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#1
Higgsfield AI: Why the $1.3 Billion Valuation is Built on a Toxic Business Model
15 min read
Pricing and Marketing Strategies

Higgsfield AI: Why the $1.3 Billion Valuation is Built on a Toxic Business Model

$1.3 billion valuation. 15 million users. Hundreds of reviews with the word "scam." A class-action lawsuit in preparation. The story of Higgsfield AI is a perfect case of how impressive figures for investors are built on toxic customer relations.

19 Jan 11.1K
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#2
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#4
Teez: What happened to the marketplace that promised one-day delivery?
Business Models and Their Challenges
22 min

Teez: What happened to the marketplace that promised one-day delivery?

Teez wanted to become the "Kazakhstani Amazon" with one-day delivery. By January 2026, there were delays in payments to sellers and the sale of a fintech company. Analyzed what exactly went wrong: from unit economics to ranking algorithms. Plus practical lessons for those working with marketplaces.

Jan 23, 2026 3.2K
Business Models and Their Challenges #business-model #logistics #marketplace #delivery
#5
Neo-nomads: How Kazakhstan's IT giants replicated the 12th-century business model
Rituals and Symbolism in Business
13 min

Neo-nomads: How Kazakhstan's IT giants replicated the 12th-century business model

Kaspi, Freedom, InDrive, Choco. The main names in Kazakhstan's IT. The total value of the ecosystem is $26 billion. The number of globally used products created within this ecosystem: zero. We have replaced camels with APIs, caravanserais with data centers, but the business model remains from the 12th century: control the pass, take a percentage, produce nothing yourself.

Feb 28, 2026 2.9K
Rituals and Symbolism in Business #ecosystem #business-model #economy #marketplace
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#7
5 out of 5 Failures: Why the Founder of 1Fit Now Teaches Others How to Build a Business
Business Models and Their Challenges
17 min

5 out of 5 Failures: Why the Founder of 1Fit Now Teaches Others How to Build a Business

Murat Alikhanov built the largest fitness startup in Kazakhstan. Then he closed projects in five countries, admitted that he couldn't return money to clients, and stepped down as CEO. Now he consults businesses. I'm analyzing the public facts - the conclusions are up to you.

Dec 18, 2025 2.2K 4
Business Models and Their Challenges #business-strategy #innovations #startup #marketing
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#9
YaYa: How a "math error" became a criminal case and left thousands of families with loans for nothing
Business Models and Their Challenges Discussion
18 min

YaYa: How a "math error" became a criminal case and left thousands of families with loans for nothing

On February 9, the startup YaYa, valued at $10 million, announced its closure. Subscriptions disappeared from the app, while thousands of families continue to pay installment plans to banks for a non-existent service. A criminal case has been initiated in Astana, and accounts have been frozen.

Feb 12, 2026 1.8K 6
Business Models and Their Challenges #investigation #startup #investor #subscription
#10
Patriotism or Complicity: Why Silence About the Scam of "Our Own" is Killing Kazakhstan's IT Brand
Corruption and Social Justice Discussion
13 min

Patriotism or Complicity: Why Silence About the Scam of "Our Own" is Killing Kazakhstan's IT Brand

I wrote an investigation about Higgsfield AI even before Forbes, and every fifth comment was: "Why are you sinking your own?" Higgsfield bans users without refunding $200. 1Fit abandons clients in four countries in a row. And the Kazakh IT community remains silent because they are "one of their own." This article is about why such silence is not patriotism, but complicity, and how it is already

Feb 16, 2026 1.8K 11
Corruption and Social Justice #startup #investor #business-model #reputation