Jon StojanPaths to finding purpose vary, with some people embarking on complex journeys of self-discovery and exploration and others following clear signs until they reach a point of inner readiness. For Aisulu Jakisheva, it was a culmination of life experiences, from family history to education and career background, that illuminated her road to founding Quor, an AI-powered tool created to guide entrepreneurs as they transform startups into thriving companies.
Aisulu’s professional venture into business dynamics began at university when – absorbed with the numbers and formulas she was learning during her Economics and Development Studies course – she was approached by a family friend seeking help with her company’s branding due to her prior extensive experience in art and design. From that moment, Aisulu dedicated her spare time to sharpening her user experience design, marketing, and website creation skills, quickly falling in love with the UX world. This newly found infatuation inspired Aisulu to freelance. The services rapidly garnered the attention of entrepreneurs, allowing her to significantly grow her clientele and therefore encourage her to pursue this full time.
This experience, more than helping Aisulu hone her skills, painted a clear image of reality, showcasing a critical void that needed filling—many business owners, especially startups, embark on entrepreneurial journeys without adequate preparation. Among the aspects she would often notice missing, Aisulu highlights branding geared toward target audiences, inventory tracking, planning for the future, and stabilized operations.
“The startups I have worked with didn’t realize the tremendous impact that all operations, big or small, have on user experience. If operations are faulty and something breaks and there is no backup plan, customers will feel the negative effects,” Aisulu adds. “What entrepreneurs need is automation, as well as streamlining the processes that prevent system failures.”
Through working closely with clients, Aisulu was able to identify areas for improvement and business aspects that should be automated, especially for product-based companies. She adds, “If you are a product-based business, you have to design the product, develop it, and keep improving ideas. Then, you need to build a channel to deliver it to customers. These are the exact same steps repeated over and over again, and if you assign a person to each step, providing them with the tools that streamline repetitive tasks, your chances for running a smooth business will drastically increase.”
That realization sparked the conceptualization of Quor, an AI-powered app designed to standardize business processes, help companies identify the talent they need, and provide the foundational knowledge and guidelines necessary to succeed. With that approach, Aisulu addresses the ever-growing concerns about AI replacing humanity, instead she frames AI as a helping hand that gives time back to focus on what is important.
Central to Aisulu’s ethos is a holistic approach to life that bleeds into her career. During her experience in UX, she learned that every part of a brand, from buttons that merge with the company’s voice and empower users to smoothly navigate through the website to marketing strategies and operational organization, must align. Ultimately, this approach is essential to clients enjoying their experience from the first moment they enter the website to the moment they purchase and receive their order.
Aisulu ascribes the mindset that prioritizes a smooth user experience to the entrepreneurial drive running in her blood. Growing up, she would often immerse herself in business conversations, share startup ideas over breakfast, and absorb the invaluable knowledge her mom, dad, uncles, grandparents, and cousins – all of whom were successful business owners – possessed.
Now, at the helm of Quor, Aisulu leverages her extensive expertise to help other businesses thrive, honoring her family’s entrepreneurial legacy by empowering the next generation of startups. “Nobody is born knowing how to run a business. I know not many people grow up having business conversations, and I feel lucky to have been surrounded by so many successful people,” she shares. “I always knew I wanted to start a business, and Quor is where my expertise and passion can shine the brightest.”