Historic regional competitors launches to showcase Central Eurasias increasing start-up ecosystem on Silicon Valleys biggest stage.For the first time in its history, Central Eurasia will have a direct path to A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield through the launch of Road to Battlefield, a cutting-edge regional competitors that promises to put the underrepresented area firmly on the global innovation map.The competition, arranged by Silkroad Innovation Hub in partnership with A Technology NewsRoom and Freedom Holding, will cover 9 countries across Central Eurasia: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Trkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
National competitors will cause a local final where the top three startups will make areas in A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield 2025 in San Francisco.Weve been showing start-ups at A Technology NewsRoom Disrupt for numerous years as partners 14 start-ups in 2023, 24 startups in 2024 and we see that they can be competitive, said Asset Abdualiyev, CEO and founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub.
In 2024, we had the biggest structure at A Technology NewsRoom Disrupt.
We are happy to take our partnership with A Technology NewsRoom Disrupt to the next level by providing direct access to A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield 200 to the most appealing start-ups from the Central Eurasian region.An area all set for recognitionCentral Eurasias start-up community has actually been silently developing momentum, representing a dynamic tech center of 100 million individuals with among the youngest populations in the world.
The region produces roughly 200,000 STEM graduates yearly and is home to an estimated 7,000 active start-ups across crucial sectors, including AI, fintech, edtech, medtech, and e-commerce.
The numbers tell a compelling story: Venture financing in Central Asia and the South Caucasus has actually grown 5.5 x in the last few years, reaching $110 million in 2023 and $150 million in the very first half of 2024 alone.
Noteworthy successes include AI business Higgsfield, valued at over $100 million, and Uzum from Uzbekistan, which raised $114 million in financing, becoming the nations first unicorn with an appraisal of $1.16 billion.
On the other hand, local workplaces of international players, such as Telegram and inDrive, have actually developed operations in Kazakhstan.Despite this growth, the areas potential stays largely untapped by worldwide investors.
The Road to Battlefield competition intends to alter that narrative by providing unprecedented presence and access to Silicon Valleys most influential networks.Not all financiers comprehend how large the opportunities remain in that area, explained Abdualiyev.
This competition is about showcasing that Central Eurasia has startups that are worthy of international acknowledgment.
The effort has garnered strong support from essential local players.
Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub in Kazakhstan, stressed the importance of this opportunity: Weve been helping start-ups scale in the US through our acceleration programs and have seen real progress.
Many companies have actually currently secured local investments, and this competitors offers an even larger platform for Kazakhstans startups to be exposed.Strong regional partnershipThe competitors gain from a robust collaboration network across the region, supported by leading local development centers and accelerators: Astana Hub (Kazakhstan); IT Park Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan); Future Laboratory (Georgia); Sabah Hub and Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) (Azerbaijan); IT Park Mongolia (Mongolia); Accelerate Prosperity (Kyrgyzstan); IT Park Dushanbe (Tajikistan); and Startup Centrum (Trkiye).
IT Park Uzbekistan, one of the crucial supporters, sees this as a vital action in community advancement.
We are happy to support and assist Uzbek startups scale worldwide, said Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan.
We want that through our efforts to progress the endeavor ecosystem, our startups can be seen in the United States market and broaden globally.
As part of the Central Asia Innovation Hub that we are now executing with Astana Hub, this effort lines up perfectly with our regional advancement goals.
The effort is backed by Freedom Holding as the primary partner, showing considerable economic sector dedication to regional development.
Freedom Holding Corp.
has actually been supporting Central Eurasian teams on the international A Technology NewsRoom stage for a number of years now, and this year is no exception, said Marlen Sikhayev, adviser to the president of Freedom Finance Global PLC.
We believe in the capacity of local business owners and want to give them access to finest practices, mentorship, and financial investments.
This initiative not just provides vital assistance for startups however also demonstrates that Central Eurasias innovation and innovation sector is equaling global patterns and establishing as a merged region.Competition structure and timelineThe competition follows a carefully structured process: Stage 1: National Competitions (July 21 August 10).
Each nation will host online pitch events.Stage 2: Regional Final (August 15).
The top 20 startups will compete in an online regional final to identify the three winners.Stage 3: Battlefield Preparation (September 1 October 24).
Winners get extensive preparation through weekly webinars leading up to A Technology NewsRoom Disrupt 2025.
Phase 4: A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield (October 27 29).
The 3 finalists travel to Silicon Valley to contend in the A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield 200.
Special advantages for winnersThe 3 winning startups will get a detailed package created to optimize their Silicon Valley experience: Guaranteed spots in A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield 200.Round-trip flights to San Francisco for up to 2 group members.Accommodation covered for up to 2 weeks.Startup cubicle and exhibit space for all three days of A Technology NewsRoom Disrupt.Investor and networking access to top VCs and private market events.Branding and media direct exposure through occasion materials and coverage opportunities.Startup criteriaThe competitors targets early-stage start-ups that satisfy specific criteria: Must not have exceeded the pre-Series A funding stage.Must have a practical MVP.Should have limited worldwide media exposure.Must be based in one of the 9 Central Eurasian countries.Building on successA Technology NewsRoom Disrupt stands as one of the worlds most prominent tech conferences, drawing in over 165,000 guests and including speakers such as Elon Musk, Serena Williams, and Satya Nadella.
At its core, A Technology NewsRoom Startup Battlefield boasts an impressive 15-plus-year track record of releasing global tech giants, consisting of Trello, Dropbox, N26, Mint, and Forethought AI.
Alumni business have jointly raised over $32 billion, with more than 50 unicorns emerging from the program.Each year, 200 early-stage startups compete for unrivaled direct exposure to top-tier investors and media, with 20 finalists advancing to complete live for $100,000 financing and the iconic Disrupt Cup.A historical momentThe launch of Road to Battlefield represents more than simply a competition; its a historic moment for Central Eurasias startup community.
By producing a direct pathway to among the worlds most distinguished start-up stages, the initiative promises to accelerate the areas combination into the international development economy.As the competitors opens for applications, business owners throughout Central Eurasia now have an opportunity to display their developments to Silicon Valleys most influential investors and partners.
For a region that has long been underrepresented in international start-up competitors, it could be the driver that transforms Central Eurasia into an acknowledged hub of international innovation.Applications for Road to Battlefield are now open, with a due date of July 15, 2025.