Kazakhstani HealthTech startup Rette (Defect AI) has been named Startup of the Year at the AI & Digital Bridge Awards 2026. The winners were awarded by Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov.
Rette (Defect AI) is developing an AI-powered healthcare solution that helps medical organisations analyse medical documentation, identify errors, and check records for compliance with clinical protocols and regulatory requirements.
The project has grown significantly in recent years: from developing and implementing its solution in Kazakhstan, the team has expanded into the US market and now works with US healthcare organisations, including in the field of orthopaedics. Rette has joined Mayo Clinic Platform Accelerate, is developing cooperation with the California Orthopaedic Association, and, with the support of NU STeP, has gained access to the international startup ecosystem through StartX.
The project is also connected to Nazarbayev University through its team: Rette (Defect AI) includes NU graduates and students. In 2025, the team completed ABC Incubation and went on to become one of the winners of Social Startup 2025, receiving a grant of up to KZT 10 million with the support of NU Impact Foundation to further develop the project.
Today, Rette (Defect AI) is no longer simply a promising early-stage startup. The team is scaling its solution beyond Kazakhstan, working with international partners and developing its product for one of the world’s largest healthcare markets. The Startup of the Year award is another recognition of this growth.
NU Impact Foundation congratulates the Rette (Defect AI) team on this well-deserved recognition and wishes them continued success.