Startup Umit wins at Red Bull Basement in Kazakhstan

In Almaty, at the MOST IT Hub, the national final of the Red Bull Basement competition took place, aimed at supporting promising student startups.

10 teams presented their ideas to leaders of Kazakhstani business and leading experts in the startup field. The selection process took place in a tense and inspiring atmosphere, where participants not only received valuable feedback but also found support and motivation for further development of their projects.

Since its launch in 2015, the competition has become a launching pad for young entrepreneurs, bringing them together around projects aimed at improving the world through innovation. Red Bull Basement supports initiatives in GreenTech and SocialTech, striving to unlock the potential of students and inspire them to create solutions for environmental and social challenges. Since 2018, the competition has gained international scale, covering more than 45 countries.

As a result of the final pitch, the jury noted the Umit startup, developed by high school students Kanat Tajikhanov and Sultan Jumakadyrov from Taraz. Their project is a device that allows people with disabilities to control technology with a single tongue movement. The idea arose from the boys' personal observations of the difficulties faced by their elderly relatives.

The most challenging aspect of the project for the boys was working on the microchip. The work was meticulous and required filigree precision when handling small components. Another difficulty for the boys was the challenge of finding people with disabilities to conduct interviews and test the idea, as most of them are at home.