Uzbekistan presented its IT ecosystem and startups in Saudi Arabia

During an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a series of high-level events were conducted to enhance collaboration in the areas of information technology, innovation, and startups. The visit featured participation in the UOC Saudi Arabia conference, which was organized with the backing of the Embassy of Uzbekistan and the World Bank, as well as in Biban 2025, the largest startup forum in the Kingdom, held in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan. These events acted as crucial platforms for promoting Uzbekistan’s IT ecosystem, highlighting the nation’s startups, and forging strategic alliances with leading technological and investment entities in Saudi Arabia.

The conference attracted representatives from IT and BPO firms, venture funds, startup studios, private investors, and entrepreneurs, with over 100 participants from various organizations and countries in the region.

Uzbekistan was represented by a delegation from IT Park Uzbekistan, along with officials from the Embassy, including First Secretary Mirzokhid Eshonkulov and Chief Consul Azimjon Kabuljonov. They emphasized the significance of enhancing cooperation in the digital sector and pointed out that Uzbekistan is swiftly becoming one of Central Asia’s primary regional IT hubs.

The speakers included notable figures from Saudi Arabia’s technology and investment sector, such as Abdulaziz Al-Benyan, Director of Business Development and Stakeholder Relations at DataVolt; Abdurrahman Alsmaiel, CEO of Enterprise Development at Monsha’at; Muhammad Saad Ali; and the founder and CEO of the venture studio Harv3st.

In their remarks, the speakers addressed the ongoing evolution of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy and innovation landscape, highlighting the increasing role of IT companies and startups in diversifying the national economy. They also exchanged best practices regarding technology adoption and infrastructure investment, expressing a keen interest in fostering collaboration with Uzbekistan in IT, BPO, and digital entrepreneurship.

Representatives from IT Park Uzbekistan presented an overview of the country’s rapidly expanding IT ecosystem, detailing government support initiatives for technology firms, efforts to enhance IT exports, and investment opportunities for international partners.

The delegation emphasized Uzbekistan’s expanding capabilities in the IT outsourcing and BPO sectors, along with the attractive business climate for foreign investors, which includes tax incentives, talent development initiatives, and sophisticated digital infrastructure.

Pitching session of Uzbek startups

A significant feature of the conference was the Uzbek startup pitching session, facilitated with the assistance of IT Park Uzbekistan. Promising startup teams from Uzbekistan showcased their projects to investors, venture funds, and representatives from Saudi technology firms.

Numerous Uzbekistani startups from diverse segments of the technology market participated in the pitching session. Each team presented its unique solution and discussed its potential for international market entry. Among the participants were:

Fonus Kids — an EdTech platform designed for children, offering a carefully selected array of content, including cartoons, educational videos, interactive tasks, and age-appropriate audio materials. The project was presented by Muzaffarbek Zairov, Founder and CEO, alongside Diyorbek Tavakkalov, Co-founder and COO.

MULK Protocol — a fintech solution aimed at the tokenization of real-world assets in compliance with Sharia principles, enabling firms to attract international investments and enhance transactional transparency. The project was presented by Khayotjon Azimov, Founder and CEO.

GoRent — a proptech platform that integrates coworking and office spaces into a single ecosystem based on a flexible subscription model. The project was presented by Furqat Ubaydullaev, CEO.

After the presentations, a networking dinner took place, providing participants with the opportunity to exchange contact information, explore potential collaboration areas, and affirm their commitment to developing joint initiatives.

Bilateral meetings and partnership discussions

During the visit, the IT Park Uzbekistan delegation held a series of meetings with prominent technology and venture capital organizations in Saudi Arabia to discuss prospective joint projects and investment collaboration.

Flow Ventures: Supporting Uzbek startups in Saudi Arabia

The delegation met with Raakan Tashkandi, Founder of Flow Ventures, to discuss potential collaboration. The company indicated its willingness to support Uzbek startups in entering the Saudi market by offering networking opportunities, assistance with office establishment, and connections to investors.

Flow Ventures is a Saudi venture firm focused on accelerating technology startups, facilitating investments, and scaling projects throughout the Middle East. The company actively partners with stakeholders in MENA and Asia to promote international technology initiatives.

Savvy Games Group: Advancing the gaming industry and encouraging knowledge sharing

A distinct meeting took place with representatives from Savvy Games Group, one of the largest gaming firms in the region, which included Jean Chakkour, Advisor for International Business Development.

The Saudi representatives expressed a strong interest in the advancement of the gaming sector in Uzbekistan, recognizing the potential of local studios and the burgeoning community of young developers.

The company revealed plans to visit Uzbekistan in 2026 to investigate collaboration opportunities with local studios and to recruit Uzbek talent for international projects.

Savvy Games Group is a state-owned holding entity operating under the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). It invests in the gaming, esports, and technology sectors as part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy for economic diversification.

Orbit Ventures: Collaborative investments and startup acceleration

Representatives from IT Park Uzbekistan also engaged with Ching Ping Lin, Partner and COO, and William Bao Bean, Managing Partner of Orbit Ventures.

The discussions centered on opportunities for joint investments in Uzbek startups and potential bilateral initiatives between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. The fund’s representatives indicated their willingness to contribute to the growth of Uzbekistan’s tech ecosystem and to participate in upcoming events at IT Park Uzbekistan.

Ching Ping Lin announced plans to visit Uzbekistan in early December to co-host a Demo Day for Uzbek startups in collaboration with IT Park Uzbekistan.

Orbit Ventures is an international venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups in AI, fintech, and digital services. The fund is based in Singapore, with regional offices in the Middle East and Asia.

Monsha’at: Enhancing cooperation and establishing an IT Park Uzbekistan office

Significant attention was given to the meeting with Rayan bin Ibrahim Al-Fayez, Deputy Governor for Enterprise Development at Monsha’at, where the parties deliberated on extending their existing cooperation and signing a new Memorandum of Understanding, as well as setting up an IT Park Uzbekistan representative office in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi representatives affirmed their willingness to aid in the establishment of the office and the appointment of a local director, highlighting their commitment to supporting Uzbek IT firms in accessing the Saudi market.

Monsha’at (Saudi SME Authority) is the governmental body tasked with the advancement of small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia. It executes acceleration programs, grant initiatives, and international collaborations to promote entrepreneurship.

Antler: aiding startups and the expansion of Uzbek projects into GCC markets

A meeting took place with officials from the international venture capital firm Antler, which focuses on supporting early-stage startups. Halah Al-Jubeir, Managing Director of Antler Saudi Arabia, participated in the discussions.

The Saudi representatives conveyed a strong interest in fostering collaboration with Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem and proposed two primary areas for partnership: a market-entry program for GCC nations and an initiative aimed at identifying and selecting promising Uzbek entrepreneurs.

Antler is a global venture capital firm and startup generator established in 2017 in Singapore. Currently, the firm operates in over 30 countries and has invested in more than 900 startups globally. Its regional division, Antler MENAP, located in Riyadh and Dubai, promotes the development of innovative projects across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, assisting emerging companies in their growth and international market expansion.

Meeting with the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Saudi Arabia

The delegation also engaged with Ambassador Nodirjon Turgunov and Trade and Economic Consul Islam Madaminov.

The discussions encompassed potential collaboration with DataVolt, a company interested in projects within Uzbekistan. The Embassy expressed its full support for the initiatives of IT Park Uzbekistan and its dedication to enhancing partnerships with Saudi organizations and investors.

Participation in the Biban Forum

During the visit, IT Park Uzbekistan showcased the national startup ecosystem at Biban 2025, Saudi Arabia’s premier forum focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. The IT Park booth featured 10 Uzbek startups: Fonus Kids, Dataprizma, KPI.com, Uysot, Growz, Linko, Mulk Protocol, GoRent, D-Clinics, and Smartcast.

These startups presented their projects to investors, shared their ideas, and garnered significant interest from venture funds and business partners.

The forum offered a crucial opportunity to enhance Uzbekistan’s startup presence within the Saudi market.

Biban is Saudi Arabia’s leading annual forum dedicated to the advancement of SMEs, startups, and digital technologies. Organized by Monsha’at (Saudi SME Authority), it stands as the largest platform in the region for interaction among entrepreneurs, investors, and government agencies.

Outcomes of the visit

Participation in UOC Saudi Arabia represented a pivotal move towards bolstering international collaboration and elevating Uzbekistan’s IT ecosystem in the Middle East. The agreements established with Orbit Ventures, Flow Ventures, Monsha’at, and Savvy Games Group pave the way for new investment opportunities, support for startups, and the enhancement of Uzbekistan’s status as a regional center for digital technology and innovation.