Under the leadership of IT Park Uzbekistan, more than 20 initiatives were launched and supported, engaging 1,858 participants and 191 startups and teams, with a total prize pool exceeding $90,000.

However, beyond these numbers lies a deeper transformation: talented students presenting their ideas for the first time, investors recognizing potential in early-stage ventures, and teams developing prototype-level solutions within just 48 hours. These developments serve as clear indicators that Uzbekistan is well-positioned to become the technological heart of Central Asia — and is progressing at a much faster pace than many expected.

Competitions and Hackathons: Catalysts for First Steps

The month commenced with the Anti-Corruption Hackathon, which attracted 300 registrations and culminated in the participation of 150 individuals across 28 teams. Over the course of two days, participants explored digital solutions to enhance transparency and combat corruption. The winning team, UzInfoCom, received an invitation to an international hackathon in Hong Kong. The teams Equilibrium and Austrum Team secured second and third places, respectively.

Another key event was the DesCom Quest Hackathon, which brought together designers, product managers, and developers. Eighty participants across 28 teams competed, with winning projects including Tarroh (FinTech), Emotion First (EdTech), and DSGNRS (TourTech).

Significant momentum was also gained from the Turin x IT Park Hackathon, where 120 participants, comprising 45 teams, competed for a prize pool of 100 million UZS, sponsored by UzAutoUzAuto. The top prizes went to Nova (50 million), Doppi Dev (30 million), and Smart Steps (20 million). This hackathon was more than a contest — it was a comprehensive challenge, where young teams tackled real-world industrial tasks from a corporate client.

The final stage of the Yosh Dasturchi Ko‘rik Tanlovi gathered 15 young developers with visual impairments from across the country. The winner, Shakhzod Khasanov, was awarded 3 million UZS and a tablet, while second and third places went to Jaloliddin Sirajiddinov and Farrukh Jumanazarov, who also received tech prizes and monetary awards. The competition marked a step toward a more inclusive ecosystem and served as a platform for young developers to present their initial technological solutions.

The third cohort of the President Tech Award, launched on May 1, initiated a large-scale roadshow spanning 30+ universities and IT Park branches nationwide. The presentations and masterclasses garnered significant interest from students, educators, and young innovators. Registration for the competition — with a total prize fund of USD 1 million — remains open until July 1.

Education, Training, and Conscious Growth

IT Park Uzbekistan hosted a thematic workshop at the Tashkent branch of Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Husbandry and Biotechnology, focusing on startups in the Agritech and MedTech sectors. The event welcomed 100 students and faculty members, offering them a hands-on introduction to the entrepreneurial aspects of the technology landscape.

Furthermore, a webinar was organized in collaboration with Revera Law Group on the topic: “What Else to Ask from Investors Besides Money?” Sixteen startups — seven international and nine from Uzbekistan — participated, discussing non-financial aspects of investment attraction, such as strategic expertise, access to international networks, and corporate channels.

Incubation and Acceleration: From Idea to Market

May also witnessed the completion of several incubation and acceleration programs, while new ones were launched — maintaining a continuous support cycle for startups at various stages of development.

The Creative Incubator Final Demo Day concluded an intensive training period for creative teams. Out of 79 applicant teams, 9 advanced to the finals, with Almanac (awarded 30 million UZS), Tezhip.uz (20 million UZS), and Creatives.uz (10 million UZS) receiving funding.

The incubation program at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UMED) brought together eight student-led startups: DMTS, iTree, AI Lab, Rahmat, CampusLink, MEDAtlas, Find.uz, and Incepto. All teams benefited from practical mentorship, worked on MVP development, and received ongoing advisory support throughout the program.

A strong technological emphasis was placed on the Domino Ventures “Better Future Acceleration” program, where 12 AI startups — including TenderGPT, TPM Solutions, PromptLab, and SOT AI — are undergoing an intensive track. The program covers a comprehensive range of topics — from product expertise to traction marketing and international pitches.

Local Events: The Ecosystem in Action

One of the key highlights of May was the Plug and Play Expo 2025, held on May 15, which brought together over 400 participants, including investors, corporate representatives, startup founders, and international partners. Thirty-two startups — graduates of various acceleration programs — presented their solutions on stage, demonstrating readiness for scaling. This was not merely a Demo Day, but a testament to the ecosystem’s growing maturity.

Within the framework of GSMA M360 Eurasia, a pitch session was held featuring 10 startups. The winners — Fonus ($25,000 SAFE investment and participation at 4YFN in Barcelona), Daryn Online ($10,000 SAFE), and exode.biz ($5,000 SAFE) — illustrated how local projects can rapidly transition to the international stage.

At the Agile Scale Forum, 250 participants — ranging from team leaders to entrepreneurs — discussed how to scale operations while preserving agility.

Early-stage teams benefited from Startup Advice, a dedicated session where 25 nascent startups received expert feedback on common pitfalls in idea validation, investor communications, and team building.

Worthy of special mention was the IT Insiders gathering, where 10 students from Uzbekistan’s leading universities were appointed the first ambassadors of national IT ecosystem. In collaboration with IT Park, they explored how student-led initiatives could reshape the country’s technological landscape.

Global Platforms: Confident Expansion

GITEX Europe 2025, held in Berlin, marked a pivotal moment for promoting Uzbekistan on the European tech map. As part of the Central Asian Innovation Hubs initiative, Uzbekistan participated alongside Kazakhstan at a joint national booth. Eight startups from Uzbekistan showcased their products, including Unitlab AI, Eskiz Media Group, EdSmart, Realsoft AI, Fido Business, K-Tech, Evertech, and UzInfoCom. Numerous B2B meetings with investors and partners were conducted during the event.

The Dubai Fintech Summit served as a platform for five Uzbek fintech startups, facilitating over 10 meetings with potential investors and strategic partners in Islamic and international finance.

The Machines Can See Summit in Dubai opened new horizons in artificial intelligence. Three startups from Uzbekistan forged seven partnerships with companies from the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, and the UAE. The event marked not only a showcase opportunity but also the beginning of export expansion.

In May, representatives of IT Park visited Ashgabat and Dushanbe to present Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem, highlight current initiatives, and introduce future international projects. The events attracted approximately 170 participants in Ashgabat and 70 in Dushanbe, reflecting growing interest in regional cooperation in technology and innovation.

Preparations for global events also continued in virtual format. An online briefing was held with three startups gearing up for participation in the VivaTech exhibition in France. The discussion focused on product localization, refining their value propositions for the European market, and initiating communications with prospective investors.

On a global scale, Uzbekistan was included in the updated Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 by StartupBlink. The country was featured in the Top 100 for the first time, advancing 12 positions in a year and ranking 2nd globally in terms of Growth Rate.

May 2025 marked a significant leap in the maturity of Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem. Hackathons evolved into accelerators, followed by investment rounds and participation in global tech arenas. These initiatives are coalescing into a robust, interconnected growth network encompassing education, entrepreneurship, exports, and international collaboration.

As part of its mission, IT Park Uzbekistan will continue to foster an environment where startups can not only emerge but also scale — both domestically and internationally. Provided the current pace of development and the active engagement of all stakeholders are sustained, Uzbekistan is on track to establish itself as a prominent global technology hub by 2030.