{{Short description|Kazakh investor and entrepreneur (b. 1979)}} {{Cleanup press release|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Kenges Rakishev | image = Kenes Rakishev-2021.jpg | native_name = {{lang|kk|Кеңес Хамытұлы Рақышев}} | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|07|14}} | birth_place = Almaty, Kazakhstan | citizenship = Kazakhstan | education = Saïd Business School, University of Oxford | alma_mater = Kazakh Economic University | employer = Fincraft Group | organization = Saby Foundation | spouse = Aselle Tasmagambetova | mother = | father = | honours = Order of Kurmet | website = https://kengesrakishev.com }}
'''Kenges Rakishev''' ({{langx|kk|Кеңес Хамытұлы Рақышев}}; Russian: Кенес Хамитович Ракишев), also written '''Kenes''',<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan: Well-Connected Tycoon Snaps Up TV Station |url=https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-well-connected-tycoon-snaps-up-tv-station |access-date=2020-09-11 |website=Eurasianet |language=en|date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> is a Kazakhstani businessperson.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lillis |first=Joanna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kJODDwAAQBAJ |title=Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-78672-451-9 |language=en}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2026}}<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Krutov |first1=Mark |last2=Dobrynin |first2=Sergei |last3=Soshnikov |first3=Andrei |last4=Barnyuk |first4=Yury |date=18 January 2022 |title=The Search For The Russian Assets Of The Kazakh President's Family |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/toqaev-family-russian-assets/31658512.html |access-date=2022-03-14 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref> He is the son-in-law of former Kazakh Prime Minister, Imangali Tasmagambetov.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Wakabayashi |first=Daisuke |title=Why China Is So Interested in Kazakhstan |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/business/kazakhstan-china-electric-vehicles.html |date=2024-07-18 |access-date=2024-10-15 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
He is the president and main shareholder of Fincraft Resources, a company listed in the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, and is an active investor in natural resources, mining, energy and food security, as well as in venture capital.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=October 2025 |title=Kenes Rakishev |url=http://forbes.kz/ranking/object/56 |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=Forbes Kazakhstan}}</ref>
He has been on ''Forbes'' Kazakhstan lists since 2013.<ref name=":2" /> As of 2025, he occupies a position as the 23rd richest person on the list, with an estimated wealth of $435 million.<ref name=":2" />
== Early life and education == Rakishev was born on July 14, 1979.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} His father is Khamit Rakishev, who was the head of Kazakhstan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
He studied Law at the Kazakh National Law Academy and Finance and Credit at the Kazakh Economic University.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} Later, he attended the London Business School and the Saïd Business School (University of Oxford).{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
== Early career == In the late 1990s, he began his career as an advisor to the Road Safety Fund under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.<ref name="kapital.kz">{{Cite web |date=2015-01-01 |title=Ракишев Кенес Хамитович ▷ биография, фото, должность |url=https://kapital.kz/dossier/rakishev-kenes |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Деловой портал Капитал.кз |language=ru}}</ref> Following this role, he took on the position of manager at JSC KazTransGas in 2000.<ref name="kapital.kz" /> From 2000 to 2002, he worked as a specialist and later as the head of the Marketing Department of the Material and Technical Supply Department at Intergas Central Asia CJSC.<ref name="kapital.kz" />
In 2002, he was appointed head of the Foreign Economic Activity Department at KazTransGas CJSC, to be later appointed First Deputy General Director for Export at KazMunaiGas Trading House LLP from January to October 2003.<ref name="kapital.kz" /> He would serve as Deputy General Director for Marketing at KazTransGas CJSC from 2003 to 2004.<ref name="kapital.kz" /> In 2004, he became the General Director of Mercury LLP.<ref name="kapital.kz" />
== Investment career == He has been chairman of Net Element,<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2020 |title=Казахстанский миллионер Кенес Ракишев — в интервью CNews: Инвесторам интересен не российский интернет, а российские технологии |url=https://www.cnews.ru/articles/2020-02-18_kazahstanskij_millioner_kenes_rakishev |access-date=2021-09-28 |website=CNews.ru |language=ru}}</ref> and Fincraft Resources (formerly SAT & CO) which is listed at the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange after its new name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Гайфутдинова |first=Венера |date=2015-11-30 |title=Кенес Ракишев увеличил долю в АО "SAT & Company" |url=https://forbes.kz/finances/investment/kenes_rakishev_uvelichil_dolyu_v_ao_sat_company/ |access-date=2021-09-28 |website=www.forbes.kz}}</ref>
=== Fincraft Resources (SAT & CO) === In September 2007, Rakishev was appointed CEO of SAT & CO, an investment company within the mining industry and construction industry.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
In 2008, SAT & CO successfully went public through a direct listing on KASE.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} During 2007 and 2008, the company expanded its reach into the metallurgical sector, acquiring strategic assets including corporations producing ferromanganese, chromium, nickel, and other minerals, as well as metallurgical plants in Kazakhstan and abroad.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
In 2018, SAT & Company changed its name to Fincraft Resources JSC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-10 |title=SAT & Company переименована |url=https://kapital.kz/business/72557/sat-tsompany-pereimenovana.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Деловой портал Капитал.кз |language=ru}}</ref> By 2010, Fincraft Resources had investments in over 50 corporations involved in metallurgy, oilfields, venture investments, and mining-related activities.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
The company is still listed at KASE and serves as Rakishev's main investment vehicle.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
=== Kazakhstan Engineering === In 2014, Rakishev joined the board of directors of JSC National Company Kazakhstan Engineering, a large holding combining 27 enterprises of the defence industry and munitions factories.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} He left the board one year later, upon the appointment of Imangali Tasmagambetov as the new Minister of Defence.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015-01-30 |title=Кенеса Ракишева исключили из совета директоров "Казахстан Инжиниринг" |url=http://lsm.kz/kenesa-rakisheva-isklyuchili-iz-soveta-direktorov-kazahstan-inzhiniring.html |accessdate=2019-02-16 |publisher=LSM.kz}}</ref>
=== BTA Bank === In 2014, Rakishev bought the shares of BTA Bank from the Kazakh government after Kazakh dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev forcibly nationalized it in 2009<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lillis |first=Joanna |date=February 17, 2012 |title=Kazakhstan: British Court Jails Exiled Oligarch |url=http://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-british-court-jails-exiled-oligarch |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=Eurasianet}}</ref> and seized it from Mukhtar Ablyazov, accused of fraud.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-07-15 |title=How Ramzan Kadyrov and Adam Delimkhanov Make Money |url=https://www.proekt.media/en/investigation-en/kadyrov-krotov-eng/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Проект |language=en-US}}</ref> At the moment of Rakishev's acquisition, the bank had 640,000 private customers and 75,000 corporate clients.<ref name=":1" /> The main assets of the company were its claims against Ablyazov, estimated at $5 billion.<ref name=":1" />
On February 6, 2014, JSC Kazkommertsbank and Rakishev reached a final agreement to acquire 46.5% of the shares of JSC BTA Bank each from JSC National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Mesquita |first=Michael |date=2016 |title=Kazakhstan's Presidential Transition and the Evolution of Elite Networks |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/628610 |journal=Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization |volume=24 |issue=3 |pages=392-393}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Solovyov |first=Dmitry |last2=Gordeyeva |first2=Mariya |date=February 6, 2014 |title=Kazkommertsbank finalizes deal to buy stake in BTA Bank |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/kazkommertsbank-finalizes-deal-to-buy-stake-in-bta-bank-idUSBREA150VE/ |access-date=2026-02-02 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The acquisition and subsequent merger of BTA and KKB were expected to create the largest commercial bank in the region.<ref name=":14" /> On February 14, 2014, Rakishev became the new chairman of BTA Bank's board of directors.<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{cite web |date=17 February 2014 |title=Kenes Rakishev, new chairman of BTA Bank Board of Directors |url=http://en.tengrinews.kz/companies/Kenes-Rakishev-new-chairman-of-BTA-Bank-Board-of-Directors-26065/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530235633/https://en.tengrinews.kz/companies/Kenes-Rakishev-new-chairman-of-BTA-Bank-Board-of-Directors-26065/ |archive-date=30 May 2016 |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=Tengrinews}}</ref>
He sold his stake in BTA Bank in Kyrgyzstan in 2019, and in BTA Belarus in June 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Тумашова |first=Елена |date=2024-06-05 |title=Ракишев продал БТА Банк в Беларуси |url=https://forbes.kz/articles/rakishev-prodal-bta-bank-v-belarusi-83f346 |access-date=2024-10-15 |work=Forbes Kazakhstan}}</ref>
=== Kazkommertsbank === On January 19, 2015, Rakishev was elected as a new member of the board of directors of JSC Kazkommertsbank.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-01-20 |title=KazKommertsBank welcomes new members to its Board of Directors |url=https://en.tengrinews.kz/companies/kazkommertsbank-welcomes-new-members-to-its-board-of-258508/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Tengrinews |language=en}}</ref> In March 2015, he purchased enough shares of Kazkommertsbank to become a major shareholder.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-03-12 |title=KazKom purchases BTA, Kenes Rakishev purchases KazKom |url=https://en.tengrinews.kz/companies/kazkom-purchases-bta-kenes-rakishev-purchases-kazkom-259329/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Tengrinews |language=en}}</ref>
By the beginning of August 2015, Rakishev increased his stake in Kazkommertsbank to 28.67% and then announced the preliminary agreement with Alnair Capital Holding (another large shareholder of the bank, controlling 28.08% of shares) to combine their respective shareholdings in Kazkommertsbank.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenges Rakishev to become controlling shareholder in KKB |url=http://en.kkb.kz/page/News_070815_1 |website=Kazkommertsbank |access-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193317/http://en.kkb.kz/page/News_070815_1 |archive-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> As a result of the proposed transaction, Rakishev would acquire legal ownership over the parent entity of JSC Alnair Capital Holding, becoming its General Partner and effectively acquiring control over voting and other rights of Alnair's in the bank, controlling 56.75% of the bank's shares in total.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://en.kkb.kz/page/News_291215_1|title = JSC Kazkommertsbank|archive-date = 2016-01-17|access-date = 2015-12-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160117025441/http://en.kkb.kz/page/News_291215_1|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 8, 2015 |title=Businessman Rakishev to take control of Kazkommertsbank |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/businessman-rakishev-to-take-control-of-kazkommertsbank-idUSKCN0QD0A8/ |access-date=2026-02-02 |work=Reuters}}</ref>
In April 2016 Rakishev significantly increased his stake in Kazkommertsbank after reaching an agreement with Nurzhan Subkhanberdin and JSC Central Asian Investment Company (CAIC).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-04-20 |title=Kenges Rakishev increased his stake in Kazkommertsbank |url=http://en.kkb.kz/page/News_200416_1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503045456/http://en.kkb.kz/page/News_200416_1 |archive-date=2016-05-03 |access-date=2016-04-28 |work=Kazkommertsbank}}</ref> As a result, Rakishev's direct holding in KKB increased from 28.67% to 43.15%, and he directly and indirectly (through JSC Qazaq Financial Group) controls 71.23% of KKB common shares.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ракишев увеличил свою долю в Казкоме|url=https://tengrinews.kz/money/rakishev-uvelichil-svoyu-dolyu-v-kazkome-293012/|publisher=|date=2016-04-20|accessdate=2019-02-16|website=Tengrinews}}</ref>
=== Central Asia Metals === In 2013, Rakishev exchanged a 40% stake in the Kounrad copper project in Kazakhstan for a 20% stake in Central Asia Metals Plc.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2013-07-01 |title=Кенес Ракишев приобретет долю в Central Asia Metals plc |url=https://www.nur.kz/nurfin/economy/270327-kenes-rakishev-priobretet-dolyu-v-central-asia-metals-plc/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=NUR.KZ |language=ru}}</ref> CAML was listed in the AIM segment of the London Stock Exchange.<ref>{{Cite news |title=CAML Admission Document |url=https://www.centralasiametals.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Admission-Document-22-September-2017.pdf}}</ref> He was then appointed a non-executive director.<ref name=":5" /> In 2017, CAML raised $186.6 million through an additional issue to purchase the Sasa zinc deposit in Macedonia from Lynx Resources Limited for $402.5 million.<ref name=":6" />
In 2018, he sold his stake in the mining conglomerate and left the board of the company.<ref name=":6" /> During his time at the company, its value increased from $100 million to $500 million.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Kursiv |date=2018-05-25 |title=Кенес Ракишев покинул совет директоров CAML после продажи своей доли акций |url=https://kz.kursiv.media/2018-05-25/kenes-rakishev-pokinul-sovet-direktorov-caml-posle-prodazhi-svoey-doli-akciy/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Kursiv Media Казахстан |language=ru}}</ref>
=== Petropavlovsk PLC === In 2018, he invested in a 22% share of Petropavlovsk, a then distressed Russian mining company.<ref name=":7">{{cite web |last=Graham |first=August |date=16 July 2019 |title=Kazakh billionaire Kenes Rakishev sells massive stake in Petropavlovsk |url=https://www.cityam.com/kazakh-billionaire-rakishev-sells-massive-stake-in-petropav/ |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=City A.M.}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> He bought the stake from Viktor Vekselberg, who exited the company after a boardroom dispute with its founders.<ref name=":7" /> Playing the role of activist investor, he purchased his initial shares for about five pence per share, pushing management changes after a near-collapse in 2014.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} He joined the board and became its majority shareholder.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Sanderson |first=Henry |date=January 23, 2018 |title=Kazakh entrepreneur bids to transform Russian gold miner |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c8e245d8-0060-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5 |access-date=2026-02-02 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>
Rakishev sold the stake in Petropavlovsk a year later to Roman Trotsenko.<ref name=":7" /> In July 2019, he exited the company at around 9.8 pence per share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=Kazakh billionaire Kenes Rakishev sells massive stake in Petropavlovsk |url=https://www.cityam.com/kazakh-billionaire-rakishev-sells-massive-stake-in-petropav/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=CityAM |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanderson |first=Henry |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Financial Times: Kazakh tycoon sells 22 per cent stake in gold miner Petropavlovsk |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bedd7132-a7af-11e9-984c-fac8325aaa04 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Financial Times}}</ref> Rakishev said he would invest the proceeds of his Petropavlovsk exit in a cobalt and nickel project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Kazakh tycoon sells Petropavlovsk stake to focus on battery minerals |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/markets/commodities/kazakh-tycoon-sells-petropavlovsk-stake-to-focus-on-battery-minerals-idUSL8N24H3ZI/ |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=Reuters}}</ref>
=== Kaznickel === After divesting from Petropavlovsk Plc., Rakishev invested on Kaznickel, a nickel and cobalt company, in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-13 |title=Kazakh metal tycoon plunges into nickel mining business |url=https://newsline.kz/article/785600/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Kazakhstan Newsline}}</ref> The company extracted nickel and cobalt in the Abai Region of Kazakhstan, materials necessary for electric vehicle batteries.<ref name=":4" />
=== Mining investments === In December 2022, he acquired a 50% stake in the British Equus Petroleum Limited, a British company that operates in Kazakhstan through Kumkol Trans Service LLP, exploits the Sarybulak oil and gas fields in Kazakhstan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tumashova |first=Elena |date=2024-07-10 |title=Кенес Ракишев концентрируется на углеводородах |url=https://forbes.kz/articles/dela-bogatyh-kenes-rakishev-kontsentriruetsya-na-uglevodorodah-5f3360 |work=Forbes}}</ref>
In early 2024, his company Fincraft Resources notified KASE of the acquisition of a 50% stake in Nomad West Oil LLP, a company founded in May 2023 with exploration and production rights to the Tastobe site in Mangistau.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
In September 2024, Mr. Rakishev bought 40% of the oil and gas company Beineu Petroleum Ltd, as announced in a public filing.<ref name=":10" /> Beineu Petroleum Limited is working to begin drilling two wells in the Beineu district of Mangistau region to explore for oil and gas deposits.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Кенес Ракишев приобрел 40% Beineu Petroleum Limited |url=https://kapital.kz/business/129453/kenes-rakishev-priobrel-40-beineu-petroleum-limited.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Деловой портал Капитал.кз |language=ru}}</ref>
Later, with Shukhrat Ibragimov, Rakishev acquired the shares of JSC Shubarkol Premium, which runs a large coal mining operation in the Karaganda region.<ref name=":11" /> The company is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Rakishev and Ibragimov purchase Kulibayev's loss-making Shubarkol Premium company |url=https://newsline.kz/article/1172954/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=newsline.kz}}</ref>
In October 2024 he agreed to acquire 26.95% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Tethys Petroleum Limited,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 11, 2024 |title=FINCRAFT GROUP LLP ACQUIRES ORDINARY SHARES OF TETHYS PETROLEUM LIMITED |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/fincraft-group-llp-acquires-ordinary-shares-of-tethys-petroleum-limited-893558775.html |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Newswire |language=en}}</ref> an oil and gas company focused on Central Asia.
=== Oxus Capital === Rakishev founded Nasdaq-listed Oxus Acquisition Corp., a SPAC,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corp |first=Oxus Acquisition |date=2021-09-09 |title=Oxus Acquisition Corp. Announces Closing of $150 Million Initial Public Offering |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/09/09/2293891/0/en/Oxus-Acquisition-Corp-Announces-Closing-of-150-Million-Initial-Public-Offering.html |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en-us}}</ref> which raised $172.5 million in 2021 through its IPO.<ref name=":3" /> Oxus merged in February 2024 with Borealis Foods Inc. via a business combination agreement.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Nikolaeva |first=Tatyana |date=2023-03-14 |title=Oxus Acquisition to merge with Borealis Foods |url=https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2023-03-14/oxus-acquisition-to-merge-with-borealis-foods/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Kursiv Media Kazakhstan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clayton |first=Nicholas Alan |date=2023-02-24 |title=Oxus Acquisition Corp. (OXUS) to Combine with Borealis Foods in $150M Deal |url=https://www.spacinsider.com/news/deal-announcements-amendments/oxus-to-merge-with-borealis-in-150m-deal |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=SPACInsider}}</ref> Borealis Foods produces instant ramen noodle meals sold in the U.S. and Canada.<ref name=":3" />
== Venture capital == Rakishev was chairman of the board of Net Element, a Nasdaq-listed company investing in tech ventures.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Alpert |first=Bill |date=April 27, 2018 |title=The Tech Company That Couldn’t Invest Straight |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-tech-company-that-couldnt-invest-straight-1524682244 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Barron's |language=en-us}}</ref> Net Element started at a $300 million valuation and was valued at $40 million by 2018.<ref name=":12" /> In 2021, Net Element merged with Mullen Automotive, an American automotive and electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Brea, California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |date=2021-11-04 |title=Mullen Technologies, Inc. completed the acquisition of Net Element, Inc. in a reverse merger transaction. - MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MULLEN-AUTOMOTIVE-INC-129100701/news/Mullen-Technologies-Inc-completed-the-acquisition-of-Net-Element-Inc-in-a-reverse-merger-transac-36915262/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
He was also a member of the board of Fastlane Ventures.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-12-12 |title=Fastlane secures $13 million from Kazakhstani investor; celebrates first exits while conceding failures |url=http://www.ewdn.com/2012/12/12/fastlane-secures-13-million-from-kazakhstani-investor-celebrates-first-exits-while-conceding-failures/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170510131728/http://www.ewdn.com/2012/12/12/fastlane-secures-13-million-from-kazakhstani-investor-celebrates-first-exits-while-conceding-failures/ |archive-date=2017-05-10 |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=East-West Digital News |language=en-US}}</ref> He was one of the main investors behind Singulariteam, a VC fund co-founded with Moshe Hogeg that invested in a number of companies operating in Internet and mobile technologies.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2021-11-21 |title=Alleged crypto scams, sex offenses, unpaid bills: The claims against Moshe Hogeg |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/alleged-dirty-dealings-and-sex-offenses-moshe-hogegs-long-history-of-deceit/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> Rakishev invested $20 million in a social media platform for sharing photos and videos called Mobli,<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2012 |title=Photo- And Video-Sharing App Mobli Raises $22M From Kazakhstan Investor Kenges Rakishev And Others |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/19/mobli-takes-money-from-some-random-kazakhstan-dude/ |access-date=2020-09-10 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-23 |title=Israeli's Mobli Gets $20 Million from single Kazakh Investor {{!}} Jewocity.com |url=http://www.jewocity.com/blog/israelis-mobli-gets-20-million-from-single-kazakh-investor/4711 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515185024/http://www.jewocity.com/blog/israelis-mobli-gets-20-million-from-single-kazakh-investor/4711 |archive-date=2016-05-15 |access-date=2020-09-10}}</ref> which shut down in 2016. In 2013 or 2014 he co-founded a company, Sirin Labs, to make secure luxury smartphones, which cost at least US $14,000 each.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-09-27 |title=Company Selling $14 Thousand Mobile Phone Pivots to Blockchain |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3721997,00.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211172231/https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3721997,00.html |archive-date=2025-12-11 |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=Calcalist}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlot |first=Stephanie |date=2016-04-25 |title=Got $20K? This Start-Up Has a Secure Smartphone for You |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/got-20k-this-start-up-has-a-secure-smartphone-for-you?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=A |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}</ref> In 2017 it announced plans for a smartphone that would involve blockchain technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Satubaldina |first=Assel |date=12 October 2017 |title=Kazakh investor Kenges Rakishev developing blockchain smartphone |url=https://astanatimes.com/2017/10/kazakh-investor-kenges-rakishev-developing-blockchain-smartphone/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250910105753/https://astanatimes.com/2017/10/kazakh-investor-kenges-rakishev-developing-blockchain-smartphone/ |archive-date=2025-09-10 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Astana Times |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, Rakishev bought Sedmoi Kanal (Channel Seven), a Kazakhstan national TV channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2015 |title=Кенес Ракишев приобретет 100% акций Седьмого канала |url=https://kapital.kz/business/46212/kenes-rakishev-priobretet-100-aktsiy-sed-mogo-kanala.html |access-date=2020-09-11 |website=kapital.kz |language=ru}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
In February 2024, Rakishev announced the creation of a new venture capital firm, bYb Capital, aimed at boosting technology startups in Kazakhstan towards the rest of the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Kenges Rakishev and Aselle Tasmagambetova Invest in New Venture Firm BYB Capital, aim to boost Kazakhstan's Tech Startups |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kenges-rakishev-aselle-tasmagambetova-invest-142500880.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref> The company has offices in Almaty and an office in Palo Alto, California.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} The fund translated Alex Dang and Ilya Strebulaev book ''“The Venture Mindset”'' into Kazakh.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
== Personal life == He is married to Aselle Tasmagambetova, daughter of Imangali Tasmagambetov.<ref name=":4" />
In 2014, he paid $142,300 to buy a car that was either for Hunter Biden or a company associated with him.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Broadwater |first=Luke |date=2023-08-05 |title=Key Witness Doesn’t Back Up G.O.P.’s Biggest Allegations on Bidens |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/us/politics/biden-devon-archer-testimony.html |access-date=2026-02-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2015, he went with Kazakhstan's prime minister, Karim Massimov, to a group dinner with Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, who was vice president of the United States at the time.<ref name=":4" /> In 2023–2024, the United States House Oversight Committee investigation into the Biden family included questions about these activities.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":9" />
Rakishev was vice-president of the Asian Boxing Confederation.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-10-09 |title=Kenes Rakishev elected President of Kazakhstan Boxing Federation |url=https://qazinform.com/news/kenes-rakishev-elected-president-of-kazakhstan-boxing-federation_a3573680 |access-date=2020-10-21 |website=Kazinform |language=en}}</ref> From 2012 to 2016, he was the President of the Kazakhstan Judo Federation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-23 |title=Кайрат Кожамжаров стал президентом Федерации дзюдо Казахстана |url=https://informburo.kz/novosti/kayrat-kozhamzharov-stal-prezidentom-federacii-dzyudo-kazahstana.html |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=informburo.kz |language=ru}}</ref> From 2019 to 2024, he was the president of the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-11 |title=Кенес Ракишев избран президентом Казахстанской федерации бокса после успешной работы в Федерации дзюдо |url=https://lipeck.bezformata.com/listnews/uspeshnoj-raboti-v-federatcii-dzyudo/78419494/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=lipeck.bezformata.com |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=Названо имя нового президента федерации бокса |url=https://sportplustv.kz/ru/news/stalo-izvestno-kto-stal-novym-rukovoditelem-kazaxstanskoi-federacii-boksa-vmesto-kenesa-rakiseva |access-date= |website=sportplustv.kz |language=ru}}</ref> He has acted as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, as well as former Vice President of the National Sports Association of Kazakhstan.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
== Awards ==
* Order of Kurmet (2015) * Order of Parasat (2025)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.kengesrakishev.com/ Kenges Rakishev - Official Website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rakishev, Kenges}} Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Saïd Business School Category:Kazakhstani businesspeople Category:Kazakhstani investors Category:1979 births