The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has announced the launch of Creative Pitch Day 2026, a pilot initiative designed to connect Kazakhstan’s creative businesses with investors and expand access to private capital, DKNews.kz reports.
The project aims to transform creative ideas into investment-ready assets by creating a structured platform where companies can present commercially viable projects to venture funds, business angels and institutional investors.
Applications open for creative businesses
The competition is open to companies working in:
- Film production
- Music
- Game development
- Digital content creation
To qualify, applicants must hold verified intellectual property rights registered through Qazpatent, the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, the Eurasian Patent Organization or other international registration mechanisms. Participants are also required to prepare a professional project pitch deck.
Applications will be accepted until August 10, 2026.
How projects will be selected
After an initial screening by the AIFC team, shortlisted projects will be evaluated by an investor working group using several key criteria, including:
- Originality of the idea
- Creative value
- Audience potential
- Market relevance
- Project maturity
- Intellectual property ownership
- Financing rationale
- Commercial and investment readiness
The investor working group includes Ernar Kurmashev (Tolqyn Film Fund), Yernur Rysmagambetov (Alem Entertainment), Aiganim Suleyeva (Creative Capital Fund), David Tuganov (Creata Ventures Studio), and Nailya Shodorova (JAS Ventures Capital).
The strongest projects will advance to the final live pitching session during the Astana Finance Days 2026 international forum on September 9–10, where they will present their ideas to venture capital funds, business angels and institutional investors.
AIFC highlights the role of intellectual property
Zhanbolat Kakishev, Chief Product Officer of the AIFC Authority, emphasized the growing importance of the creative economy for investors.
«Today, the creative economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors, attracting investors with diverse investment profiles. As an international financial centre, our role is to provide a robust legal framework that enables investment in creative ventures. Through the AIFC’s intellectual property collateral registration mechanism, investments in creative projects have become more secure, transparent, and legally enforceable. We are building an ecosystem where innovative ideas can connect with capital, expertise, and long-term growth opportunities.»
Creative economy shows strong growth potential
Creative industries currently contribute around 1 percent of Kazakhstan’s GDP, while the global average is close to 5 percent, underscoring the sector's room for expansion.
Government projections expect employment in the industry to reach 180,000 people by 2029.
According to a 2024 joint report by the AIFC and Dasco Group:
- More than 40,000 creative companies operate in Kazakhstan
- The sector provides over 140,000 jobs
- Around 67 percent of businesses are based in Astana and Almaty
International model for creative investment
The AIFC says its support framework is built on international best practices, focusing on transparent transactions, investor protection and predictable intellectual property management.
One example is Tolqyn Film Fund, the first private film fund operating under the AIFC jurisdiction and managed by Dasco Capital Ltd. Using a portfolio investment model, the fund has already financed several Kazakh film projects, including Dastur 2, 7 Qaraqshy, Baiqa! Alayaq! and Shymyr.
Why it matters
Creative industries are increasingly viewed as an important source of economic diversification and innovation. By bringing together creators, investors and legal infrastructure within one platform, Creative Pitch Day 2026 could help more Kazakh creative businesses secure financing, commercialize intellectual property and compete in international markets.
