In this episode of Deep Dive Central Asia, we analyze Salem, Valley: Kazakh Startups in Silicon Valley (documentary film, 2024) by nFactorial Originals and what it signals for investors. The episode follows a group of Kazakh founders building and scaling AI startups in Silicon Valley, testing ideas, raising capital, pivoting fast, and competing at the global frontier.

This is not a story about inspiration. It is a story about structural change.

We break down why AI is the first sector where Kazakh startups can compete globally from Day One, how diaspora-led founders reduce early execution risk, and what Silicon Valley validation means for capital access, governance standards, and scalability. Using real founder journeys, we separate genuine risks from mispriced ones and assess where investors should, and should not, lean in.

Featured startups include Laminar, Alma, GoatChat, Altbridge, SurfAIce, Cerebra, Perceptis, ZenGuard AI, Deep Infra, Atarino, and the Silkroad Innovation Hub.

For LPs, VCs, corporates, and development banks, this episode decodes what Kazakhstan’s emerging AI diaspora means for early-stage investing, cross-border partnerships, and the region’s first true entry into the global technology value chain.

This episode examines Kazakhstan's 2024 investment landscape through the official Investor's Guide published by the Republic of Kazakhstan. We analyze how Central Asia's largest economy is leveraging structural reforms, natural resource advantages, and strategic geography to position itself as the region's primary destination for institutional capital.

The guide reveals Kazakhstan's core value proposition: a $264 billion economy with investment-grade ratings, the world's largest uranium producer, and English common law framework through the Astana International Financial Centre. We explore targeted incentive regimes—zero corporate tax in Special Economic Zones and 55+ double taxation treaties—designed to attract FDI across mining, logistics, manufacturing, and renewables.

Key themes include Kazakhstan's Trans-Caspian corridor linking China and Europe, critical minerals endowment amid energy transition, and human capital infrastructure with 21 internationally ranked universities. The guide outlines sector opportunities in uranium processing, rare earth extraction, agricultural modernization, and green hydrogen, while detailing investment protection mechanisms.

We address implementation challenges: above-target inflation, hydrocarbon dependency, and translating policy into bankable projects. The analysis covers geographic clusters—from Almaty's financial hub to Atyrau's energy corridor—providing institutional investors a framework for evaluating political stability, currency risk, and regulatory predictability in a frontier market.

This episode explores how His Excellency President Mirziyoyev's September 2025 visit to the United States became a landmark moment for Uzbekistan's economic transformation — resulting in a $105 billion project portfolio and agreements with America's largest corporations within just three days.

We examine how Uzbekistan's reform climate, strategic positioning, and unprecedented government support enabled this success story. The discussion highlights H.E. President Mirziyoyev's strategic roadmap — from conducting 50 meetings in 72 hours to securing deals with Boeing, BlackRock, and Nvidia, backed by a personal presidential guarantee and dedicated 24/7 support for American investors through a newly appointed Deputy Minister for U.S. Affairs.

Key themes include the intersection of reform, resources, and relationship-building, and how these forces are redefining investment opportunities across Uzbekistan. We unpack the four priority sectors — critical minerals, IT innovation, infrastructure development, and agro-industrial transformation — alongside the concrete benefits including tax exemptions, simplified procedures, and legal protections that attracted 300+ American companies.