"Almaty is incredibly energizing," says Aset Dosymkhanov about his lifestyle

Asset Dossymkhanov, city — Almaty, co-founder of the venture studio RockStar Bootcamp, @asset.dossymkhanov

About Me

I am the founder of the venture studio Rockstar Bootcamp and the Managing Partner for the development of the MOST Club business angel network.

I am engaged in creating new products, building IT systems, describing processes, and organizing business operations. I am particularly passionate about conducting product research and developing customer-centric products. This is my passion and hobby.

My typical workday begins with my duties as Managing Partner for the development of the business angel club. In the morning, I hold meetings with business angels, explain the club’s value proposition, attract new members, source startup deals for syndication through the club, and launch various programs and products aimed at educating and attracting investors.

In the second half of the day, I switch to my role as co-founder of the venture studio. I consult startups, launch acceleration programs, and help large corporate structures implement tracking for their IT product teams. I dedicate the remaining time to my family and loved ones.

Where and How I Learn

I acquire new knowledge and skills from various sources. Over the past seven years, I have read more than 65 books on product development, product management, marketing, sales, system and process building, process reengineering, and mindset enhancement. I strive to apply the knowledge I gain immediately in practice.

I have completed various courses and became a design thinking trainer. I also studied the Jobs-to-be-done methodology at the American agency Strategyn, which originally developed this methodology.

I actively develop my skills to stay at the forefront of modern trends. Currently, we are promoting the American startup launch methodology and collaborating with one of the co-founders of this platform and the author of the book Running Lean, Ash Maurya. We focus on transferring knowledge, skills, and competencies to startups participating in our incubation and acceleration programs.

In my search for new skills, I focus on the venture ecosystem, market changes, investment trends, and long-term niches and trends. To do this, I study analytical materials, research, and reports. Previously, I did not attach great importance to such documents, but over time my views changed, and I realized their value.

I learn every day because I constantly consult startups on their business models and product market fit. This allows me to immerse myself in various research and learn industry expertise from startups. My task is to help them structure ideas into full-fledged products.

The learning process never ends. The startup industry is such that, despite the apparent maturity of some sectors, new innovations always emerge. Over time, they become obsolete as people's needs and behaviors change. Therefore, the process of launching startups remains cyclical, resilient, and long-term.

Additionally, I attend masterclasses and trainings, but I spend most of my time organizing similar events myself. I am developing a community called Rockstar Community, where I organize online webinars on various topics on a monthly basis. Topics include “How to Validate Business Ideas in 5 Minutes” or “How to Conduct In-Depth Research.”

I recommend the “Design Thinking” course by D.standards to all IT specialists who want to create their own digital products and develop a startup. This is one of the fundamental concepts. I also advise taking training at the Design Thinking Center in Moscow, which is considered part of the Stanford d.school design thinking association.

I also appreciate the Strategyn Agency, which developed the Jobs to be Done methodology — another important concept for my work. The main thing is to learn from the original source or a certified trainer.

The third area in which I plan to develop is the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). It includes dozens of approaches to solving various innovative tasks, including engineering ones. I find inspiration for learning and growth in these resources and agencies.

Environment

My environment is strong and inspiring. I work in our studio’s office, located in the MOST IT Hub. It has an incredibly beautiful terrace with views of the mountains and the entire city. This is an excellent venue where IT startups and companies have their offices, allowing me to surround myself with a corresponding environment.

Initially, I came to the MOST IT Hub for product research and skill development. Over time, I became increasingly interested in launching acceleration programs and attracting business angels to closely collaborate with startups, investing, and properly transferring competencies from business angels to startups. I enjoy managing the process and creating a unified flow where different mechanisms synergize and coexist.

Such an environment cannot be created without the appropriate venue, which allows finding startups, IT companies, and venture investors. Additionally, large corporations such as Freedom Telecom and other key players in Kazakhstan’s IT ecosystem are located in the hub.

I communicate not only with IT professionals. Currently, I actively interact with business angels. Within the venture studio, we have a partner, Bereke Bank. Thanks to this collaboration, I can communicate with other product managers and product owners, as well as various departments involved in creating value for customers.

We also have a partner, USAID, which provides support within educational programs for startups. Thanks to such an ecosystem in Kazakhstan, we can interact with participants and create mutually beneficial cooperation.

At different stages of my career, I attended masterclasses and webinars, and later I became an event organizer at Astana Hub. In the course of this work, I helped organize almost 180 events per year with the participation of at least 3,500 people. I also contributed to organizing events at the MOST IT Hub and launching a permanent venue in the form of venture parties, which take place almost quarterly and allow meeting investors, startups, and partners.

The most important venue is the Central Eurasian Venture Forum. Last year, I was one of the key organizers of this forum, which brought together about 1,400 people. It is the largest private venture forum in Central Asia, where you can find any partner you need.

To find like-minded people, you should pay attention to educational programs, incubators, and accelerators. Statistics show that 9 out of 10 startups cease to exist within two years. Therefore, if you want to find a partner and launch a startup, it is worth going to those whose attempts were not entirely successful to combine experience for launching a new project.

Educational programs, webinars, workshops, and offline seminars held in various hubs are excellent venues for networking and building new connections, especially if you need a partner in the IT field.

Where I Spend My Free Time

Part of my career took place in Astana. This city is better known as an administrative city without many hobbies. But Almaty is incredibly “energizing.” The mountains, entertainment venues, high level of service, restaurants, and cafes make it a wonderful place to live.

Almaty is a real economic driver. If you want to launch a startup, build a career in IT, or start a business, it is likely the best city for you. Here you can relax and enjoy many hobbies.

I am a family man; for me, rest outside the city means constant trips to the mountains and other activities. Sometimes I like to stay at home, watch videos, or anime.

Recently, I found my ikigai, or “reason for living” in Japanese translation. For me, it lies in supporting entrepreneurship and startups. I have always desired harmony between the spiritual value derived from supporting startups, my professional life, and creating an acceptable and purposeful level of prosperity. Therefore, the venture studio and the business angel club have become the activities I would like to engage in for the next 30–40 years.

Where to Buy What

For me, Apple is not just a brand, but a whole philosophy combining convenience, security, and innovation.

As someone who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in IT and started as an iOS developer, I can definitely say that I have always been a fan of Apple and remain one. Therefore, in terms of gadgets, I am quite conventional. MacBook, iMac, iPhone, the entire Apple ecosystem — these are my tools of the trade.

I like the Spanish brand Desigual. It creates unique prints and designs for t-shirts and hoodies, making them an ideal choice for IT professionals. These items are not only creative and unique but also differ in high quality and reasonable price.

I am also a fan of the cartoon “Rick and Morty”; prints featuring these characters can be found at LC Waikiki.