Secrets of a Successful Pitch: Winners of the Astana Hub Battle Share How to Prepare for Your Presentation

About Us

Madat Karimov. I am the founder of the Qtap startup. We build a website builder with built-in profile monetization and our own analytics. Through our portal, clients can register deals quickly and conveniently.

Maxat Bektiibaev. I am the CEO and co-founder of Beksar. We automate small and medium-sized businesses. We also finance our clients by providing loans or investments for working capital. We operate in 2,400 stores.

Aydana Aytuarova. I am the founder of the Porte startup. This is a digital concierge, a mini-ecosystem for hotels. Through our platform, you can order food, supplies, and unlock room doors.

Aitemir Mudinov. Mystory creates books using artificial intelligence, where you and your loved ones are the main characters.

Yusup Tumgoev. MyMind is my fourth startup and the third in the MedTech sector. Our platform trains both doctors and laypeople to identify signs of dementia—a disease that is difficult to detect in its early stages.

Expectations from Astana Hub Battle

Madat Karimov. We did not set out to win the Astana Hub Battle until the very final. That is when a competitive interest emerged. A year ago, we participated in Digital Bridge, and I liked how, within a short period, a large hall listened attentively to one speaker. It is a great platform to tell people about your product. Our goal was to present our product and promote it.

Maxat Bektiibaev. This is our second Astana Hub Battle. Last year, we reached the semifinals. I liked that we spoke second, without waiting in a long queue. We did not have high expectations. However, winning brought us a lot of emotions.

Aydana Aytuarova. For Porte, this was our first Digital Bridge. We wanted to introduce our product and show that we exist. After the battle, we received many clients and investment offers. The PR effect was positive.

Aitemir Mudinov. We are going through the Silkway Accelerator by Astana Hub and Google for Startups. We submitted our application during the traction session. Our startup is only five months old, so we did not expect to advance further. Thanks to our victory, client loyalty increased among those who had already ordered our books, and we gained new customers.

Yusup Tumgoev. For us, this was our second Digital Bridge. With experience, we realized that our startup’s idea is complex to explain. Few people know about dementia, so it is difficult to convey the importance of the project to the jury and the audience. During the semifinal pitch, we focused on results and how we have already helped people. Our team went to the battle with the goal of taking a spot. Before our presentation, we analyzed other speakers’ performances and noticed an interesting trend: when answering jury questions, everyone tends to start by defending themselves and making excuses. My advice is: when asked a question, answer it first, and then explain.

Preparing for the Pitch

Madat Karimov. I do not prepare for presentations. I always enjoy talking about the product, whether I am speaking to one person or to several thousand. I strive to convey the uniqueness of the startup. During the MOST accelerator, we attended sessions on effective pitching—they advised us to prepare notes in advance. However, we still do not engage in extensive preparation. For us, pitching is part of everyday life, as it is necessary when working in a startup.

Maxat Bektiibaev. Recently, we went through the MOST accelerator, where we reached the final and also pitched. Our tracker, Andrey, prepared us well. During the preparation process, I watched a recording of last year’s performance at the Astana Hub Battle. I realized that then I was reading the text from my phone without looking up. With experience from various pitches, I have improved my presentation skills. Another important factor is confidence in our product and company, which we possess.

Aydana Aytuarova. Preparation is important. We pitch frequently, but I love my product too much and can, without noticing, dive into details that do not fit within the time limits.

For both the first and second presentations, we prepared and edited the presentation, selecting only the most important points. We are currently going through the 500Global accelerator—their team was also present at Digital Bridge. Twenty minutes before the presentation, we rehearsed with them and adjusted our pitch.

Writing out my text and editing it helps me—checking if there is anything that needs to be replaced or revised.

Aitemir Mudinov. I prepared for the presentation, but I forgot all the words on stage. There, the teleprompter saved me; I used the presentation to recall what to say. My format is storytelling, which made it easier to speak. My goal was: to make people want to buy our product. The thought was: “Even if we do not win, we will make sales.” And that is exactly what happened: we gained many clients.

Yusup Tumgoev. For each speaker, the pitch feels different. Some are afraid of the stage, others fear the jury. It is important to find a format that suits each individual. During preparation, it is important to do the following:

— understand what information you will provide, presenting only the most important points

— know the key metrics of your project.

To improve your pitching skills, I recommend watching past Digital Bridge presentations. Analyze which presentations advanced and which did not.