Uzbekistan: "Pitch & Rise: Women on the Startup Scene"

The Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan hosted a large-scale event called " Pitch & Rise: Women on the Startup scene". It was attended by about 70 women from different regions of the country — entrepreneurs, aspiring IT specialists and authors of startup ideas. The key goal of the event is to unlock the potential of women in the field of high technologies, expand their participation in the startup ecosystem and strengthen the role of women's entrepreneurship in the digital economy.

The event featured 11 startups developed by women. The jury selected three most promising projects:
- Fonus is a secure digital platform with educational video content for children, based on national values and methods of pedagogy;
- La Menu-intelligent restaurant selection service with the possibility of booking and pre-ordering;
- Btle is a next-generation online travel platform with AI support, a multitasking interface and a secure online payment system.

The projects were highly appreciated by industry experts. The winners received awards from Kamola Sobirova, Adviser to the Minister of Digital Technologies, and Elyer Maksudov, Director of Startup Development and Investment at IT Park.

Representatives of the private sector, including Azizbek Kurbanov, founder of AK Capital, and Barnokhon Artykhodzhayeva, mentor of international programs, emphasized that women's participation in innovative sectors of the economy not only contributes to social inclusion, but also increases the sustainability of ecosystems. According to statistics, women-led teams are more likely to demonstrate efficiency with more limited resources.

According to international indices, Uzbekistan entered the top 100 countries in 2025 in terms of the level of development of the startup ecosystem, taking 98th place in the global ranking. The country is recognized as the fastest growing ecosystem in Central Asia, which was made possible thanks to systemic reforms and state support in the field of digitalization.

However, to maintain this momentum, targeted measures are needed to involve women in the startup environment. According to international research, in 2024, almost 49% of new businesses were founded by women — a record figure. However, statistics show that women still receive venture financing 4 times less often than men, and often have to rely on their own savings.

In response to these challenges, Uzbekistan is implementing specialized initiatives, including the work of the GAP Women's IT Club. The platform provides women with access to trainings, mentors and career opportunities not only in Tashkent, but also in the regions. Some participants of the Pitch event & Rise presented their projects for the first time thanks to the basic training received in the framework of GAP.

Women from Uzbekistan are also increasingly participating in international competitions and summits. Recently, a team of schoolgirls from Tashkent won the European Women's Olympiad in Informatics, confirming their high level of training and commitment to innovation.

Supporting women in an innovative economy is no longer a private initiative, but part of a sustainable government strategy. To consolidate the results achieved, further development of acceleration programs, system mentoring and investment infrastructure is required. As one participant noted: "Technology is not about gender. It's about ideas, courage, and action. Women in Uzbekistan have enough of this."