Kazakhstan has chosen the winner of Red Bull Basement 2026 at Digital Qazaqstan

As part of the Digital Qazaqstan 2026 forum in Kazakhstan, the national final of the international AI startup incubator Red Bull Basement took place. Students and young entrepreneurs participated in the project, presenting technological solutions using artificial intelligence.

Participants from more than 40 countries around the world are competing for a grant and the opportunity to present their projects at the international final in Silicon Valley. The program provides not only experience but also real opportunities for launching a startup: the main prize is $100,000, and it also includes working with international mentors, investors, and technology partners such as Microsoft and AMD.

The national selection in Kazakhstan took place in several stages: first, participants submitted applications describing their ideas, then prepared video pitches. Finalists presented their projects on stage as part of the Digital Qazaqstan forum, where they were evaluated by experts.

The best teams received the opportunity to refine their solutions and present them to leading experts and investors in the country.

Tangat Oskembayev, Managing Director of Astana Hub

Participants of Red Bull Basement Kazakhstan 2026 presented their projects to an expert jury. The jury included Asem Bolatjan, Chairperson of the Public Council of the Ministry of Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, CEO of Women in Tech Kazakhstan; Tangat Oskembayev, Managing Director of Astana Hub; Nikolai Tyun, Chief Program Officer of Red Team Accelerator; and Evgeny Frolov, Founder of Red Team Accelerator.

The projects presented during the national selection covered a wide range of areas: from medicine and rehabilitation technologies to solutions in urban modeling and logistics based on artificial intelligence. Among them were an AI-based platform for diagnosing and managing headaches, a wearable exoskeleton for restoring hand function, solutions for transforming urban spaces, optimizing traffic flows, and analyzing medical images. Voice assistants, platforms for automated design of engineering networks, and systems for monitoring animal health were also presented. All projects demonstrated a high level of technology and potential for scaling.

Following the pitch sessions, an award ceremony for the winners of the national final of Red Bull Basement 2026 was held. The most innovative and socially significant projects were recognized separately. The winner of the national stage was the founder of the COLO.AI project, Artur Zhaksygaliev.

Red Bull Basement is not just a startup incubator, but a full-fledged launch platform for young teams aiming to create world-class AI solutions.

Source: gov.kz