Today, Global Coffee is a recognizable brand for hundreds of thousands of Kazakhstanis. However, its story did not begin with major investments, but with the idea of several young entrepreneurs from Shymkent who believed that high-quality coffee should be accessible to everyone.

Within just a few years, their project grew into the country's largest franchised coffee bar network, while its founder, Ayat Azimov, became one of a new generation of entrepreneurs shaping Kazakhstan's modern coffee culture.

Ayat Azimov was born and raised in Shymkent. After graduating from school, he enrolled at the local College of Economics and Law and later continued his education at LCC International University in Lithuania.

It was there that he first experienced European coffee culture. Coffee shops were not merely places to enjoy a drink—they were spaces for communication, work, and new ideas. This experience largely shaped his future entrepreneurial vision.

After returning to Kazakhstan, Ayat worked for Tengizchevroil as an interpreter for the plant manager. Working for one of the country's largest companies provided him with valuable management experience and a deeper understanding of how effective business processes are built.

The idea of starting his own business came to him while working on a rotational shift. Together with his friends and fellow Shymkent natives, Maksat Amanmuradov and Daniyar Mamirkhanov, he decided to enter the coffee business.

By the mid-2010s, coffee culture had already begun to flourish in Almaty and Astana, while the market in Shymkent was still in its early stages. The high-quality coffee-to-go segment was virtually nonexistent, and the entrepreneurs recognized a promising market opportunity.

This led to the launch of their first projects, including Salem Coffee. Within just two years, the team had expanded the network to 11 locations across different cities in Kazakhstan.

The next step was to create a brand with international ambitions. This gave rise to Global Coffee, a chain designed from the outset for expansion beyond Kazakhstan.

The company's growth was built on three key principles: consistent quality, affordability, and a strong franchise model. To ensure product quality, the company established its own coffee roasting facility, while its accumulated expertise and business processes were packaged into a comprehensive franchise system for partners.

This approach enabled the company to scale rapidly and successfully enter new markets.

Government support also played an important role in the company's development. In 2023, with the assistance of the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund, under the National Project for Entrepreneurship Development for 2021–2025, Ayat purchased a building for a production facility. In 2024, he again benefited from government support by securing financing for facility renovation and equipment purchases. In 2025, under the Unified Comprehensive Business Support Program, he obtained financing to replenish working capital. The project's financial partner was Bank CenterCredit JSC.

By 2026, Global Coffee had become Kazakhstan's largest franchised coffee bar network, surpassing 300 locations. Today, the company operates not only in Kazakhstan but also in Uzbekistan and Georgia. More than 1,000 employees work across the holding's businesses.

In addition to expanding the coffee business, Ayat Azimov invests in promising IT startups, develops the Coyote ERP system, and is actively involved in the growth of Azimov HUB, a business and innovation space.

According to Ayat, his primary goal today is not only to expand his own companies but also to promote Kazakhstani brands in international markets, create new jobs, and contribute to the development of the country's entrepreneurial ecosystem.