The initiative is an international program aimed at developing the country’s startup ecosystem and is implemented in partnership with UzVC and Hackonnect, who represent the global Techstars network in Uzbekistan.

The event brought together around 150 representatives of the industry, including participants from the public and private sectors, investors, bank executives, representatives of business communities, as well as leaders of the IT and startup ecosystem.

Techstars is one of the world’s largest platforms supporting startups, bringing together accelerator programs, venture investments, and a global entrepreneurial community. Founded in 2006, the organization works with entrepreneurs around the world, providing mentorship, investment opportunities, and access to an international network of experts and investors.

Since its founding, more than 4,900 companies have participated in Techstars programs. Each year, the organization’s accelerators help hundreds of startups find product–market fit, scale their businesses, and attract investment. Unlike the standard Techstars model, which grants the right to host programs in individual cities, UzVC has received the exclusive right to conduct events across the entire country.

The launch of Techstars Uzbekistan provides local entrepreneurs with access to an international network of mentors, educational programs, and the global community of founders and investors. This will allow startups to develop their products faster, expand into new markets, and raise funding.

Several key startup development formats will be implemented in Uzbekistan as part of the program:

Startup Weekend
A three-day hackathons where participants form teams, develop ideas, and build startup prototypes within 54 hours.

Founder Catalyst
A 10-week online pre-accelerator designed for early-stage startups, providing the knowledge, tools, and mentorship needed to prepare for scaling and fundraising.

Startup Week & Community Lab
A 5 and 1-day summits aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial community and facilitating knowledge exchange with international experts.

Startup Digest
A regular digest featuring insights, news, and analysis from the global startup ecosystem.

Despite the program being newly introduced, interest from entrepreneurs has already been significant. At the initial stage, around 50 startups from Uzbekistan applied to participate in the Founder Catalyst pre-accelerator — the first selection of its kind in Central Asia.

The launch of Techstars Uzbekistan marks an important step in the development of the country’s venture infrastructure. The emergence of an international program of this scale contributes to the formation of a strong entrepreneurial community, expands access to global expertise, and helps Uzbek startups become part of the global technology ecosystem.