Submissions formally concluded on September 22, 2026.
The Karaganda Regional Administration hosted a regional entrepreneurship grant competition tailored for secondary school pupils and vocational college students under 18 years of age. Winning projects across each of the four strategic economic categories received a non-repayable grant of 1 million KZT, representing a cumulative prize endowment of 4 million KZT.
Submissions were evaluated based on their measurable socio-economic relevance to the development of the Karaganda industrial and urban ecosystem, culminating in an in-person defense before an independent expert jury panel.
Eligibility Criteria for Young Founders
The competition established precise applicant benchmarks:
• Secondary school students under 18 years of age;
• Vocational college students under 18 years of age;
• Authors of scalable commercial projects directly serving the socio-economic advancement of the Karaganda Region;
• Applicants prepared to present working prototypes and defend financial models in an in-person pitch session.
Four Strategic Competition Tracks
Grant awards were distributed across four key modernization sectors:
1. Information Technology and Digital Automation: Mobile applications, web services, micro-SaaS, and hardware automation systems;
2. Ecology and Green Technology: Waste sorting innovations, circular plastics upcycling, urban greening, and energy efficiency solutions;
3. Agribusiness and Food Processing: Modernized greenhouse cultivation, local artisanal food production, and organic crop processing;
4. Creative Industries and Services: Graphic design, multimedia production, educational craft workshops, and local consumer services.
Selection Protocol and In-Person Pitching
The selection protocol proceeded through rigorous initial dossier screening followed by an in-person defense stage. Finalists were evaluated on financial feasibility, market demand within the region, clarity of target cost structures, and practical readiness to execute within three to six months following grant disbursement.
