Applications close on 31 July. Astana Hub has opened applications for the sixth cohort of Startup Garage, an intensive incubation programme for early-stage IT startups, DKNews.kz reports.
Over three months, participants will test their ideas with real users, build a working product and find their first customers. The programme is delivered entirely online, allowing teams from every region of Kazakhstan to apply.
From Hypothesis to First Customer
Startup Garage targets early-stage projects with a technology idea or minimum viable product but no sustainable business model yet.
Teams will study their target audience, analyse the market and determine whether customers are prepared to pay for their solution. The goal is not to produce an impressive presentation but to prove real demand through actual sales.
“Our goal is to help startups move from idea to first sales as quickly as possible. We create an environment where entrepreneurs can test their hypotheses in practice, work with mentors, and gain the tools needed to scale,” said Ashimbek Abilgazinov, Director of the Business Programmes Office at Astana Hub.
Participants will attend weekly workshops and lectures delivered by leading IT experts while receiving one-on-one support from startup trackers. The trackers will help teams monitor business metrics, adjust their strategies and avoid wasting months on ideas that the market does not validate.
The curriculum covers the Lean Startup, HADI and SMART methodologies. Teams will also learn how to analyse markets, use NoCode tools and build effective sales processes.
The programme will culminate in a Demo Day. The strongest teams will present their solutions to potential investors and business partners.
Startup Garage has already completed five cohorts. Astana Hub received more than 1,430 applications, with 347 startups joining the programme.
Participating teams raised approximately USD 574,300 in investment and generated more than KZT 390 million in commercial sales. The figures reflect the programme’s central principle: a startup must move beyond presentation slides, find customers and begin generating revenue.
Who Can Join Startup Garage
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and possess an Individual Identification Number (IIN) and an Electronic Digital Signature (EDS). Every project must have an IT component.
The programme accepts projects at the MCI or MVI idea stage, as well as startups that have already developed an MVP — a minimum viable product.
Detailed eligibility requirements and application procedures for the sixth Startup Garage cohort are available on the official Astana Hub platform. Spots are limited.
