Kazakhstan’s Startup — The patient is more dead than alive. The overview of participants after TechConnect Astana.

November 12th, 2015 was a momentous event for TechConnect Astana for Kazakhstan, which was attended by several hundred of startupers.

I did not participate in this event, but I was fortunate to speak with a member of TechConnect, Zhumagaliyev Dias, who created an online platform that allows young people from around the world to apply without problems to foreign universities.

Fedor: Hello, Dias! You were a member, at Kazakhstan’s innovative event, TechConnect Astana. Tell us about your experience.

Dias: Hello Fedor! I have many impressions, and most of them are positive. It was nice to look at, «burning eyes» of young people who promote their ideas. This is not just an event, it is Event with a capital letter. For young startups it is an opportunity not only to realize the idea, but also to realize the dreams — to become a millionaire!

F: You mentioned «to become a millionaire», somehow it does not sound. Is the main thing is not self-realization?

D: Fedor, each startup want to monetize its project. That’s the main thing. If people do not buy your product or service, so they are not interested for anyone. Though it sounds selfish, but the measure of your success is money. When you have money, you are free to choose, and then you can do projects for yourself.

F: You’re right, Kazakhstan organized the event in the first place in order to attract investments. Tell me, what projects, in your opinion, not the opinion of the jury, investors were interested in?

D: I can not say about the investors, but a lot of projects have been interesting to me, and some simply shocking. Ukrainian Project Control of a dream — is a really amazing project. As I was told by its creators, I can order any dream at night. If this is true, then I would call it a revolutionary!

F: Yes, but such a project would deprive fortunetellers work, and dream-books sales will fall!

D: (laughs) Yes, it might happen so.

F: Dias tell us about your project, whether it was interested for investors?

D: My project is called «United knowledge.» I created the online platformwww.uk-zona.com, it is not only gives you the opportunity to enroll in any given college or university of the world, but also saves money of entrants, and with the right approach, generally makes it possible to study in a foreign university for free. All that is required from a young man to join, indicate their academic information and that is it! Every day, these data is browsed by representatives of universities, and if someone is interested, they are directly linked to the applicant.

F: So, there is no need to go to the agencies offering services for admission to foreign universities?

D: Of course. The cost of their services starts from US $ 1000, which they take from applicants. And they take a commission from the University for each student they send. Though they hide it. Plus, often, they say one thing and on — arrival at the place, is quite another. And to return money, it is not only difficult, but impossible. Not easier to directly engage in dialogue with the university?

F: So you provide these services for free?

D: Yes, for applicants, it is absolutely free. If you have any questions, our consultants also provide free advice.

F: And how many people are registered on the site?

D: Since the project there is a little more than six months, at the site is registered more than 700 young people. And 124 people have been enrolled already. Most of them went to Malaysia and Turkey, 2 persons entered universities to United Arab Emirates and 1 in the US and 2 in Canada.

F: What is then your benefit?

D: For connection to the site I get paid by foreign universities, a very small amount, but it’s a fraction of the money they have to spend on advertising, the organization of traveling exhibitions. All their customers on my website now! Since I was in Canada and Malaysia, It was not hard to conclude agreements with universities in these countries, they adviced me to universities and colleges in the US, Europe and Turkey. Now I have concluded agreements with more than 300 leading educational institutions worldwide.

F: Can you tell us, from what countries are registered who wish to study abroad?

D: As the project is Kazakhstani, Kazakhstan’s having 70%. There are citizens of Moldova, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. And what is interesting, I appealed to our Kazakh universities, offering to take advantage of this opportunity to attract foreign students, I mean from the former Soviet Union, but they somehow show cool attitude to the proposal, saying that they have a marketing department.

F: You know, in the current crisis, the connection to the site allows you to really save your advertising budget! Apparently Kazakhstan universities have a lot of money and a huge flow of students.

D: If! They cry, they have little fee-paying students, but at the same time contain the state workers who are engaged in their involvement. Until now, I can not understand what they are doing? Well, you will agree that the quality of Kazakhstan education leaves much to be desired. I have something to compare, I was educated in Canada.

F: Are Investors interested in your startup?

D: Yes, I have received interesting offers from investors from the US, England, and India. Now, I am preparing a business plan.

F: What advice you have received from investors?

D: Do you know how it is unpleasant to say, but I clearly stated, foreign investor will not invest in start-ups from the CIS countries. Therefore, one of the proposals of investors: open an office in Europe, the United States or Canada, India, and Thailand. In short, in any foreign country, but not here.

F: It’s sad, but what other impressions of the event?

D: I liked its openness of investors. Despite the fact that they «turn their» millions, they are easy and agreeable, and not like our Ministers. It was not very pleasant to look at them. All such pompous and inflated. Well, there’s nothing to say, this is the mentality of Kazakh civil servants.

And yes! I was lucky and I’m wildly at the invitation of foreign investors, fell to a private party organized for them by the Kazakh side.

The first time I saw a military orchestra of the Defence Ministry. Perhaps he is so called. Guests asked me: «is this really military or civilian musicians, dressed in military uniforms.» Honestly, I did not know what to say.

F: Well, the main question. Will there still be investors to invest in Kazakh startups?

D: Fedor, they will try to persuade. They invest so reluctantly, dime, they can offer some preferences. They understand that we have a wild corruption, enormous pressure on the business of the state, here they can easily take business or steal the idea. Our copyrights are not protected. The courts are on the side of the state, or those who pay more or who have ties more. Not for me to tell you this, as you should all know.

Investors — they want to make money. For beautiful eyes, they will not invest. They still do not believe in our country. «Not for personal gain, but merely in the will that sent his wife on me» — this is not a ride.

F: Thank you for the thorough interview with Dias. I wish you success!

D: Thank you, good luck and success in Kazakhstan.