Aerotaxis in Astana, new startup law in Azerbaijan: what was new in July 2026 in Central Asia and the Caucasus

We have gathered the most important news from the world of technology, startups, and innovations in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond.

First demonstration flight of an air taxi held in Astana
On July 24, the first demonstration flight of an air taxi took place in Astana — the passenger eVTOL AutoFlight Prosperity. This electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is designed for a pilot and five passengers, capable of reaching speeds up to 200 km/h and covering distances of up to 200 kilometers.

zypl.ai to help integrate artificial intelligence into Tajikistan's schools
The company zypl.ai has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan to implement artificial intelligence technologies in the country's schools. The project is a continuation of nearly a decade of the team's work in the education sector.

First Network School campus planned to open in Kazakhstan
Network School brings together entrepreneurs, engineers, researchers, and investors from around the world, and its founder, Balaji Srinivasan, is one of the most prominent technology entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, former CTO of Coinbase, and investor in hundreds of technology companies.

Baku to open a regional center of excellence in AI for Central Asia and the Middle East
The center will serve as a regional platform for developing engineering solutions, creating AI products, and implementing technological solutions for countries in Central Asia and the Middle East. It is also planned to form a local team of specialists in technology, engineering, and cybersecurity.

Armenia invests $2.6 million in Firebird AI computing power
The funds will be directed toward implementing a five-year agreement between the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia and Firebird AI, totaling $25 million, signed in April 2026.

Apple Pay becomes available in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Apple Pay has officially launched in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Users of international bank cards can now make purchases using iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac in stores, apps, and online.

In Tajikistan, the service was launched by Alif, while in Kyrgyzstan, Apple Pay has become available to customers of several banks supporting Visa and Mastercard cards.

Law on startups and venture capital to enter into force in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a law introducing modern mechanisms for venture investing and corporate governance in the country. The amendments legalize corporate agreements between shareholders, as well as key tools of the venture market — SAFE, Convertible Notes, Tag-along, Drag-along, and ROFR. Additionally, the board of directors will be able to issue new shares without convening a general meeting within the limits of the authorized capital.

National selections for Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026 conclude
The national qualifying rounds of the largest startup competition in Central Eurasia, Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026, have concluded. From 726 applications submitted by 39 countries, an international jury selected 22 startups that will continue competing for a spot on the global stage.

The online regional final will take place on August 12, where three winners will be determined. They will share a prize fund of $100,000 and represent Central Eurasia at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield in San Francisco.

IT Park Uzbekistan and HTP Kyrgyzstan expand technological partnership in Central Asia
As part of GBSF 2026, representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan invited HTP Kyrgyzstan to join the Central Eurasia Innovation Hubs initiative. The parties also discussed cooperation in developing regional innovation ecosystems, supporting tech hubs, training specialists, and attracting investments.

Kazakh startups to gain access to AI solutions and Alibaba Cloud infrastructure
Astana Hub and Khan Tengri Innovation Hub have signed a memorandum with Alibaba Cloud to develop Kazakhstan's AI ecosystem. The partnership aims to support startups, advance artificial intelligence solutions, and create new opportunities for Kazakh tech companies to enter international markets.