From bootstrapped startups to the region’s first female-focused venture fund, Kazakhstan’s women are breaking barriers, transforming industries, and redefining what it means to lead in tech.
Today, women are stepping into the tech sector from all kinds of backgrounds. Their journeys show just how rapidly Central Asia is evolving and highlight the women leading this new wave of change.
One of the pioneers driving this shift is Assem Bolatzhan, who moved from the financial sector to IT in 2015 through the Digital Kazakhstan programme.
“We launched the Women in Tech chapter in Kazakhstan because we need to be part of a global community. After all, Women in Tech globally has 65 chapters around the world,” says Bolatzhan.
According to Rinata Ilyubayeva, Women in Tech Astana lead, nearly 60% of women-led startups in Kazakhstan focus on social impact.
“Most female startups are in EdTech, HealthTech, and solutions for children with autism, elderly people, and pregnant women. This highlights societal challenges that technology can address,” she explains.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Kazakhstan is estimated at around 25–30%, mirroring the global average. The next challenge is increasing the number of female startup founders and venture capital investors in the region.
The first female-focused VC in Central Asia
Kazakhstan’s female leaders are now building the foundations for a new investment culture. This year, they united to create Central Asia’s first female-focused venture capital initiative.
“We are building a platform for negotiations, fundraising and business development to support women, because it’s not always easy,” says Ilyubayeva, CEO of Al-Farabi Innovation Hub Dubai and Women in Tech Astana lead.
“You come home after work and have children to care for, cooking, cleaning and family expectations. In our traditional society, we constantly negotiate with relatives and the husband’s family. Then the next morning, you return to work as a C-level decision-maker. It’s mentally exhausting.”
Juggling motherhood and career
Women in Tech Kazakhstan also focuses on empowering women entering tech from diverse fields, such as finance, education, diplomacy, or traditional small businesses.
One example is Aigerim Nurgaliyeva, a serial entrepreneur who transitioned from running a conventional business to building startups. Her first challenge was overcoming the belief that she could not succeed in tech without a technical background.
“The first obstacle was in my mind. I believed that if you don’t have a tech background, there’s no place for you here. Many girls still think this way,” she says.
“Ecosystems like Astana Hub and Women in Tech help change that mindset. You can build a startup without coding.”
Today, Aigerim is bootstrapping her second startup while balancing motherhood and multiple businesses. Her story shows that ambition, resourcefulness, and supportive networks can overcome barriers, proving that tech entrepreneurship is accessible even without formal technical education.
Kazakhstan’s female tech leaders are not only transforming their country—they are positioning Central Asia as a rising hub for innovation and female-driven entrepreneurship. By combining innovation with social impact, they are creating a model for the next generation of women in tech across the region.
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