Astana Hub, in collaboration with IT Park Uzbekistan, announces the opening of applications for the fifth cohort of the Hero Training program, conducted in partnership with Draper University. This year, 11 startups from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan will participate in the program.

Applications are accepted until March 7, 2026.

Hero Training is a five-week intensive training program for entrepreneurs held in Silicon Valley. Participants gain access to markets in 25–30 countries, attend practical lessons, strategic consultations, AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with investors, receive mentorship from leading entrepreneurs, and engage in networking events. A core component of the program is the "Survival Week with Navy SEALs," a practice designed to develop resilience, leadership, and team efficiency.

"Over the years, Hero Training has become one of the key international acceleration programs for technological startups in Central Eurasia. It has attracted over 260 applications, with 41 projects successfully completing offline acceleration at the Draper University campus in Silicon Valley. Graduates have already raised over $3 million in investments, signed partnership agreements, and established sales in international markets. The expanding geography includes Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkey, and entry into the US market, including Miami. This confirms the practical value of the program for startups aimed at global growth," noted Tanat Uskembayev, Managing Director of Astana Hub.

Technological startups at the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) stage or higher can apply for the Hero Training program. The program enables projects to accelerate their growth and prepare for the US market under the guidance of Draper Ecosystem experts.

Detailed information about the program and past cohorts is available on the astanahub.com platform.

Draper Ecosystem is a pioneering approach to uniting talent and investors. The founder of Draper University is Tim Draper, one of the most prominent venture capitalists in the USA.