Tashkent hosted the first INMerge Uzbekistan Innovation Summit, a key event for the region's technology and investment community. The summit became a platform for strategic dialogue between representatives of start-up ecosystems, venture capital, the fintech sector and government bodies. The initiative is aimed at creating sustainable cross-border ties and expanding the role of Uzbekistan as a center for high-tech development in Central Eurasia.
The event was organized by IT Park Uzbekistan and PASHA Holding with the participation of the Fintech Association of Uzbekistan. Among the participants are founders of startups, representatives of venture funds, technology companies and banks. The forum demonstrated the real integration of Uzbekistan into the global innovation agenda.
Key sessions of the summit covered the entire innovation cycle: from attracting investment and scaling business models to overcoming cultural barriers and promoting inclusive solutions.
IE University Professor Alberto Levi raised the issue of hidden biases that hinder innovation and suggested strategies for creating more efficient and inclusive ecosystems. The panel discussion "Fintech beyond Borders" with the participation of Paynet, Alif, VEON and PashaPay executives launched a discussion on the export potential of regional technologies.
The Capital Meets Innovation session presented current tools for investing in early-stage startups. Speakers include Aloqa Ventures, Plug and Play Uzbekistan, IT Park Ventures and IMAN Invest. The issues of institutional investment, venture architecture and regulatory support were discussed.
Special attention was paid to the cases of sustainable growth and successful exits from projects. Representatives of TBC Uzbekistan, BILLZ, Sturgeon Capital and IT Park spoke about strategies that provide long-term value and interest from international investors.
The summit resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PashaPay and the Fintech Association of Uzbekistan. This agreement lays the foundation for joint initiatives aimed at strengthening the fintech sector and supporting entrepreneurs in regional and global markets.
The final part of the forum was a startup competition, which was attended by 10 projects at an early stage. PromptLab, an AI solution for purchasing automation, was recognized as the winner. The team will represent Uzbekistan at the INMerge Baku 2025 international conference and compete for a prize pool of $ 30,000.
The INMerge Baku Summit, scheduled for September, will bring together more than 1,000 participants from 30 countries. The program includes reports, panel discussions, pitch sessions and networking focused on the development of technological dialogue in the Caspian region and Central Asia.
Uzbekistan has confirmed the status of a platform open to global partnerships and cross-border technology exchange. IT Park Uzbekistan continues its course to create a mature business environment and strengthen the country's position in the global innovation ecosystem.
