On May 28, the Institute of Entrepreneurship at AlmaU hosted the annual Rocket Pitch 2026 competition. First-year students of the Institute of Entrepreneurship took part in the event, presenting the results of their academic, personal, and professional development achieved throughout the academic year.
Rocket Pitch is a final assessment event designed to comprehensively evaluate students’ progress. Throughout the year, participants built academic portfolios, wrote essays on personal growth, collected supporting materials, and presented their achievements to a jury panel.
The presentations were conducted individually within league-based categories. Each student was allocated 15 minutes: 10 minutes for their presentation and 5 minutes for questions from the jury. Evaluation criteria included academic performance, personal growth, achievements throughout the year, presentation quality, and confidence during the defense.
This year, students competed across five leagues, as well as a separate league established by the E. Tatishev Foundation. Participants’ work was evaluated by faculty members, representatives of the Institute of Entrepreneurship, invited experts, and AlmaU alumni.
Rocket Pitch 2026 Winners:
• League 1 — Aknur Zhasin
• League 2 — Madi Issayev
• League 3 — Alisher Sakimov
• League 4 — Alexander Shchukin
• League 5 — Medina Shindaulet
• E. Tatishev Foundation League — Nurai Rakhymbai
All winners were included in the Dean’s List and gained access to additional opportunities offered by the AlmaU Institute of Entrepreneurship, including participation in educational events and the opportunity to receive a recommendation letter from the leadership of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and the Graduate School of Business.
Participation in Rocket Pitch helps students, even in their first year, to consciously evaluate their progress, showcase their achievements, receive feedback from the jury, and develop public presentation and defense skills. This format fosters confidence, encourages self-reflection, and prepares students for further academic and professional growth.