The regional stage of the Startup World Cup will take place at Nazarbayev University.

On August 29, the Kazakhstani regional stage of the Startup World Cup — one of the largest international technology startup competitions — will take place at Nazarbayev University.

The regional stage is organized by the Sustainable Innovation and Technology Fund (SITF) with the support of NU Impact Foundation and NU Science & Technology Park, which are part of the Nazarbayev University innovation ecosystem.

The Startup World Cup is hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a venture capital firm from Silicon Valley. The global competition brings together startups from more than 60 countries. The winner of the Kazakhstani stage will have the opportunity to represent the country at the international finals in San Francisco and compete for the grand prize — $1 million in direct investments.

Participation in the regional selection is open to technology startups at the MVP stage and beyond. During the evaluation of projects, special attention will be paid to the technological component, scalability of the business model, potential for entering international markets, and team competencies.

There are no industry restrictions for participants. Projects in the fields of artificial intelligence, FinTech, HealthTech, climate technologies, digital services, and other technological areas can apply.

SITF will support teams during the preparation for the regional stage, including work on project presentations and preparation for pitching to experts and investors.

Holding the Startup World Cup at NU will be an important event for Kazakhstan's startup ecosystem and will open new opportunities for domestic technology companies to attract international investments, establish business connections, and enter the global market.

When: August 29, 2026
Where: Nazarbayev University, Astana

Information about participation conditions and registration is available on the SITF website. https://sitf.group/ru