“Pizza Pitch”: IT-Hub of East Kazakhstan Region Held Defense of Startup Projects of KAFU Business Class
On May 5, 2025, IT-Hub of East Kazakhstan Region held defense of startup projects of students of 11th specialized business class of Kazakh-American Free University. Presentations were held in the format of “Pizza Pitch” – an informal but rich form of presentation of business ideas, where participants shared their projects over pizza and received live feedback from experts.
Welcoming speeches were made by:
• Natalia A. Nesterenko – Advisor to the President of KAFU;
• Gulmira K. Abyurova – Director of School No. 39;
• Irina V. Kochetkova – Class Teacher of the specialized business class.
Throughout the year, students worked on their startups as part of the course “Entrepreneurship and Business”. The final defense became a real celebration of creativity, teamwork and entrepreneurial spirit. Participants presented projects in the fields of IT, cybersecurity, tourism, ecology, production and services.
Winners of the defense:
• 1st place — the project “Crystal” in the field of cybersecurity (Petr Gavrilov, Niranand Khaire );
• 2nd place — Egor Ilgov with the project “Healthy Nutrition”;
• 3rd place — the tourist center “Orda” (Authors: Sabina Abyurova, Alina Musina, Madina Mukhambetova, Zurab Dadaev).
The jury paid special attention to the project “Eco-Hotel Operator”, which received high marks from the director of the creative center of KAFU Aleksandra Astafieva (Authors: Yana Starchenko, Valeria Klinovitskaya, Ablaikhan Yesil).
The schoolchildren’s projects were evaluated by members of the expert jury:
• Laura E. Akhmetzhanova — director of the travel agency «Zere Travel», head of Lewel K;
• Ilona V. Bordiyanu — PhD, Professor, Head of the business department of KAFU;
• Alexandra G. Astafieva — director of the creative center of KAFU.
Project managers — Dinara S. Mamyrbekova and Didar Muratuly — supported the students throughout the year, guiding them and helping to develop ideas.
The event took place thanks to the support of the regional OSKEMEN IT HUB, which is also headed by Didar Muratuly.
Congratulations to all participants on a successful start and bright ideas! Let this experience become a solid foundation for future entrepreneurial achievements.
