Entrepreneurship Day at KAFU – Start Now!

On November 12, 2025, the Kazakh-American Free University hosted Startup Day, organized by the James Evenson Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the international scientific congress “Humanizing Education in the Digital World: Professional and Ethical Guidelines for International Partnership.”

The event brought together students, faculty, and successful entrepreneurs from the East Kazakhstan region, providing a platform for inspiration, sharing experiences, and generating new business ideas.

The program included a panel discussion, “How We Started – How You Can Start,” an interactive Q&A session, and a unique team game, “Launch a Startup in 50 Minutes!” where students, together with experienced mentors, transformed their ideas into real projects.

Well-known representatives of the region’s business community served as speakers and mentors:

– Yelena Abilova-Berezinskaya, leader of businesswomen in the East Kazakhstan region and representative of the “Atameken” Chamber of Entrepreneurs;

– Elvira Allahverdiyeva – founder of the “Leaders Club”, coach, and career guidance specialist;

– Anna Aberle – director of “Emil” LLC and founder of the “Molochny Express” brand;

– Sergey Klyapitsky – owner of the “PROdvizhenie” advertising agency, which has been successfully operating for over 11 years;

– Bauyrzhan Tulebayev – founder of the popular street food brand “APPETIT”.

The mentors shared their personal stories of growth, discussed the challenges of the entrepreneurial journey, and emphasized the importance of initiative, flexibility, and the ability to take responsibility for one’s decisions.

The practical portion of the event was a highlight, with students working in teams to develop their own business projects and present them to experts at a pitch session. Many ideas addressed pressing city issues, from the environment to the service sector, demonstrating that young people are ready not only to dream but also to act.

At the end, several participants presented their completed business plans and received personalized recommendations from the invited entrepreneurs.

KAFU’s “Entrepreneurship Day” was a shining example of how the university creates a space for the development of proactive, creative young people ready to take on real challenges. After all, it is from such encounters that the future leaders, innovators, and creators of new ideas in Kazakhstan are born.

Let this day be the starting point of a long journey—the journey of an entrepreneur, a leader, and an innovator.