Kazakh IT startups recognized as the best in Central Asia

The award ceremony for the Central Asian Tech Awards 2023 took place in Bishkek, where the winners were announced. In three out of seven categories, the winners were from Kazakhstan.

They received the main prize — a trip to Silicon Valley, USA.

A total of 114 applications were submitted for participation in the Central Asian Tech Awards, which was held as part of the Central Asian Technology Forum, including 39 from Kazakhstan.

The startup Networks Energy won the "Breakthrough of the Year in Central Asia" award for developing an IT platform for processing railway transportation and automating business processes in the railway industry.

"It is a great honor for us to receive recognition from all IT technology parks in the Central Asian region. Receiving this award underscores the importance of continuing our efforts at Networks Energy to transform Kazakhstan into a regional transport and digital hub. Our team will continue to adhere to its mission of developing and implementing advanced technologies in the logistics industry of the region," said Bakhyt Erzhanov, CEO of Networks Energy.

In the category "IT Educator of the Year in Central Asia," the winner was recognized as the Kazakh developer, inventor, and teacher Rustem Ermekov. In 2021, he was included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list and also won a grant from the Sabi Foundation for his development QBIT — a Kazakh robotics kit.

"I have been in the education field for about 6 years. I work with enthusiasm — I believe in the idea that all the world's problems can be solved if we provide the right education and develop critical thinking. Currently, we are working on developing various educational solutions. One of our main products is QBit, a kit for teaching children STEM engineering, robotics, and programming. Also, our mini digital laboratory micro:lab will soon be released," shared Rustem Ermekov.

Red_mad_robot central asia, which also represented Kazakhstan, won in the category "Fastest Growing IT Company — Export — Outsourcing of ICT Services Abroad." The company develops digital platforms for financial and non-financial services for universal banks with business lines targeting small and medium-sized businesses.

The jury of the Central Asian Tech Awards 2023 included leaders from the High Technologies Park of Kyrgyzstan, Astana Hub, IT Park Uzbekistan, and other experts from the Central Asian IT industry.

The Central Asian Technology Forum brought together more than 50 IT companies and 600 participants from Central Asia, Japan, Germany, South Korea, and the USA.

The forum was organized by "KARPOU" and the High Technologies Park of Kyrgyzstan, Astana Hub of Kazakhstan, and IT Park of Uzbekistan in partnership with the US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Office of the President of Kyrgyzstan.