Nace.AI, one of the most prominent artificial intelligence startups with roots in Kazakhstan and now operating in Silicon Valley, has attracted a new high-profile investor, DKNews.kz reports.
Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo!, Alibaba investor, and one of Silicon Valley’s pioneering technology entrepreneurs, has invested in the company, marking another major milestone in Nace.AI’s international growth.
For the startup, the investment is not only a significant funding achievement but also further recognition that AI technologies developed by teams from Kazakhstan can compete on the global stage.
First Meeting Led to an Immediate Investment Decision
Founder and CEO Dos Bakytzhan said Yang decided to invest after their very first meeting.
Photo source: from Dos Bakytzhan's archive
«Jerry Yang is the co-founder of Yahoo!, one of the pioneers of the global internet industry, an investor and board member of Alibaba, a billionaire, and one of Silicon Valley’s most influential entrepreneurs. We are proud that our startup and products are attracting the attention of such industry giants, confirming that we are moving in the right direction.»
According to Bakytzhan, the meeting lasted around two hours and focused largely on technology rather than financial metrics.
«Our meeting lasted about two hours. For roughly an hour I explained the company, our strategy, and why we believe in our technological approach. Jerry turned out to be a very technical person. He asked in-depth questions about our product, competitors, and the market, trying to fully understand how our technology works and why we are focusing on small, specialized AI models instead of massive universal systems.»
Focus on Enterprise AI
Bakytzhan said Yang was particularly interested in the company's technological approach and its focus on enterprise customers.
Nace.AI develops AI solutions that help businesses analyze large volumes of corporate data and improve operational decision-making in real time.
«We explained that we are building a B2B company and creating tools that help organizations analyze their business processes and data in real time. He liked the technology, he liked the team, and we quickly found common ground.»
The company specializes in AI products designed for the corporate sector rather than consumer applications.
More Investment Was Offered Than Needed
According to the CEO, Yang expressed his willingness to invest almost immediately after the discussion.
«In fact, it was a hard commitment during our very first meeting. He directly asked how much capital we needed in the current funding round. Moreover, he was prepared to invest significantly more than we initially planned to raise. However, we accepted only the amount the company actually needed at this stage because we wanted to leave room for other investors and avoid unnecessary equity dilution.»
The decision reflects the startup’s strategy of raising capital selectively while maintaining flexibility for future growth.
Building AI for Business
Nace.AI develops enterprise AI products that automate complex business processes.
Its solutions help organizations improve:
- Audit processes
- Financial analysis
- Compliance operations
- Processing of large corporate data sets
- Real-time business decision-making
By reducing manual work and accelerating data analysis, the platform is designed to improve operational efficiency for enterprise clients.
The company currently employs around 30 people and is actively expanding its team.
Nace.AI operates offices in both Silicon Valley and Astana.
Strong Momentum Continues
The latest investment follows another major milestone for the company.
Earlier, Nace.AI announced that it had raised $21.5 million from international investors in a funding round completed in less than 36 hours.
The startup's client portfolio already includes several major international companies, including firms from the Big Four professional services networks.
Why This Matters
Jerry Yang’s investment represents more than financial backing for a single startup.
As one of Silicon Valley’s most respected technology entrepreneurs and early internet pioneers, his support sends a strong signal to the global venture capital community about the potential of AI companies emerging from Kazakhstan.
The deal also highlights the growing international competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s technology ecosystem and demonstrates that locally founded startups are increasingly attracting world-class investors, building global products, and serving international enterprise clients.
