KASE supported female startup founders at Ring the Bell ceremony
Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) and the non-profit organization TECHNOWOMEN held the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality & Her Venture 2026 event.
Panel sessions addressed the development of venture ecosystem, startup access to capital and opportunities for high-growth companies to enter public markets. The participants discussed developing a comprehensive growth trajectory for startups - from conception of an idea and raising of venture capital to scaling of the business and entering the capital markets.
Chairman of the KASE's Management Board Adil Mukhamejanov noted that the Exchange plays an important role not only as financial market infrastructure but also as a platform for dialogue and support for innovative entrepreneurship.
"For high-growth companies, it is important to have access to all sources of capital - from venture funding to stock market opportunities, and we see how women's participation in these processes strengthens the economy's competitiveness", emphasized the head of KASE.
During the second discussion "Women's Startups: The Journey from Idea to Scaling", the participants shared key mistakes and lessons learned in the early years of business development. The speakers noted that one of the key factors for a startup's successful development is the founder's confidence in their idea and willingness to make decisions under uncertainty.
"Many female founders underestimate their projects and postpone scaling due to doubts. But a startup grows through action - testing of ideas, working with a team and finding the opportunities for growth", said Alina Abdrakhmanova, serial entrepreneur and member of the Management Board of TECHNOWOMEN NPO.
The program culminated with the symbolic ringing of the gong, opening the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality trading as part of the UN's Sustainable Stock Exchanges global initiative, of which KASE has been a participant since 2015.
The event concluded with a pitching session for the finalists of Her Venture project: the participants presented their startups to the expert panel. Adil Mukhamejanov thanked the organizers, congratulated the participants and wished all the winners success in implementing of their projects.