The export of IT solutions and tech products from Kazakhstan is growing thanks to a support program for entering foreign markets.

Scalerator (from the English words "scale" - scale and "accelerator" - accelerator, a program for accelerated development) is an IT business scaling program implemented with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, which helps IT companies from Kazakhstan enter new markets and sign contracts in other countries.

Over the course of 8 weeks, IT companies, together with experts, conducted market research, studied competitors, and prepared a marketing strategy for entering foreign markets. Participants received professional assistance in finding business partners and making initial sales in new markets from top experts.

“This year, we transitioned for the first time to a program of real support for the export of IT companies. The President has set a goal to reach $500 million in IT services exports by 2025. This is a significant but entirely achievable challenge. We confirmed this again during the 8 weeks of the Scalerator program. For example, one of the companies that completed the acceleration is in the stage of negotiations and signing contracts, with a total value of $1 million. Another company, thanks to our mentors, conducted 15 pitches in English, and its product attracted interest from three countries: Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Ukraine,” emphasized Magzhan Madiev, CEO of Astana Hub.

The program's geography covered three regions: the near abroad (CIS and Baltic states), Southeast Asia, as well as North America and Europe. A total of 234 applications were received for participation in the program, and 94 companies reached the final stage of acceleration. Among them are both well-known Kazakh brands such as Aviata, Damumed, Parqour, Singularity Lab, Dream Light, Aspex, and very young IT companies like VOCA, Akhter Studio, Connected Home Ltd, and others.

“The name of the accelerator reflects its essence: strong and promising Kazakh companies gathered at the program. They showed us that nothing is impossible — in 8 weeks, you can achieve your boldest goals. The main thing is not to postpone anything for later! And believe in yourself. These two months, the attention of the entire world was focused on Kazakhstan and its technological entrepreneurs,” emphasized Anna Sholina, co-organizer of the acceleration program and co-founder of SOLYANKA agency.

Each company was assigned an individual tracker and mentor who monitored weekly results of participants. In total, more than 50 mentors, more than 40 experts, and more than 15 trackers were involved in the program, who collectively spent over 500 hours working: workshops, individual and group consultations, joint reporting meetings - board meetings, traction meetings, mastermind sessions.

To implement the program, top operators promoting IT exports were attracted: SOLYANKA agency and Yellow Rockets. The first company has been launching global educational and acceleration programs for several years, as well as large international events. A bright example is the Emerge conference. The second develops the startup community in the CIS and around the world, also specializing in organizing acceleration programs for startups, cooperating with leading Russian and international venture funds, development institutions, business angel communities, and corporations.

“It was very interesting to work with IT entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan. In terms of the maturity of solutions and the readiness of teams to enter foreign markets, the participants of the accelerator are at the level of, and in some aspects surpass, their Russian colleagues,” noted Leonid Larshin, lead tracker for the North America and Europe direction.

The first stream of Scalerator was quite successful. Companies are actively signing contracts and negotiating with partners in the markets of Canada, the USA, Cyprus, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Belarus. Thus, participants of the “Near Abroad” direction have signed contracts in the markets of Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, and today negotiations are underway with more than 50 new partners. The total amount of contracts and agreements signed by startups and those in the negotiation stage reached $875 thousand. Participants of the “North America and Europe” direction can boast of contracts in the markets of the USA, Canada, and the UK. The first B2C deals have already been concluded, and the amount of signed contracts and agreements exceeded $100 thousand. Participants of the “Southeast Asia” direction signed contracts and agreements worth $75 thousand. In addition, participating companies attracted $323 thousand in investments.