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Ramil MukhoryapovTech entrepreneur, investor, founder and co-owner of Chocofamily Holding
Date of Birth: 21.12.1984
Country:  Kazakhstan |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Entrepreneurial Beginnings
- Expansion and Growth
- Funding and Expansion
- Further Growth and Investment
- Innovation and Expansion
- IPO and Corporate Developments
- Recognition and Awards
- - "Best CEO in Kazakhstan" by Kazakhstan Growth Forum (2018)
Early Life and Education
Ramil Mukhoryapov was born on December 21, 1984, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to a physician and a businessman. His entrepreneurial instincts blossomed in his school days when he and his brother sold apples and newspapers on the streets. After graduating high school, Ramil enrolled in the Finance and Credit faculty of the Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation in Moscow.
Entrepreneurial Beginnings
While studying in Moscow in 2010, Ramil's interest was piqued by the coupon service BigLion. He envisioned introducing a similar model in Kazakhstan. In January 2011, he assembled a team to develop Chocolife.me, co-founded with his school friend, Anvar Bakiev. The venture proved successful, turning profitable within six months. By the end of 2011, Chocolife.me had expanded to four Kazakh cities and generated a turnover of $1 million.
Expansion and Growth
In 2012, Ramil and his team launched Lensmark.kz, a contact lens delivery service, and Chocomart, an online hypermarket. 2013 marked the introduction of Chocofood.kz, a food delivery service, and Chocotravel, an online booking platform for flights and train tickets. The company received its first investment in 2013, $400,000 from DEMUS Capital, allowing for the announcement of Chocofood and Chocotravel. By 2014, the company had grown from 15 to 150 employees.
Funding and Expansion
Chocofamily secured a second round of investment in 2016, with $1 million from Murat Abdrakhmanov, founder of Astel and KazTransCom. In 2017, Timur Turlov and Adil Nurghozhin invested 700 million tenge in the third round of funding. Significant milestones in 2017 included the acquisition of FoodPanda and BeSmart, as well as a 40% stake in iDoctor.kz. Chocofood also launched its own delivery service in Almaty and Astana.
Further Growth and Investment
The холдинг consolidated its position by acquiring its strongest competitor in the airline and rail ticket sales market, Aviata, which later merged with Chocotravel. In March 2018, the company launched the "Rahmet" mobile wallet app. Chocofamily attracted another round of investment in 2019, with a $5 million injection from Aidyn Rakhimbaev, head of BI Group. By the end of 2019, Aviata was fully operational under Chocofamily.
Innovation and Expansion
In September 2020, Chocofamily announced the launch of "Ryadom," a free 15-minute delivery service for groceries of any value. The platform operated through the "Rahmet" app. Orders through Chocofood saw a significant 82% increase in 2020, while transactions via "Rahmet" multiplied by 4.4 times compared to 2019. Aviation and rail services also experienced growth despite border closures.
IPO and Corporate Developments
In 2021, Chocofamily held an initial public offering on the Astana International Exchange (AIX), issuing $15 million in public bonds with a coupon rate of 10.25% per annum. The proceeds were earmarked for refinancing existing debt and developing "Rahmet," "Ryadom," and Chocofood.kz.
Recognition and Awards
Ramil Mukhoryapov has received numerous accolades, including:- "Person of the Year" by the Association of the Kazakh Internet Business and Mobile Commerce (2014)
- "Best CEO in Kazakhstan" by Kazakhstan Growth Forum (2018)
- "IT-Entrepreneur of the Year" by Astana Hub Awards (2019)- No. 45 in the Forbes Kazakhstan list of "Most Influential Businessmen in Kazakhstan" (2020)
