STEM in Kazakhstan: Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

For 5 years now, I’ve been mentoring students in the international STEM program Samsung Solve For Tomorrow. Here’s what came of it.

Five years ago, Samsung approached me with an offer to become a mentor for a school competition focused on design thinking and product approach. Drawing on our experience in startup incubation and working with teenagers, I adapted a powerful mix of methodologies: from TRIZ and product thinking to systems approach and creative practices.

Since then, together with talented students from all corners of Kazakhstan, we have:

• Created engineering solutions for healthcare, agriculture, ecology, inclusion, and education
• Completed mentoring intensives, workshops, and accelerations
• Obtained patents and brought school startups to market
• Became an example for other countries: in the third year of the program, our experience in Kazakhstan was personally recognized by Samsung’s CEO among all participating countries.

What’s New in 2025?

On June 16 in Almaty, the first in-person mentor session of Solve For Tomorrow 2025 was held, organized by Samsung Electronics Central Eurasia. Over 100 students from across the country gathered to meet, work on ideas, and complete training.

Samsung fully covered travel and accommodation for participants. The Ayala Foundation served as organizational partner. Methodology, training, and mentorship are provided by our TransforNATION Fund.

32 projects will undergo mentoring over the summer through multiple prototype refinement stages. By September, the top 10 solutions will be determined, with the finals in Astana featuring a prize fund of 10 million tenge.

Inspiring Projects from Previous Years

• AI robot for targeted weed elimination: already attracted interest from farmers and ministries
• Tracked wheelchair with remote control
• Tongue-controlled sensor prosthetic for people with paralysis. Best AI HealthTech project of Central Asia, April 2025, Tashkent
• Smart beehive with sensors and AI for bee protection
• Air purification device removing CO₂ with up to 90% efficiency

5 years. 8,500+ students. Thousands of ideas. Real implementations.

Some projects have already signed contracts with businesses. Others received grants and investments.

And this is just the beginning.

What’s Next?

• Launched the STEM Auyl Innovation Teacher pilot with CodiPLay for rural educators
• Preparing the first school venture impact fund, so that children can receive real investments to launch projects, not just diplomas
• Seeking partners, mentors, and investors

If you want to be part of this ecosystem, write to me. Open for partnerships, mentoring, and scaling.