Gulper Kalimuldina, co-founder of the startup Mirai Tech is both a scientist and an entrepreneur. Her company develops smart sensor insoles and wearable sensors that analyze the biomechanics of movement for athletes and patients in real-time warning of injury risks before they even occur, El.kz reports.

At Digital Bridge 2025 in Astana the country’s largest technology forum Mirai Tech secured two awards. The AI Sana Generative Nation Award for the best scientific AI project was presented personally by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The team won the MA7 Award at the Astana Hub Battle. For a startup that was recently explaining to investors why the world needs smart insoles, this is more than just recognition it is the point where the conversation changes.

Gulnur notes that the main barrier to launching was not technological, but a psychological transition moving from the role of a scientist to that of an entrepreneur. A scientist proves their case to colleagues; an entrepreneur proves it to investors.

Now, the team is working to transform Mirai Tech into a comprehensive sports analytics platform with deep biomechanical analysis moving beyond being just a gadget to becoming essential infrastructure for doctors, coaches, and sports federations.

For a country that is still learning how to cultivate technological entrepreneurs from the scientific community, stories like these are more significant than any statistics.