Contest calendar, acceleration programs, and other opportunities for November 2025

In November, the Central Eurasian startup community faces a packed calendar of events: from free legal consultations and online pitches to international accelerators and game jams.

Legal Consultation for Startups
UEnter offers startups free legal consultations from qualified specialists on business registration, investment attraction, taxation, intellectual property protection, and contract signing. Consultations can be taken online or offline by registering via this link.

Online Pitch for Startups from Uzbekistan
A live stream in Uzbek where two startups will be selected for professional review by experts. Participants will receive recommendations to improve their presentations and the opportunity to introduce themselves to the startup community. Jury: Mukhammad Khalil, founder of Startup Garage, and Alisher Hasanov, serial entrepreneur and business accelerator consultant. You can submit an application for the battle via this link.

When: November 4 at 16:00
Where: online, Telegram channel The Tech

Fintech Stars Battle 2025
The main FinTech battle of startups in Kazakhstan. Innovative companies from Central Asia and the Caucasus in the fields of FinTech, AI, SaaS, and e-commerce can participate. Finalists will present their projects to investors and experts, and the winner will receive $50,000 in investment from White Hill Capital. All pitches are conducted in English.

Application deadline: November 7
When: November 14
Where: Almaty

Y Combinator Winter Batch
The Winter 2026 batch will take place from January to March in San Francisco. Participants will look forward to weekly meetings, mentoring from YC partners—experienced startup founders, lectures from the creators of Airbnb, Stripe, and Reddit, as well as the opportunity to raise investment and join the strongest community of entrepreneurs in the world.

Application deadline: November 10

How to Launch a Startup in Saudi Arabia. Experience of Aidana Aytuarova
Aidana Aytuarova, CEO of Porte Tech, will share her experience of launching a startup in the Saudi Arabian market, the specifics of the local market, and growth strategies.

When: November 10 at 18:00
Where: online, Telegram channel The Tech

Regional Semi-Final of Best Startup Project in Ashgabat
Best Startup Project is a platform where the most innovative startup ideas from Central Asia will be presented. Participants will face a startup battle, the selection of the two best projects for the final in Tashkent, and a panel discussion. A great opportunity to be inspired by future ideas and become part of the regional startup community.

Application deadline: November 13 at 18:00
When: November 15 at 14:00
Where: Ashgabat, Arkach Business Center

Beeline Bootcamp 2025
An event dedicated to Big Data and artificial intelligence. Participants will look forward to expert reports, workshops, panel discussions, resume roasts, a photo zone, and networking with top managers and interns of Beeline Kazakhstan. This is a great opportunity to learn about the company's corporate culture, get advice on starting a career in IT, and win branded merchandise for activity.

When: November 13-14
Where: Almaty, Narxoz University

Star Venture
An EBRD program aimed at supporting fast-growing technology startups with high scaling potential. The program is designed for young technology companies up to 10 years old with an annual turnover of less than €1 million. Participants will be able to undergo 24 months of development with mentoring and present their project to international experts and investors.

Application deadline: November 17 for Azerbaijan, November 30 for Central Asia

Techstars Anywhere Accelerator
A remote acceleration program where participants receive all the benefits of the top Techstars accelerator without the need to relocate, while the program includes three in-person retreat sessions in leading startup hubs. The program is aimed at founders creating innovative solutions in robotics, energy, applied AI, materials science, and related fields. The accelerator starts on March 9, 2026, and the Demo Day will take place on June 4, 2026.

Application deadline: November 19

Venture Start
A free program from EBRD and MOST Investors’ Club for entrepreneurs and investors with capital ready to take their first steps in the world of venture investments. Participants will gain practical knowledge from leaders of the Central Asian venture market: they will learn how to evaluate startups, form an investment portfolio, structure deals, conduct due diligence, and build relationships with founders.

When: November 26-27
Where: Almaty, MOST IT Hub

PUNKVERSE Game Jam 2025
The largest creative marathon in Central Asia. Over 48 hours, participants—schoolchildren, students, professionals, and enthusiasts—will create a game from scratch based on the PUNKVERSE theme, combining the genres of cyberpunk, steampunk, diesel-punk, and solar-punk. The format is fully offline, and participation is free. The prize fund is approximately 3,000,000 tenge.

When: November 28 – December 1
Where: Almaty, Satbayev University