“Pizza Pitch”: Defense of Start-Up Projects of KAFU Major-Specific Class Students

On May 23, 2023, the East Kazakhstan regional “Oskemen IT-HUB” hosted the defense of start-up projects of students of the KAFU major-specific class. The format was the “Pizza Pitch”. This format contributes to the development of entrepreneurial skills through live communication with like-minded people and experts, the exchange of experience in an informal setting.

Grade 10 students consolidated their knowledge in the disciplines “Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship and Business” and “IT-Technologies”, which they studied during the year at the Kazakh-American Free University.

Aspiring startuppers spoke to experts, accepting constructive criticism and helpful advice. Such events prepare future IT entrepreneurs to focus on their strengths and objectively assess their weaknesses. The presentations were evaluated and commented by Irina Elfimova – Head of the Department for Work with Educational Institutions, Kazzinc LLP, Ilona Bordiyanu – Head of the Department of Business, PhD, Professor of the Kazakh-American Free University and Ildar Gabdullin, CEO of the digital agency “B.I.M”.

In total, 15 young startuppers presented their projects, who solved various relevant problems: from finding apartments and opening a social pharmacy to selling ready-made pastries and opening a new coffee shop in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk. Novice businessmen are students of the KAFU major-specific class, and Natalia Nesterenko, Adviser to the Rector of the Kazakh-American Free University, made a welcoming speech on the implementation of this project, emphasizing the significance of educational projects of this kind for the professional orientation of future leaders of Kazakhstan.

The event was sponsored by Kazzinc LLP, Dodo-Pizza and LAB-optics.

Pizza Pitch is an informal platform where would-be businessmen try their hand and practice speaking in front of an audience. “Oskemen IT-HAB” offers opportunities to support even the “smallest” startups – these are Startup School programs, incubation and acceleration, whose participants receive theoretical, practical knowledge, receive free workspaces and PR support.

Department of Business