Which startups from Central Asia were successful in 2024
In 2024, startups from Central Asia achieved significant success, attracting major investments, expanding markets, and implementing innovations. These companies not only improved the technological ecosystems of their respective countries but also became key players on the international stage. We have gathered startups from the region that have succeeded and are driving the digital economy forward.
Author - Mansur Ismagulov
The Tech AI
Get the key points in seconds - a short summary from The Tech AI.
Kazakh startups EasyTap, 1Fit, and Yaya have entered new markets, while HeRo Study raised over $600,000, CerebraAI secured $150,000, and Hero’s Journey raised $6 million. Kyrgyz companies Alma, Fal.ai, and Mentium attracted significant investments ($5.1 million, $23 million, and $3.2 million, respectively), and AkylAI began operating in the Kyrgyz language. In Uzbekistan, Uzum became the first unicorn with a valuation exceeding $1 billion, while Tahrirchi and BILLZ received grants and investments, and Deepen.uz and Hupo also secured funding. In Tajikistan, zypl.ai is integrating AI into the financial sector, and Re-skill placed second in the A-Hub acceleration program.
Kazakhstan
EasyTap
Startup EasyTap has entered the Uzbekistan market. It won $50,000 at Fintech Stars 2024 and signed a contract with a major Uzbek company, MCosmetic.
Paidax
Paidax raised $600,000 in a Pre-seed round. Paidax and MOST Investors Club signed a memorandum of cooperation with partners in the investment market.
HeRo Study
HeRo Study successfully raised over $600,000 in investment from UC Ventures as part of a $1.7 million Series A funding round. The company's valuation exceeded $11 million, highlighting its confident growth in the market.
Cerebra
At the annual Rocket Fuel Startup Pitch Competition, CerebraAI received a $150,000 prize for the most exciting and innovative use of artificial intelligence.
1Fit
Kazakhstan-based startup 1Fit has entered the Mexican market and earned over $4 million in revenue for the first time.
Yaya
Startup Yaya increased its turnover by 30 times in a year. It attracted investment from the venture fund 500 Global in Eurasia and was one of 24 startups that presented Silkroad Innovation Hub at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. It also won first place at the She Loves Tech Global Startup Competition.
Hero’s Journey
Hero’s Journey is the world’s first gamified fitness studio, helping people train more effectively and build a habit of exercising faster. It raised $6 million in investment from the resources of the MA7 business angel fund and club, along with other investors.
Courstore
SaaS AI platform for online courses, Courstore, raised $40,000 in investment. The team took third place and won a prize of €5,000 at the Glovo Startup Competition. It has entered the Uzbekistan market.
CodiPlay
CodiPlay has been recognized as a UN digital public good and became the best educational project in the world. Innovations from the EdTech startup have been implemented in schools in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Qatar, Turkey, and other countries.
Kyrgyzstan
Alma
Kyrgyz startup Alma received $5.1 million in investment from leading Silicon Valley venture funds. The project aims to simplify the visa process for technologists, founders, and researchers.
Codify
Organized the "Startup-Nation" hackathon with the Accelerate Prosperity accelerator, supported by USAID and the Aga Khan Foundation.
Akylai
The first AI assistant, AkylAI, began speaking in Kyrgyz. It advanced to the American accelerator Launch by Founder University, founded by Jason Calacanis.
Mugalim AI
Won at Startup Battle Connected 2024 in the AI in EdTech category. Took third place at the She Loves Tech Global Startup Competition.
Fal.ai
Fal.ai, a platform founded by a Kyrgyz citizen that provides AI models for generating audio, video, and images, raised $23 million in funding.
enji.ai
The startup achieved significant success by entering the top 10 startups for acceleration according to DOMiNO Ventures, and was also selected for the Dutch accelerator Better Future AI.
Mentium
Mentium, a company founded by a native of Kyrgyzstan Aziz Satarov, successfully completed an investment round of $3.2 million. The total amount of funds raised since the company's founding is approximately $4 million.
Uzbekistan
Tahrirchi
Tahrirchi received a presidential grant of $150,000 for the team to promote the product, with plans to add the Kazakh language.
BILLZ
Raised $500,000 in investment for expansion in Central Asia. It was one of 24 startups that presented Silkroad Innovation Hub at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024.
Deepen.uz
Fitness studio ERP system Deepen.uz received funding valued at $750,000 from CS// Angels Club and South Korean partners. The raised investments are planned to be directed toward further automation and entry into new regional markets.
Hupo
Hupo is a leadership coaching platform that helps managers become better leaders and build effective teams. It received funding from Meta and other global funds.
Lola.uz
Women's taxi service Lola.uz attracted $100,000 in investment from AloqaVentures.
Uzum
The digital ecosystem Uzum, combining e-commerce, FinTech, and banking services for individuals, small, and medium-sized businesses, became Uzbekistan's first "unicorn" with a valuation of over $1 billion. Uzum raised $100 million in its first investment round, Uzum Bank launched a pre-order for a virtual Visa card, and Uzum Tezkor expanded delivery to 18 cities.
Oygul
Flower ordering marketplace Oygul attracted 300,000 users in three months and received a prestigious award after launching a miniApp on the Click SuperApp platform. At the grand finale of the President Tech Award, it won first place in the category of technological solutions in Micro-SaaS and AdTech and received $100,000.
Sug'urta Bozor
InsurTech startup Sug'urta Bozor raised a bridge round of $100,000 from an international private equity fund.
Tajikistan
zypl.ai
A thematic study published at Stanford revealed the history of the AI industry's emergence in Tajikistan through the lens of FinTech startup zypl.ai, which laid the foundation for AI. Additionally, UZCARD and zypl.ai have created a joint venture to implement AI technologies in the financial sector.
Re-skill
At the grand finale of the A-Hub acceleration program in Baku, the Re-skill team took second place and received a prize of $8,000. Additionally, Tcell, Ilmhona, and Re-skill have joined forces to develop IT education in Tajikistan.
Yalla
The startup became a laureate of the "Best Young Entrepreneur in IT" nomination at the National E-Commerce Awards ceremony.
The Tech on Telegram Follow The Tech on Telegram
Keep up with the latest technology and startup news.
Related reading
More from this author
News
zypl.ai begins operations in Japan and focuses on next-generation risk models
Mansur Ismagulov
News
Elon Musk's net worth has exceeded $700 billion for the first time
Mansur Ismagulov
Article Interviews
"Central Asian countries should build a joint ecosystem," — Bekhzod Ismoilov on the development of AI in the region
Mansur Ismagulov
Article Interviews
Bloom's Taxonomy and Engineering Levels: A Practical Growth Model
Mansur Ismagulov
Article Useful
How the IT industry in Azerbaijan developed in 2025: key events
Mansur Ismagulov
News
Tajikistan has become a new member of the regional innovation alliance Central Asian Innovation Hubs.
Mansur Ismagulov