Uzbekistan and Talos Capital Discuss Venture Cooperation and Startup Investment Opportunities

A delegation from the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with IT Park Uzbekistan, is conducting a series of strategic meetings in the United States to enhance international venture cooperation and facilitate the global scaling of Uzbek startups.

During this visit, the delegation engaged in a strategic meeting with Talos Capital, a venture capital firm based in the U.S. that focuses on early-stage investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, DeepTech, cybersecurity, defense technologies, Industry 4.0, and FinTech.

Attendees of the meeting included Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan; Farkhod Ibragimov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IT Park Uzbekistan; Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan; Jamila Khalibaeva, Global Marketing Director of IT Park Uzbekistan; Nir Netzer, General Partner at Talos Capital; and Paul Sheahan, Project Director of Saviday.

The discussion centered on exploring avenues for establishing systematic cooperation in venture investment and startup acceleration. Talos Capital expressed a desire to review Uzbekistan’s national startup pipeline and collaboratively assess promising technology firms that align with its investment priorities. A significant focus was placed on developing a structured mechanism for deal-flow exchange and coordinated evaluation of startups in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan.

The conversation also addressed the potential involvement of Talos Capital in Uzbekistan’s co-investment initiatives, such as the Digital Startups Program, with an emphasis on coordinating joint due diligence, co-investment strategies, and early-stage investment acceleration efforts.

Another important topic was the soft-landing support for Talos Capital portfolio companies entering Uzbekistan, which would include access to IT Park infrastructure, regulatory advisory support, facilitation of pilot projects with local businesses, and the development of partnerships with the Uzbek private sector.

Furthermore, both parties discussed the sharing of knowledge and collaboration in international innovation programs, including the participation of Talos Capital representatives in ecosystem events, venture initiatives, and expert programs aimed at fostering DeepTech and AI development in Uzbekistan.

Following the meeting, the involved parties reached an agreement to further enhance collaboration, ease market entry for Talos portfolio companies into Central Asia, draw venture investments into startups based in Uzbekistan, and bolster the country's integration into the global innovation ecosystem.

About Talos Capital

Talos Capital is a venture capital and advisory firm that specializes in deep AI and next-generation technologies. The firm invests in entrepreneurs developing transformative solutions in areas such as AI, cybersecurity and digital defense, Industry 4.0, as well as advanced enterprise and fintech systems. In addition to providing capital, Talos offers global market access, strategic insights, and institutional partnerships to expedite the growth of early-stage companies.