A unique opportunity to visit the two top startup ecosystems in Central Asia.
Are you interested in innovation, entrepreneurship or startups? Do you love to travel and have new experiences? Do you enjoy knowledge exchange and networking?
We are leading an 11 day Innovation Lab tour to Central Asia in October this year.
The lab will start in Astana, Kazakhstan where you will have the opportunity to network with global C-suite executives whilst judging the largest impact entrepreneurship competition in the world, Enactus World Cup. You will then travel to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Bishkek Kyrgyzstan visiting incubators, innovation labs, accelerators and start-up hubs, and meeting local innovators and entrepreneurs. You will enjoy unique, immersive cultural, historical, and nature-based experiences.
High-level itinerary.
We have prepared a high-level itinerary to indicate roughly where we will be during our time in Asia.
Delegates are expected to arrive in Astana, Kazakhstan by 2 Oct, for the Enactus 2024 World Cup Oct 3rd – 4th.
| Saturday 5th Oct Morning: Fly* Astana to Almaty (*flights purchased independently by yourselves). Afternoon: Sightseeing & City Tour visiting local attractions. Evening: Dinner meeting at Panoramic Kok Tobe Hill with local entrepreneurs & startup managers. Overnight in Almaty |
| Sunday 6th Oct Early Morning: Drive to Ile-Alatau Mountains (46min, 22km). At the beginning of October usually first Snows Fall at a height of 2000 m asl, which are around the elevations of both Shymbulak & Big Almaty Lake. Depending on possibilities considering local weather conditions, Choose the half-day hiking option: Option (A): Moderate level of hiking for 4-5 hours in Shymbulak w/ Overnight at Shymbulak Ski Resort. -OR- Option (B): Moderate level of hiking for 4-5 hours by Big Almaty Lake w/ Overnight in Almaty. |
| Monday 7th Oct Late Morning: Drive from Shymbulak to Almaty (1h, 28km). – or – morning of site seeing in Almaty Afternoon: Connect with start-ups & innovation hubs. Evening: Dinner with local entrepreneurs. Overnight in Almaty. |
| Tuesday 8th Oct Almaty, KZ to Bishkek, KG Morning: Transfer to Bishkek, snack en route at a café. Afternoon: Lunch at a local restaurant. Explore downtown Bishkek with a City Tour ending at Square Ala Too. Evening: Dinner with local entrepreneurs in IT, Tourism, Agriculture & Textile businesses. Overnight in Bishkek. |
| Wednesday 9th Oct Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic Connect with startups and innovationhubs, visiting on sight and real time at their workplaces. Lunch & dinner with local entrepreneurs. Overnight in Bishkek. |
| Thursday 10th Oct Ysyk Kol, Kyrgyz Republic Morning: Depart to Ysyk Kol Lake. Early Afternoon: Visit yurt makers village, where families do traditional craftsmanship. Build your yurt together with locals followed by lunch. Late Afternoon: Visit local entrepreneurs who organized geoparks & nature reserves for saving biodiversity &snow leopard population. Dinner & overnight in guest house. |
| Friday 11th Oct Ysyk Kol, Kyrgyz Republic Morning: Ride to nearest glacier views with horses. Hiking/trekking option available for non-riding folks. Picnic Lunch in wilderness. Late afternoon: return to Bishkek Evening: Farewell Dinner |
Startups, innovation and social entrepreneurship.
Leveraging local expertise and contacts, we are curating authentic experiences with startups, social enterprises and innovation hubs at each destination that will provide delegates insights on local challenges and innovative solutions, with plenty of time for knowledge sharing and profound cultural interchange.
As we confirm with our local partners, we will provide more details on which organisations will form part of this program.
Culture, Heritage and Natural WOnders.
To provide context to the Startup, Innovation and Entrepreneurship visits we will engage with, we have included cultural, historical and natural heritage experiences in the itinerary. This will give all participants a memorable and well contextualised journey.
Meet the team.
Selena Griffith
Selena has worked in innovation, startup, entrepreneurship and impact for 30 years. She has curated this Central Asian innovation Ecosystem experience based on her experiential learning expertise.
Through her network as CEO of ENACTUS Australia and visiting professor at the University of Central Asia and her passion for eco and cultural travel she has combined business, cultural and natural learning opportunities.
Leo Gama
Born and raised in Brazil, Leo left his home country as a young adult driven by curiosity, a sense of adventure, and the need to grow and experience different cultures.
With years of experience with startups and large corporates, he remains curious and passionate, pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo and driving innovation with the organisations he works with.
If this sounds like an amazing opportunity to explore Central Asia and learn about the innovation ecosystem in the region, sign-up now for AUD 4450 per person. This price includes :
● Enactus World Cup
● Meeting arrangements with entrepreneurs & start-ups as per program
● Sightseeing in Almaty and Bishkek as per program
● Outdoor activities near Almaty & Ysyk Kol
● Horse rental & pack horses during horse riding trek
● Accommodation in 3* hotels & guest house stays.
● Meals during tour – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
● English speaking guide & support team(s): driver(s) & activity assistants
● Ground Transport services according to the program
Partners are very welcome to join us. If they are not interested in the innovation activities there will be alternative cultural experiences on offer.
Delegates are expected to arrange their international flights to Astana at the beginning of the trip and return from Bishkek at the end of the trip, they also should arrange their own travel insurance.
Delegation is limited to 12 people. If interested, please complete the form below, places are going fast