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Uzbekistan launches competition to support 20 technology startups
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Uzbekistan launches competition to support 20 technology startups

Uzbekistan has announced an open competition aimed at selecting twenty promising technology startups. These companies will receive phased support for business development, preparation for attracting investments, and entering international markets.

This program is implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance as part of the preparation for the 'Financing Opportunities for Development and Job Creation - FINGROW' program, in which the World Bank participates.

The selected projects will receive practical mentorship and support focused on improving business positioning, developing market strategies, preparing for investment, strengthening scaling potential, and expanding opportunities for global market entry.

Participants will have direct interaction with Eli David Roha, founder and CEO of StartupBlink. StartupBlink is positioned as a global research center studying startup ecosystems and collaborating with over 150 governments and leading organizations.

According to the organizers, Eli Roha has over ten years of experience in developing international cooperation and has worked with startup ecosystems in more than 120 countries. StartupBlink's research is utilized by governments, investors, large corporations, and startup founders.

Participation in this program will allow startup founders to gain practical experience in building global companies, interacting with corporate and state structures, positioning their business in international markets, and managing growth.

Technological projects focused on industry and manufacturing in Uzbekistan are eligible to participate. Applicants must be prepared to actively participate throughout the entire mentorship period. Organizers also note that proficiency in English is desirable for effective participation.

Participation in the program is free for selected startups. The application period will run until October 14, 2026. Projects will be evaluated based on transparent criteria, including alignment with the program's focus, readiness for investment, innovative potential, scalability and market potential, correspondence between the identified problem and the proposed solution, as well as the applicant's region. Applications for the support program can be submitted via the link provided by the organizers.

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Uzbekistan and Startup Genome Discuss Startup Ecosystem Development
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Uzbekistan and Startup Genome Discuss Startup Ecosystem Development

As part of the ICT WEEK Uzbekistan 2026 event, Uzbekistan and Startup Genome held discussions on the development of the national startup ecosystem and its international promotion.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz)

The First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies, Ayubkhon Sultanov, met with the founder of Startup Genome, Jean-François Gautier. The parties discussed opportunities to strengthen Uzbekistan's position in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) and in other international rankings.

Particular attention was paid to increasing the accessibility of information about the Uzbek startup ecosystem for foreign investors, as well as enhancing the country's international recognition on the global startup scene.

Startup Genome is an international organization based in San Francisco that researches and develops startup ecosystems. The organization analyzes data from over 350 ecosystems and more than 5.5 million startups.

Furthermore, Startup Genome provides strategic consulting services to government bodies and innovation institutions in more than 65 countries. One of the key research products of this organization is the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue comprehensive analysis of the Uzbek startup ecosystem and improve its development indicators based on international benchmarking. They also intend to continue joint efforts to strengthen Uzbekistan's position on Startup Genome's global research and rating platforms.

Uzbekistan proposes reforming the support system for innovative startups
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uzdaily.uz

Uzbekistan proposes reforming the support system for innovative startups

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan has prepared a draft reform of the innovative startup support system. This document has been posted on the portal for discussion of normative legal acts projects.

The proposed changes concern approaches to selecting and financing startups. They include evaluating projects according to international criteria, as well as implementing incubation and acceleration programs based on international experience.

The government plans to allocate funding to no less than 50 startups annually, starting from 40 billion soms. Additionally, the plan provides for attracting private investments, venture funds, and companies amounting to $500,000 annually.

Starting from January 1, 2027, it is proposed to fully digitize the procedures for submitting, selecting, and financing startup projects. To achieve this, a specialized platform for working with innovative startups and a register of legal entities engaged in scientific and innovative activities are planned to be launched.

State funding will only be available to startups that have passed incubation or acceleration programs. The Innovation Development Agency will accept project proposals and direct them to relevant programs for participation. To expand funding sources, the platform also includes a crowdfunding function.

The proposed funding amounts will depend on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the project, according to ISO criteria. Incubator and accelerator organizers can receive up to 30 basic calculation units per startup with TRL from 1 to 3, up to 50 basic calculation units for TRL from 4 to 6, and up to 70 basic calculation units for TRL from 7 to 9. These amounts are indicated in the draft as 13.2 million, 22 million, and 30.8 million soms, respectively.

Startups with TRL from 4 to 6, recognized as effective after the programs, may apply for funding of up to 485 basic calculation units, which amounts to 213.4 million soms. For projects with TRL 7 and above, the maximum proposed funding amount reaches 4,500 basic calculation units, or 1.98 billion soms.

Furthermore, state funding is provided on the condition that the startup founder attracts private investment. It is proposed that the Council for Integration of Innovation and Industry approve the budget funding, whose composition will be approved by the Head of the Presidential Administration.

The Startup Support Center will assist funded projects that have undergone incubation or acceleration in advertising and marketing. In addition, the center will present proposals to state bodies and industrial enterprises at least twice a year regarding the implementation of innovative developments. The draft resolution will be open for public discussion until October 2.

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