Startup & Venture Summit 2025 held in Tashkent with the participation of more than 500 startup ecosystem players

On September 25, 2025, the Startup & Venture Summit 2025 was held at CAEX as part of ICT Week Uzbekistan, serving as a vital platform for investment and partnerships in Central Asia. The event was organized by IT Park Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan and Plug and Play Tech Center.

The summit attracted over 500 participants, including startups, venture funds, accelerators, corporations, government agencies, and international experts. It acted as a catalyst for integrating national startups into the global innovation ecosystem and enhancing the region's investment appeal.

Keynote Addresses

Yoram Wijngaarde, Founder and CEO of Dealroom.co, spoke to the audience about the growth of Uzbekistan’s economy through digital entrepreneurship and public-private partnerships.

“We have launched the global platform Uzbekistan.dealroom.com in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan. It combines data on startups, investors, and innovation hubs across the country and provides access to the global ecosystem. This is a significant step toward positioning Uzbekistan as a new center for technology and entrepreneurship.”

Panel Discussion: Scaling Startups Across Borders

In the panel discussion titled “Scaling Startups Across Borders,” speakers provided insights on the expansion of startups internationally. The session was moderated by Sascha Karimpour, Partner at Plug and Play Tech Center.

Robin Butler from Sturgeon Capital highlighted that successful market entry requires a clear understanding of market dynamics and ensuring that the product aligns with customer needs.

Christie Kanida from Alchemist Accelerator discussed the accelerator’s methodology, emphasizing the importance of a culture of communication and engagement with client feedback.

Ahmed Abbassa of Auzua Holding Group stressed the importance of strategic partnerships and integration into local ecosystems, while also pointing out the growing interest in AI-driven bootstrapping, along with the promising potential of the fintech and deeptech sectors.

Sergio Argento, Founder of Argento > Ventures, addressed venture opportunities and investment strategies within the rapidly growing markets of Central Asia.

“I prefer startups to first validate market traction before raising capital. Investment should support real results, not just ideas."

Bakhtiyor Aliyev: Moneff’s Experience in the Global Market

Bakhtiyor Aliyev, Co-founder and CCO of Moneff (United Kingdom), presented a case study titled “Local Talents – Global Excellence, Founders Without Borders,” where he shared insights on establishing a fintech startup in Europe and the challenges associated with scaling.

“We started with a team of four, and now we employ over 60 individuals from 12 different countries, with one-third of our team hailing from Uzbekistan. The company has facilitated more than $7 billion in transactions. My advice to aspiring founders is to take the plunge — local challenges often present global solutions.”

Obidjon Komiljonov: Technological Development of Trestle

Obidjon Komiljonov, Co-founder and CTO of trestle, discussed the company’s technological advancements, the adoption of Salesforce solutions for international clients, and his role in nurturing Uzbekistan’s IT community through mentorship.

“We established our company in Uzbekistan by placing our faith in young talent. Currently, our developers are executing projects for prominent global brands. Our confidence in the nation and its youth has enabled success and innovation.”

Jan Davidek: Investment Potential of Central Asia

Jan Davidek, Partner at Purple Ventures, in his presentation “Investing in Emerging Markets — Central Asia: How VCs Assess Startup Potential,” provided practical insights on evaluating the investment opportunities of regional startups, including those in Uzbekistan.

“We recognize significant potential in emerging markets. Capital is utilized more effectively here, promoting sustainable innovation. We believe Central Asia can emerge as a hub for long-term investment.”

Charlie Morris: Accelerating the Region’s Venture Ecosystem

Charlie Morris, Economic Development Counsellor (Central Asia) at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, delivered a presentation titled “Accelerating Venture Capital Ecosystem,” outlining the essential steps for creating a supportive environment for investors and funds, which includes regulatory frameworks and infrastructure.

“Central Asia is characterized by a youthful population and stable demographics — this is a significant advantage. However, for international investors, transparent regulations and ease of doing business are crucial. These elements are vital for unlocking the region’s full potential.”

Fireside Chat: The Role of Corporations

During the Fireside Chat on Corporate Innovation, representatives from BILLZ, TBC, and payme shared their insights on collaborating with startups and emphasized the significance of corporations within Uzbekistan’s ecosystem.

Oliver Hughes from TBC Bank Group highlighted that Uzbek startups are evolving into strategic partners capable of expanding local solutions on a global scale. Stanislav Skvirskiy of payme stressed the necessity of maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit and agility when entering new markets, while Rustam Khamdamov from BILLZ pointed out the importance of forming robust teams and establishing clear strategies for scaling.

Strategic Agreements: New Memoranda of Cooperation

A major highlight of the summit was the enhancement of international collaboration. United Ventures announced the signing of two strategic memoranda — one with Astana Hub Ventures and another with Yoshlar Ventures.

Investments in New Startups

Additionally, AloqaVentures revealed a series of investments amounting to $750,000 in Uzbek and regional startups. The distribution of these investments is as follows:

These investments will act as a catalyst for the advancement of fintech, technological solutions, and digital services, while also underscoring the increasing interest of venture capital in Uzbekistan’s ecosystem.

Tashkent to Host CEVF 2026 — The Region’s Flagship Venture Event

Another significant announcement from the summit was that Tashkent will host the Central Eurasian Venture Forum (CEVF) in the spring of 2026 — the region’s leading venture capital event. This will be the first time the forum takes place outside of Kazakhstan, debuting in Uzbekistan and uniting investors, startups, corporations, and venture funds from the United States, Europe, South Korea, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Organized by MOST Holding and IT Park Uzbekistan with the backing of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the forum represents a pivotal moment in Uzbekistan’s integration into the global innovation ecosystem. IT Park Uzbekistan CEO Abdulakhad Kuchkarov emphasized that hosting the CEVF in Tashkent will strengthen the country’s role as a technological development hub in the region.

DOMiNO Ventures Launches €20 Million Fund in Uzbekistan

One of the most notable outcomes of the summit was the announcement of the DOMiNO Uzbekistan Fund — the nation’s first international private venture capital fund featuring foreign investment, totaling €20 million.

The fund was created by DOMiNO Ventures (Netherlands), with UzVC acting as the anchor investor and pledging €10 million.

This new office signifies the inaugural European venture capital presence in Central Asia and represents a direct influx of foreign investment into Uzbekistan. The fund will concentrate on investments in artificial intelligence, deeptech, and cleantech initiatives, aiding Uzbek startups in accessing international markets and enhancing the region’s innovation capabilities.

IT Park Ventures and AWS: new opportunities for startups

The summit also announced a strategic collaboration: IT Park Ventures has become part of the global AWS Activate Providers network, officially partnering with Amazon Web Services in the region. This partnership grants startups access to AWS promotional credits of up to $10,000, exclusive offers, and the AWS Activate Console platform, which includes tools for scaling and international expansion.

This initiative allows Uzbek and regional entrepreneurs to utilize the same technologies and infrastructure that support the success of global unicorns, thereby strengthening Uzbekistan’s position as an emerging center for entrepreneurship and venture investment in Central Asia.

In his closing remarks, IT Park Uzbekistan CEO Abdulakhad Kuchkarov emphasized the rapid development of the national ecosystem. He noted that since IT Park's inception in 2017, membership has surged from four companies to over 3,000, with increasing participation from European, Korean, and Japanese firms. According to Kuchkarov, this growth has been facilitated by the team's commitment, the trust of partners, and the ecosystem's openness. He expressed appreciation to the summit attendees and encouraged them to continue the conversation at future ICT Week Uzbekistan events.

The summit also included exclusive B2B meetings, promoting networking among startups, accelerators, corporations, consulting firms, and ecosystem stakeholders from around the world.

Participants took part in engaging, pre-scheduled 20-minute sessions, allowing for efficient time management and a focus on identifying specific solutions. The B2B format provided opportunities for developing roadmaps, initiating pilot projects, engaging in international programs, and testing innovative technologies.

The Startup & Venture Summit 2025 emerged as a pivotal occasion for establishing Uzbekistan as a burgeoning hub for innovation and venture investment, creating new prospects for the nation on the international front.

The event's information partners included Aniq.uz, Daryo.uz, Frank.uz, Kursiv, Nova 24, The Tech, UzbekFintech, Weproject, Vzglyad.uz, and Oriat Dono radio station.