Participation in the program became possible thanks to the Platinum Agreement between StartX and Astana Business Campus, which is part of the NU Impact Foundation ecosystem.
For the global venture capital market, acceptance into StartX serves as a strong institutional signal of quality. While StartX does not invest directly, it is considered one of the most rigorous filters in the world, significantly reducing early-stage investment risks through deep evaluation of teams and technologies. Since its inception, StartX alumni have included 3 decacorns and more than 20 unicorns, with a combined valuation of participating companies exceeding $120 billion.
About the startups
Defect AI is developing an AI-powered platform for automated verification of medical records, reducing errors and operational costs in clinics — one of the most capital-intensive segments of healthtech. The solution is designed for global scalability, including the U.S. market. This year, Defect AI became the winner of the Social Startup program and received a grant of up to 10 million KZT from the NU Impact Foundation.
Brain Patch operates in the consumer neurotech segment, developing a commercial wellness device for stress management and recovery. The product combines central nervous system stimulation with audio tracks, targeting the vagus nerve and guiding users into a state of calm. This helps reduce stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline) and stimulates the production of dopamine and serotonin, increasing productivity and energy levels.
TrustMe is an innovative platform designed to increase trust in the digital environment. It enables legally binding agreements to be executed within seconds using SMS, messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, eGov Mobile), and biometric verification. Documents are encrypted and stored on the blockchain, eliminating the possibility of tampering.
The unique partnership between StartX and Astana Business Campus
Under the traditional StartX model, participation is limited to Stanford University alumni. However, through the Platinum Agreement between StartX and Astana Business Campus, part of the NU Impact Foundation ecosystem, Kazakhstani startups gain unique access to elite acceleration, international venture funds, corporate partners, angel investors, and Stanford’s global alumni network — one of the strongest innovation ecosystems in the world.
To date, 12 Kazakhstani startups have been admitted to StartX through this partnership.
Previously, within the same initiative, Parqour, Aidentis, and TrustExam.ai successfully passed the selection process from more than 240 applications.
As the regional partner of StartX, the Astana Business Campus team provided mentoring, analytical, and organizational support, helping startups meet the standards of one of the most competitive accelerators globally.
