Beyond Borders: How Kazakh Tech Startups Initiated Their Global Journeys
(2025) IBUH19 20251Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- The international business literature predominantly explains internationalization through the lens of developed countries and well-established firms, offering limited insights into how emerging market startups expand globally. To address this gap, this study investigates the internationalization processes of technology startups from Kazakhstan. Employing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews with founders and key decision-makers responsible for international expansion were conducted. Kazakh tech startups often emerge with a global vision, driven by the limitations of their domestic market and a desire to leverage their firm-specific advantages internationally. These startups typically target niche global markets and... (More)
- The international business literature predominantly explains internationalization through the lens of developed countries and well-established firms, offering limited insights into how emerging market startups expand globally. To address this gap, this study investigates the internationalization processes of technology startups from Kazakhstan. Employing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews with founders and key decision-makers responsible for international expansion were conducted. Kazakh tech startups often emerge with a global vision, driven by the limitations of their domestic market and a desire to leverage their firm-specific advantages internationally. These startups typically target niche global markets and enter foreign countries sequentially, guided by psychic distance and a gradual increase in resource commitment. Despite their global aspirations, core functions such as product development and strategic decision-making are likely to remain in Kazakhstan. Market selection is heavily influenced by perceived product-market fit, and internationalization is frequently planned with precision rather than capitalizing on opportunistic behaviors. Startups in the studied sample face challenges related to the liability of country of origin, which they attempt to overcome by seeking legitimacy through entry into reputable markets (e.g., the United States) or by expanding into multiple countries. Adaptation of products and, in some cases, business models is common in order to align with local market demands. Institutional support, including incubators, accelerators, and partnerships with both local and international entities, plays a critical role in facilitating global expansion. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9205477
- author
- Puk, Adriana LU ; Torgayev, Alikhan LU and Vodopian, Evdokiia LU
- supervisor
-
- John Murray LU
- organization
- course
- IBUH19 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- internationalization, emerging markets, startups, Uppsala model, born global firms, lean global startup
- language
- English
- id
- 9205477
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-26 09:04:12
- date last changed
- 2025-06-26 09:04:12
@misc{9205477,
abstract = {{The international business literature predominantly explains internationalization through the lens of developed countries and well-established firms, offering limited insights into how emerging market startups expand globally. To address this gap, this study investigates the internationalization processes of technology startups from Kazakhstan. Employing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews with founders and key decision-makers responsible for international expansion were conducted. Kazakh tech startups often emerge with a global vision, driven by the limitations of their domestic market and a desire to leverage their firm-specific advantages internationally. These startups typically target niche global markets and enter foreign countries sequentially, guided by psychic distance and a gradual increase in resource commitment. Despite their global aspirations, core functions such as product development and strategic decision-making are likely to remain in Kazakhstan. Market selection is heavily influenced by perceived product-market fit, and internationalization is frequently planned with precision rather than capitalizing on opportunistic behaviors. Startups in the studied sample face challenges related to the liability of country of origin, which they attempt to overcome by seeking legitimacy through entry into reputable markets (e.g., the United States) or by expanding into multiple countries. Adaptation of products and, in some cases, business models is common in order to align with local market demands. Institutional support, including incubators, accelerators, and partnerships with both local and international entities, plays a critical role in facilitating global expansion.}},
author = {{Puk, Adriana and Torgayev, Alikhan and Vodopian, Evdokiia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Beyond Borders: How Kazakh Tech Startups Initiated Their Global Journeys}},
year = {{2025}},
}