Startup Financing Reaches a New Level: Astana Hub and zypl Holding LTD Sign Memorandum
On the sidelines of GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026, a memorandum of mutual cooperation was signed between zypl Holding LTD and the international innovation cluster Astana Hub.
At the core of the agreement is a shared commitment to artificial intelligence as the engine transforming the very logic of startup evaluation and financing. The parties are combining their expertise to build an infrastructure where AI makes decisions faster, more accurately, and more objectively than any traditional approach. The central idea of the partnership is the creation of a modern digital infrastructure that simplifies startups' access to financing and improves the quality of assessing their potential.
The key area of cooperation will be the development of a next-generation scoring model for Astana Hub member startups. Unlike traditional approaches, it will take into account not only financial metrics but also non-financial factors - from product maturity and team competencies to market dynamics and the level of intellectual property protection. The model is powered by the zypl AI engine, which identifies what traditional methods simply cannot read: behavioural patterns, market signals, and team dynamics. This is precisely what makes the assessment accurate, explainable, and protected from subjectivity.
"Signing the memorandum with zypl Holding LTD is a step forward in developing the tools available to support startups at Astana Hub and in Kazakhstan's innovation ecosystem. Astana Hub is building infrastructure for startup growth and working to provide access to financing that matches the economics of tech businesses. The use of AI scoring and alternative data enables more accurate project evaluation and reduces risk for partners," noted Astana Hub Managing Director Nazgul Baytemirova.
Another important element of the partnership will be the development of alternative data collection tools — specifically, the creation of API integrations, connectors, and other digital solutions that will allow a broader range of information about small and medium-sized businesses to be aggregated. This data is intended to be provided to financial institutions as an additional source for credit decision-making, in strict compliance with personal data protection legislation.
"Artificial intelligence is the core of what we are building. Our models do not merely process data - they learn to see potential where traditional tools see only risk. Together with Astana Hub, we have the opportunity to apply our models precisely where they are genuinely needed - at the point where decisions about startup financing are made," said Iskander Shodiev, zypl Regional Director for Central Asia and the CIS.
The practical outcome of the cooperation will be the launch of a digital platform for submitting financing applications. Startups will be able not only to send applications to banks and other financial partners, but also to undergo preliminary automated assessment, exchange documents, and receive feedback within a single digital environment.
The signed memorandum sets a strategic direction for further cooperation and signals to the market the formation of a new model of interaction between fintech, innovation infrastructure, and financial institutions.
The implementation of the announced initiatives is expected not only to improve startups' access to financing but also to create a more transparent and technology-driven environment for assessing entrepreneurial risk — an important step in the development of Kazakhstan's digital economy.
It is worth noting that the event takes place in the context of the Year of Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan, underscoring the priority given to AI development at the state level. The consistent advancement of infrastructure, the regulatory framework, and human capital is building a long-term foundation for the adoption of technology across key sectors of the economy.