- Let's get to know each other, tell us about yourself.

- I am Dauren Bimov, a native of VKO village, 41 years old. I have two degrees in logistics: University of Railway Transport and Academy of Transport. And two more in management and business: Alma U and Skolkovo. 

I am an entrepreneur in transport logistics, trade, real estate, as well as running several small projects in other business areas. 

In social activities, together with like-minded people, we founded and develop the KIT community of entrepreneurs. We are patrons of social and educational projects together (Jas Abay, Zere, Altynsarin).

- How did your career as an entrepreneur begin?

- I started working during my student years. Our respected professors noticed promising students and introduced them to successful graduates of the faculty. And almost immediately I found myself in the circle of right, ambitious and advanced people. These were my first sensei, mentors, and now good friends and partners. 

They taught me hard work and high standards in everything I do and will forever be my Big Brothers. My endless gratitude and honour to them. 

Thanks to them, by 2013 I practically knew everything in the transport and logistics business. And on agreement, as they say: "Batasyn alyp", I moved from Almaty to the new capital of our homeland, Astana, and set sail on my own. Healthy ambitions and a belief that we can and should be much more than that did not allow me to stay in the comfort zone.

So, in partnership with a team of 3 employees and a small start-up capital, we established and started to develop a freight forwarding company. 

Being good specialists with a systematic approach to work, we emphasised on forming a network of logistics routes, which ensured maximum operational efficiency. This allowed us to set competitive rates for customers in the market, optimal profitability for the company for its rapid growth. Today, our holding has its own fleet of freight wagons and is among the large and successful companies in its segment.

- What kind of projects have you had?

- We started the business as a transport company in the railway transport sector. In our youth, we were tempted to get involved in many different business areas which seemed interesting and promising to us. Fortunately, we realised in time that it was better to focus on one niche in order to become a worthy player in it. At most, we considered some related areas which would only strengthen our position in a competitive market. 

- What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey?

- I remember at the start of the business there was one main concern: how much more money we had to earn in order to pay the salaries of our staff and office rent on time. And now we are Landlords of office premises ourselves. 

Other difficulties were not particularly memorable, probably because the formative years flew by in a dynamic way, and we were full of enthusiasm, charged for success and fully absorbed in the idea of creating a sustainable company, market leaders. 

- What are you working on right now?

- Now I am not in operations. Over the formative years, we have managed to select and grow young talented top managers who are doing an excellent job in the effective and sustainable development of the holding company.

- What motivates you?

- I have a quote, "The conscious person knows exactly what he or she wants and why, how to achieve it, and yet needs no motivation."

The very fact that we have come into this world, are alive, relatively healthy and able to create is a great happiness, which, overflowing us, simply cannot leave us indifferent to the opportunity to create, to create new values, to cognise ourselves, our talent and uniqueness, manifested only in conditions of proactive activity.

- Why did you decide to start a community of KIT entrepreneurs?

- From the very start of the business, we have had to communicate a lot with businessmen of different levels. They are all good, hard-working, decent entrepreneurs trying to create something in conditions of uncertainty and lack of resources. 

It was not uncommon to find cases where a startup was created with the last of the money by the best of friends, full of energy and enthusiasm, but unfortunately without basic knowledge and experience in business. Sometimes some of this worked out due to the growth of the market itself and little competition. 

But mostly, unfortunately, we witnessed how, in the face of real competition and demand, such endeavours achieved very little success or ended in complete bankruptcy. They had neither earnings, nor knowledge, nor the friendships that bound the young entrepreneurs together. 

It was painful for us to see this state of affairs in the real sector of small and medium-sized businesses. This is how we came up with the idea of creating a business platform and a community of entrepreneurs in the capital with a network of branches in other cities. In the framework of which entrepreneurs would be able to find business connections and receive training, interacting with like-minded people in an environmentally friendly way. By doing so, young entrepreneurs reduce the likelihood of mistakes and mitigate some of the risks, and gain the opportunity for more dynamic and sustainable growth for their business. And they also develop personal skills in a circle of self-brands and entrepreneurs like themselves. 

- What is the advantage of the community, how is it useful for entrepreneurs? 

- We thought as a team: what do our young entrepreneurs need most? What of these things can and should we give on our platform?

Firstly, they need the most advanced business knowledge. In any other serious profession, it is mandatory to have a diploma, at least a certificate of professional training, before a specialist is allowed to work independently. Business is also a profession, and it cannot be argued that the cost of error here is lower. Therefore, first of all, the business platform should assist in obtaining business knowledge through courses, seminars, trainings, masterclasses and MBAs. 

Next, entrepreneurs need networking in a circle of business people like themselves or above the level. 

Thus, by gaining the necessary knowledge and business connections, inspired by entrepreneurial energy in a circle of like-minded people, our residents transform this into a trend for the development of their companies. Thus, the combination of these three core values for entrepreneurs: Knowledge - knowledge, Interactions - interactions, Trends - trends, formed the basis for the name of our KIT community. 

- What tasks do you set for yourself now?

- The task is clear, but not easy: to realise the mission of our Community of Entrepreneurs: "We create a strong international community of entrepreneurs through the synergy of creative individuals, thus making a significant contribution to the formation of a new culture of a conscious society.".

To realise it, we need to scale up at the national and international level, open branches and representative offices in countries that are most interesting in terms of prospects and business activity. Our plans for 2024-2027 include opening offices in Turkey, China, Europe and the USA.

It is also essential to maintain high standards of community performance, to continue to create new and refine existing KIT products, and to keep them updated with the needs of our residents and changing trends.

In order to achieve the mission and goals of the Community and to maintain the set vector of development, we are currently implementing the project "KIT ASR - Council of Creators". We attach great meaning and importance to the notion of Creation. In our understanding, a Creator is someone who creates new values for society and future generations, even in conditions of uncertainty and lack of resources, taking pleasure and inspiration from the fact that it all works for the benefit of society and people.

Today, unfortunately, the percentage of creative individuals is small, unlike destroyers and consumers. But there are many more of them among businessmen, because entrepreneurs are already creators to some extent. After all, many of them have long ago realised and with dignity took the position that they are responsible for themselves, their environment and the future. Therefore, they strive to achieve positive results with full responsibility. 

According to a number of criteria, we selected several Mega Kits (Residents) of Astana and created the Council of Creators. I hope and believe that this team will become an example that, contrary to stereotypes, Kazakhstani businessmen, worthy sons of their people, are able to unite and set trends in the development of entrepreneurial culture in the most effective way through personal example, professional and innovative approach. 

The plan is to have KIT-based ASR Builders teams like the guides, visionaries and keepers of good traditions in every city and country in the world.

- What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur?

The first quality I would like to mention is courage. Most people are used to shifting responsibility onto others, always finding ways to justify themselves and blame others for their failures. Entrepreneurs will never think of such a thing. Apparently, from birth or from an early age, they have a simple but very effective formula: only you are responsible for everything that happens to you. To accept this fact as a challenge, to be ready to face the realities of life alone, to carry this burden honourably and to be a leader for those who are not capable of it, definitely requires courage. 

Next for me are energy, enthusiasm for life, business acumen and savvy.

- Is success luck or working on yourself?

- From my life practice I can say that success as a final result depends only on the Almighty Creator. We can only create reasons in this direction. And if it will please the Almighty Creator, it will lead to success, as we understand it, or as this concept was imposed on us. 

If we talk about personal success rather than irrelevant success, it is always individual and depends on only one factor: how much we managed to reduce the difference between our potential and the real state of affairs. In this sense, perhaps even Ilon Musk can be assessed as less successful than any of us, because his goal and potential is space, but which he has not yet fully conquered. And we with our local achievements may have already approached the maximum that we are endowed with from the Most High Creator. I mean that the achievements of others should not become measures of our success. It will lead us astray from our own path. 

- What advice would you give to someone trying to become an entrepreneur?

- Be yourself. But first, do the work of finding the answer to the questions: Who are you really? What and for what Mission did the Almighty create you? 

A mission for a man is a personal assignment to him from his Creator. And do not doubt that your personal mission is great, and you are endowed with everything necessary for its worthy realisation. The main thing is to recognise it in time, to accept your uniqueness with gratitude and to direct yourself on the fascinating path to happiness in both Worlds.