EdTech · Kazakhstan · Pre-launch
Qushtar: a Kazakh-first learning platform for children aged 5–13
Qushtar (Құштар, “eager”) helps children understand problems and texts, reason, build solutions and explain their thinking – in their native Kazakh language, at home, guided by an AI mentor.
The problem
Kazakh is the state language of Kazakhstan and the language of instruction for a growing majority of schoolchildren, yet high-quality digital learning products for young children are almost entirely in English or Russian. Families who want their children to learn math, logic and programming in Kazakh – and to read and reason well in it – have few options beyond translated worksheets.
The product
Qushtar combines technical and verbal skills in one consistent home practice. Every lesson follows the same cycle: understand the task → propose a solution → check it → explain it → apply it in a new situation. Mistakes lead to a targeted hint and a new attempt, not a red cross.
Six learning tracks are arranged on the two wings of an eaglet that grows together with the child:
Technical wing
- Logic – patterns, classification, spatial reasoning, conditions.
- Mathematics – basic, advanced and olympiad tracks at every age.
- Algorithms – from block commands to text code, C++ and competitive programming.
Verbal wing
- Reading (Оқу) – fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension.
- Memory (Жаттау) – learning and reciting Kazakh poetry.
- Verbal reasoning (Сөзбен пайымдау) – argumentation and critical thinking.
BurkitbAI, a golden-eagle mentor, gives children short spoken hints in Kazakh. The AI never grades the child and never replaces the lesson: answers are checked deterministically, and parents control whether the AI mentor is enabled. Parents receive clear progress reports. We collect no photos, voice or names of children in marketing forms, and the product is designed around parental consent.
Stage and roadmap
- Now: product specification complete; platform foundation implemented (web app, API, database); public landing page and early-access waitlist live at qushtar.kz.
- Next: a home pilot for ages 5–8 – 12 core lessons (logic, math, programming), 8 reading texts and a Kazakh poem, with the AI mentor and parent reports.
- Then: open early access for families, expand to ages 9–13, olympiad math and programming tracks, mobile apps.
Technology and how we use the cloud
Qushtar is a web-first application (React, TypeScript) with a Python backend (FastAPI) and PostgreSQL, packaged in containers. Cloud credits would directly fund the infrastructure that makes the product work for children:
- AI mentor: large language model inference for hints in Kazakh, plus text-to-speech so pre-readers can listen to instructions and hints.
- Speech recognition: checking poetry recitation and, later, spoken answers in reading and reasoning lessons.
- Code judge: isolated, sandboxed runners that execute children’s programs for the programming tracks.
- Core platform: managed PostgreSQL, container hosting for the API and background workers, object storage and CDN for lesson audio and images.
- Privacy and security: private, access-scoped storage for children’s data with short retention for raw recordings.
Why Qushtar
- Native language first. Content is created in Kazakh, not translated, with a Russian version planned.
- Thinking, not memorizing. Children explain their reasoning; help, independence and conditions are tracked separately.
- Safe AI. The AI mentor gives hints only; scoring is deterministic and parents stay in control.
- Built by a parent. The first users are the founder’s own children, so every lesson is tested at home before release.
Contact
Qushtar is an early-stage, founder-led startup based in Kazakhstan.
For partnerships, investment or cloud programs, write to [email protected].