Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted the award ceremony for the Social Startup 2026: Early Stage grant program, organized by the NU Impact Foundation. The initiative supports social tech projects designed to improve people’s quality of life through sustainable business models.
The program brought together students, young entrepreneurs, researchers, and startup teams. This year, 83 applications were submitted. The main evaluation criteria were social impact and scalability potential. Following a rigorous selection process and intensive incubation at NU STeP, 15 finalist teams pitched their projects for grant funding.
Following the jury’s assessment, four projects received grants:
- mendiSKIN An AI-powered mobile app for assessing melanoma risk using skin photos (including hard-to-reach areas like the scalp). The project aims to make early skin cancer detection widely accessible.
- Alina A smart voice assistant for the elderly. The device provides medication reminders, engages in conversation, and features fall detection technology that automatically alerts emergency services or relatives.
- QamCore AI A digital mental health support platform for school and university students. The system allows teenagers to anonymously seek help by scanning a QR code, while providing specialists with analytics for early psychological risk detection.
- QazEcoRec Eco-friendly paving slabs made from industrial waste-derived geopolymer concrete. This technology reduces the carbon footprint by 40–60% compared to traditional cement, contributing to Kazakhstan’s carbon neutrality goals.
“The NU Impact Foundation is far more than just a fund. It is a pathway to creating real social impact in Kazakhstan and fostering businesses that change lives for the better,” noted Björn Birgirsson, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at NU. “We see tremendous potential in our students. We have repeatedly seen them arrive at the university with an idea and, with the foundation’s support, develop it into a successful company through grants, hands-on training, and mentorship. For me, this foundation is one of the key instruments for our university to drive the country’s development.”
“We are thrilled to win and deeply grateful to the NU Impact Foundation for this opportunity,” shared Anel Amantayeva, founder of the mendiSKIN project. “For us, the program was not just a competition, but a collaborative environment where we could refine our idea, gain top-tier expertise, and turn our vision into reality. Our mission is simple: to make early skin cancer detection accessible to everyone, from major metropolises to remote villages.”
The award ceremony concluded with an open panel discussion featuring experts from Kazakhstan’s tech and investment ecosystems. Participants discussed practical strategies for scaling social ventures, securing funding, developing leadership skills, and taking domestic startups to international markets.
