Turan-Astana University announces the "TAU Startup Battle" competition, aimed at supporting innovative ideas, developing entrepreneurial thinking, and building a startup ecosystem

Objective of the Competition

To identify and support promising startup projects, stimulate innovative activity, and develop technological and social entrepreneurship.

Registration and Application Submission

To participate, you must submit the following materials to the email address k.shebeko@tau-edu.kz by November 2, 2026, inclusive:

1. Project team information (Full names of participants, status – student / master's student / PhD student / entrepreneur, university or organization, contact details);
2. Project presentation;
3. Brief description of the project.

Who can participate:

• Students, master's students, and PhD students of Turan-Astana University;
• Students from other universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international universities;
• Young entrepreneurs, startup founders, and authors of business ideas;
• Project teams that include students, alumni, and specialists from various fields.

Faculty members and industry experts may participate as mentors or members of the expert committee.

Project Format

The competition accepts projects at the stage of idea, prototype, or early implementation, which possess an innovative component and social, economic, or technological significance.

The project must include:

• Problem and solution description;
• Target audience;
• Innovativeness of the approach;
• Implementation or monetization model (if applicable);
• Information about the project team and role distribution
•  

Presentation Requirements:

• Presentation duration - up to 7 minutes;
• Video clip demonstration is allowed (up to 1 minute).

Project Evaluation Criteria:

• Originality of the idea - novelty and uniqueness.
• Feasibility - viability of the model and realism of the proposed solution.
• Innovativeness - the level of technological, scientific, or social innovation.
• Team - competence, experience, and role distribution.
• Social/Economic significance - potential impact on society or the market.
• Scaling potential - sustainability and development prospects of the project.

Expert Committee:

1. Samoilov Samat - Chairman of the Committee, Vice-Rector for Science and Commercialization;
2. Aimkulov Rakhat - Dean of the Higher School of Business and Digital Technologies;
3. Narbinova Mirgul - Dean of the Higher School of Law and Humanities;
4. Aitzhanova Tomiris - Director of the International Cooperation Department;
5. Alpyspayev Baurzhan - Expert (subject to agreement);
6. Shtepa Vladimir - Leading Researcher at ZHEJIANG REACH GREEN ENVIROTECH CO., LTD (PRC), Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor (subject to agreement);
7. Symbat Damir - Winner of the 2025 "TAU Startup Funding Challenge" student startup grant competition.

Awarding of Winners:

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places;
• Special nominations (at the jury's discretion).

Winners and finalists may receive:

• Certificates for participation in "TAU-InnoHub" acceleration programs;
• Mentor consultations;
• Access to the university infrastructure;
• Other prizes provided by sponsors.

The competition is conducted based on the Regulations of the "TAU Startup Battle" Student Startup Project Competition.

Contact Person:
Dr. Konstantin Shebeko, Professor
Head of the Entrepreneurship Center
Turan-Astana University
???? k.shebeko@tau-edu.kz