How Astana Hub Was Built
From an empty exhibition pavilion to Kazakhstan’s first unicorn — an insider’s story, told honestly and without embellishment
The Story Behind the Headlines
Astana Hub is an international technopark for IT startups in Kazakhstan, opened in 2018 on the grounds of the former EXPO exhibition in Astana. Within a few years it became the core of the country’s technology ecosystem, and in 2025 Kazakhstan got its first unicorn — a startup valued at over 1 billion US dollars.
This book is about how it all really happened. Not the polished version from the slide decks, but the story behind the scenes: an idea no one believed in, building something from nothing, the triumph and the shadow behind it, the founder’s departure and the years of stagnation, the comeback — and, finally, the summit. And the people without whom none of it would have happened, but whose names usually dissolve into «the team did it».
The author was part of the team almost from the very beginning. So this is a view not from reports and news, but from inside the offices and meeting rooms.
A few lines from the book
There is a building in Astana that you have almost certainly walked or driven past. On the former grounds of EXPO-2017 — made of glass, split in two, as if someone had based it on the architecture of the human brain. Here is the right hemisphere, here is the left.
Within a few years, this building sparked the creation of more technology companies than had appeared across all of Kazakhstan in the previous decade. I know this not from reports and not from the news. I was inside almost from the very start.
This book is about how an entire ecosystem grew out of a single line in a presidential address and an empty exhibition pavilion. About how a country, where the entire venture market was the size of one small deal in the Valley, decided it would have a unicorn company of its own. It sounded like pure madness…
A journey seven years in the making
An idea no one believed in
Where the audacious goal came from — to grow a billion-dollar company in a country whose entire venture market was the size of a single deal in the Valley.
Construction and the state
How the idea acquired walls, a budget and an address — and how a living idea coexisted with the machinery of government.
The launch and the shadow
A triumphant opening — and the flip side no one talks about from the stage.
The comeback
The years of stagnation, a second wind and a bold new goal.
Going global
How a local story became an international one and took its place on the world map.
The unicorn
The promise made in 2025, fulfilled right on time — and an honest conversation about whose achievement it really was.
Marat Shaken
Over 15 years in Kazakhstan’s IT industry. Expert and commentator. Founding team member of Astana Hub, where he led the internal newsroom, PR and marketing. Founder of the Tech People community.
This book is his attempt to honestly assemble a story he witnessed and took part in from the very beginning.
Write your name into the chronicle
A book about the ecosystem — published by the ecosystem itself
- A copy of the book signed by the author
- Your name mentioned in the book among the supporters
- A copy of the book signed by the author
- Your company mentioned in the book among the supporters
- 5 signed copies of the book for your team
General partner of the book’s release
- A dedicated spread inside the book featuring your company’s story
- Your company’s logo on the inside back cover
The essentials, in brief
What is Astana Hub?
Astana Hub is an international technopark for IT startups in Kazakhstan, launched in 2018. It brings together startups, investors and IT companies, offering them residency, tax incentives and infrastructure. Over a few years a national technology ecosystem formed around it, and in 2025 it produced Kazakhstan’s first unicorn. This book tells the story of Astana Hub from the inside — from an empty EXPO pavilion to the international stage
When will the book be released?
In October 2026
Until what date can I support it?
Supporters are accepted until July 31, 2026 — after that, names won’t make it into the layout and printing
What do I get for supporting?
If you support as an individual — depending on the amount: for 20,000 ₸, a copy of the book signed by the author; for 100,000 ₸, a signed copy plus your name in the book, in the «Supporters» section
If as a company — a mention in the book among the supporters and 5 signed copies for your team
Can a company provide support?
Yes, and fully officially. We issue an invoice to the legal entity and provide the full set of closing documents. We operate as a sole proprietorship under the general tax regime, so this support can be processed through accounting and recorded as a deductible expense
How do I pay and arrange everything?
Pay the amount of your tier via Kaspi and send the receipt and the name for the book on Telegram. Or click «Support» or «Become a partner», write the tier name — and we’ll send the details and arrange everything
What will the print run be?
The first edition will have a print run of 1,000 copies. Depending on demand, we expect a further run of 3,000–4,000 copies
What language is the book in?
In Russian. Kazakh and English versions are expected later in the year
Will the book definitely come out?
The manuscript is already written and is going through final editing and preparation for print. The book will be handed to the printing house in August 2026. Release to stores and marketplaces is planned for October 2026. Any further questions — message directly on Telegram, the author is available
This book is being released thanks to those who built the ecosystem
Support its release — and become part of the story of digital Kazakhstan
SupportNot ready to support just yet?
Follow the author’s Instagram or the Tech People Telegram channel — we share how the work on the book is going: choosing the cover, excerpts from interviews with the heroes, the behind-the-scenes of editing. And be the first to know when it goes on sale!
Your «Reader» tier — 20,000 ₸
Pay via Kaspi
Open the payment with the button below and enter your tier amount — 20,000 ₸.
Message on Telegram
Send the author the payment receipt — we'll confirm your pre-order and arrange how to get your signed copy to you.
Your «Chronicle reader» tier — 100,000 ₸
Pay via Kaspi
Open the payment with the button below and enter your tier amount — 100,000 ₸.
Message on Telegram
Send the author the payment receipt and the name exactly as it should be printed in the book among the supporters.
Your «Partner company» tier — 500,000 ₸
Message on Telegram
Send the author the tier name and your company details — in return we'll issue an invoice to your legal entity.
Payment and documents
After payment we provide the full set of closing documents. As a sole proprietorship under the general tax regime — the support can be processed through accounting and recorded as a deductible expense.