sustainable business models
- prepare their products for first sales
According to Ashimbek Abilgazinov, Director of the Business Programs Office at Astana Hub, the program is focused on measurable results.
“We value ideas, but results matter even more. A startup should not just exist — it must generate revenue and grow. We provide tools that help teams quickly test their products. The success of CYBERPACK.AI is a great example: during incubation, the team grew tenfold and entered the Azerbaijani market. We are looking for teams ready to actively improve their products and start selling,” he said.
What Participants Will Learn
Startup Garage is highly practice-oriented. The program includes:
- weekly workshops
- lectures by IT market leaders
- one-on-one mentoring sessions with trackers
Participants will master:
- Lean Startup, HADI, and SMART methodologies
- in-depth market analysis
- the use of NoCode tools
- building sales processes with minimal costs
The program concludes with a Demo Day, where the strongest startups pitch their solutions to invited investors.
Proven Results
The effectiveness of Startup Garage is backed by strong results from 2025:
- 77 projects reached the final stage out of 302 participants
- startups generated 130.9 million tenge in sales
- attracted $300,000 in investment
- created 46 new jobs
These figures demonstrate that even early-stage startups can achieve real traction with the right support.
Who Can Apply
To join the fifth cohort of Startup Garage, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- possess a Startup Academy certificate
- be 18 years or older and have a national ID and digital signature
- have an IT component in their project
- have a project at the MCI or MVP stage
Astana Hub also highlights the role of Startup Academy, a program that provides foundational knowledge in technology entrepreneurship and guides teams step by step through building a startup using the Lean Startup methodology, drawing on best practices from leading global accelerators.
How to Apply
Full details on participation and the application process for the fifth cohort of Startup Garage are available on Astana Hub’s official platform. Applications will be accepted until February 6, 2026.
