Kazakhstan expands initiative to support women entrepreneurs

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan has opened applications for the fourth wave of She’s Next, a global initiative to support women entrepreneurs through grants, mentoring, and business training.

According to independent outlet DkNews.kz, nearly 30,000 women across the country have participated in the program since its launch in 2021. The initiative targets women at all stages of business — from early planning to growth — and prioritizes applicants from underserved regions and mono-towns.

This year, the initiative has expanded to include a new category focused on technology ventures, alongside the existing start-up and existing business tracks. Seven winners will be awarded cash grants ranging from 1 million to 5 million Kazakhstani tenge ($2,000 to $10,000). The winner of the IT category will also receive a visit to Visa’s Innovation Center in Dubai.

Organizers say this year’s focus is on women in regions and mono-towns — small towns dependent on a single industry — who are often excluded from mainstream economic support programs.

“Supporting women entrepreneurs is not only about financial resources,” said Halyk Bank Chair Umut Shayakhmetova. “It’s about giving them knowledge, mentorship, and the confidence to lead change in their communities.”

The initiative is implemented in Kazakhstan by global payments company Visa, in partnership with Halyk Bank and ASMAR, the country’s leading association for women entrepreneurs. Together, they aim to provide financial resources, knowledge, and networks to help women build sustainable businesses and contribute to local economies.

“She’s Next has become one of the few functioning social elevators for women in rural areas,” said ASMAR Chair Lazzat Ramazanova. “When a woman from a small town starts her own business and creates jobs, she becomes a role model and catalyst for broader social change.”

The fourth wave will follow a five-stage process: registration, submission of business plans and pitches, selection of 30 finalists, participation in the She’s Next Camp, and final project presentations. Seven winners will be selected across three categories: start-ups, existing businesses, and IT ventures.