MA7, the new syndicate co-led by Murat Abdrakhmanov and Yelzhan Kushekbayev, is making waves in Kazakhstan’s venture capital ecosystem. While Murat is recognized as the country's most prominent angel investor, Yelzhan brings extensive experience, having personally invested in 90 SPVs since 2020. Together, they’ve launched the MA7 Angels Club, a syndicate leveraging Murat’s deal flow to give individual investors exposure to high-growth opportunities. 

The Birth of MA7 

Yelzhan and Murat met through Astana Hub, a government institute that supports the growth of Kazakhstan’s tech and IT ecosystem. Murat, a mentor in the Hub’s first angel investor cohort, saw potential in Yelzhan and invited him to partner in creating MA7. With Murat’s track record of a combined portfolio that includes over 50 companies and 12 exits, the duo set out to develop a syndicate in Kazakhstan that emphasizes meaningful, transparent interactions with investors. 

Investment Strategy and Notable Deals 

MA7 focuses on sectors they understand and have deep expertise in—primarily B2B SaaS, fintech, edtech, hrtech, deeptech, and AI. Avoiding industries like biotech or agriculture tech, they instead invest in promising startups like Hero’s Journey, a Kazakhstan-originated, US-based fitness company. Hero’s Journey has created a revolutionary gamified gym experience that uses (automation and IoT) to optimize customer engagement and revenue per square meter. MA7 raised $1mil in a $6 million seed round to support Hero’s Journey’s expansion into New York.

Another recent investment is Zibra AI, a platform that transforms text into 3D objects for game development. Murat had already invested personally in the company before Andreessen Horowitz backed it. When the next round came up, Murat and Yelzhan brought in their MA7 syndicate members, giving them a chance to back a leader in AI-driven game design. The syndicate members quickly jumped at the opportunity to participate in the round.

One unique aspect of MA7’s strategy is the commitment Murat and Yelzhan have made to each deal. While many syndicate organizers often contribute as little as 10% or less of the allocation, MA7 aims to put 30-50% of their own capital into each investment. This higher level of personal investment ensures alignment with their investors and strengthens the trust within their community.

Why Sydecar? 

From the outset, MA7 chose Sydecar to manage their syndicate operations because of the platform’s flexibility and user-friendly interface. Yelzhan also emphasized the importance of Sydecar’s due diligence and KYC process. Kazakhstan’s geographical proximity to Russia adds complexity for investors, and Sydecar’s team has been diligent in ensuring compliance while also accommodating the specific needs of MA7’s investor base.

Building a Community 

One of the standout features of MA7’s syndicate is its tight-knit investor base. With 80+ investors, all of whom are friends or direct referrals, MA7 is committed to building meaningful relationships. Deal presentations take place where founders pitch directly to the syndicate’s investors, followed by detailed analysis sessions with the investors where Yelzhan and Murat break down the investment thesis, risks, and benefits. This approach fosters transparency and trust, ensuring their investors understand the full scope of each opportunity and feel confident in their investments.

MA7 also occasionally hosts offline gatherings, including venture-focused regattas and apres ski events across the globe. These events combine networking with educational sessions on venture capital, further strengthening the community.

The Road Ahead 

In the coming year, MA7 aims to invest $10 million across 15 deals and grow their investor base to 300. While they’ve grown their syndicate through word-of-mouth, they’re now planning to launch a public website and engage in more formal marketing activities.

With the support of Sydecar’s platform, Murat and Yelzhan are well-positioned to scale their operations, expand their investor base, and continue sourcing top-tier deals from Kazakhstan, central Eurasia, and beyond. Sydecar streamlines everything from investor management to deal tracking and communications, helping syndicates like MA7 operate with precision and efficiency. Learn more about how Sydecar’s Syndicate platform can enhance your syndicate operations by visiting our Syndicate page.