A Kazakhstani has created an app where you can get free coffee for learning the Kazakh language.

Dauren Bazhilov, city — Astana, CEO Nomad Learn, Instagram

How It All Began

I am an entrepreneur and AI expert. I had long wanted to speak Kazakh fluently but was shy about my accent. The main trigger for creating Nomad Learn was a personal story: my wife, Zhannerke, a psychotherapist, faced harsh online hate due to her accent during an interview in Kazakh.

At that moment, I realized that the language barrier and fear of judgment are common issues, and I approached them not through shame, but through support and motivation. Thus, a simple mechanism was born: users learn a language online and receive real bonuses they can use offline, such as free coffee, gym discounts, or bowling discounts. I made arrangements with entrepreneur friends, assembled the first prototype in a couple of weeks, and saw that this incentive works: the barrier disappears, and interest in learning grows.

Startup Launch

It all started with an MVP that we created to quickly test the hypothesis: would gamification and a bonus system really stimulate regular language learning? Initially, we focused on developing the basic mechanics and attracting the first local partners.

The team was assembled for key tasks: developers, methodologists, and partner relations specialists, united by the common idea of making learning the native language interesting and useful “here and now.”

Target Audience

Our project is designed for everyone who wants to learn or improve their Kazakh — from beginners to those who need daily practice. However, our main focus is on the adult audience, as we want to offer bonuses that can be redeemed at real establishments.

We turn the routine of learning into an exciting game with real benefits: bonuses, discounts, and gifts from partners. For entrepreneurs, this is, in turn, an excellent channel for attracting new customers.

The project is growing dynamically, attracting new users and local partners ready to provide bonuses for learning achievements.

Currently, we are focusing on cooperation with cafes, sports gyms, and entertainment venues. Our plans also include involving city administrations to allow users to visit museums and theaters as rewards for learning.

Incubation Programs

We are actively participating in the startup development ecosystem. Recently, the Nomad Learn project received a grant of two million tenge for server infrastructure from Pro-Data.

Additionally, we successfully passed the selection for the pitching program before investors from NURIS. This confirms the project’s potential and gives us a solid technological foundation for growth.

Challenges

The main challenge for us is to find a balance between the educational value of the product and gamification, which helps retain users, as well as to build a mutually beneficial partnership network from the start.

I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs not to delay creating the perfect product. It is better to release an MVP as early as possible, test hypotheses on real users, and focus on solving their real problem. The founder’s personal motivation and clear value for the customer are the best drivers of a startup.

Achievements

One of the main achievements was creating a working learning model that combines gamification with a system of real bonuses from partners.

During its operation, the project has received wide support from users and attracted media attention to the topic of promoting the Kazakh language using modern technologies and artificial intelligence.

Another important milestone was the presentation of Nomad Learn to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where the project received a positive response. In the future, the team plans to secure support from other government bodies and large national companies to scale the initiative for the development and promotion of the Kazakh language.

Plans

By the end of the year, we plan to expand the partnership network, implement new AI mechanics for personalized learning, and scale the user base across Kazakhstan.

At the moment, our main goal is to form a partnership network in Astana, uniting 100 establishments and companies ready to provide promotions, bonuses, goods, and services for the development and promotion of the Kazakh language.

We are happy to welcome new partners and patrons and will gladly tell about them on our social media.

For everyone who wants to join the project, we have created a special section on the website at this link.