Kazakhstani deep-tech startup Mirai Tech took second place at the WT Innovation World Cup USA 2026, an international innovation competition focused on wearable technologies, held in Silicon Valley.
The core idea behind the technology is to bring biomechanical analysis out of the laboratory and directly into the environments where athletes train — on the field or sports court. This makes it possible to track changes in movement under real-world conditions, manage training loads, and identify potential injury risk factors at an earlier stage.
At the competition, Mirai Tech was represented by Tamirlan Seidakhmetov, a graduate of Nazarbayev University’s first graduating class and Stanford University, and AI & Data Advisor/Head at Mirai Tech. He previously held Lead Data roles at Meta and Apple. For us, it is especially important that the company is represented on the international stage by highly skilled professionals with Kazakhstani roots and global technology experience.
“For us, this is not only an award, but also confirmation that scientific developments from Kazakhstan can evolve into global technology products. The NU ecosystem, as well as the support of our investors, partners, mentors, and the international community, plays an important role in Mirai Tech’s development. NU Impact Foundation helps us move from university research to commercialization and international markets, while the support of investors and experts enables us to develop the product faster, scale the technology, and build international connections. For a deep-tech startup, it is especially important to have a strong ecosystem of people and organizations around you who believe in the technology and help it grow,” said Professor Gulnur Kalimuldina, founder of Mirai Tech and a professor at Nazarbayev University.
Mirai Tech grew out of university research and is now developing as an international sports-tech company. The team is working to make biomechanical data accessible not only in laboratory settings, but also as part of the day-to-day work of professional sports teams and athletes.
2026 has been a particularly eventful year for Mirai Tech in terms of international recognition. The startup received recognition through the WIPO Global Awards, continued developing its project through the StartX ecosystem in Silicon Valley, won Startup World Cup Kazakhstan 2026, and earned the opportunity to represent Kazakhstan at the global final of the competition in San Francisco.
The second-place finish at WT Innovation World Cup USA 2026 now adds another achievement to this list.
For Mirai Tech, this is another step from a Kazakhstani research project toward becoming a global sports-tech platform — and another example of how technologies developed in Kazakhstan can enter international markets and compete on a global stage.
