Startup Opportunities Calendar for September 2026

In September 2026, Central Asian startups will have access to several hackathons, pitch sessions, educational programs, and industry events. We’ve compiled opportunities for teams and founders to present their projects, secure funding, find partners, mentors, and investors.

We Fund Ventures Opening Ceremony
An official launch of the new We Fund Ventures venture fund will take place in Bishkek, supporting founders and companies planning to scale beyond Central Asia. The program features talks by venture market representatives and startup founders on working with VCs, acquiring initial customers, entering the US market, and raising investments.

When: September 5, 18:00-20:30
Where: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

ASTANA HUB BATTLE
As part of AI & Digital Bridge 2026, participants can present their projects, compete for a spot among the top startups, and win a share of the $100,000 prize pool. Startups with their own technological product or solution at the MVP stage or higher, with confirmed demand and an officially registered company, are invited to participate. The prize pool is evenly divided among four categories: Impact Maker, Market Shaper, Growth Engine, and Investor’s Choice — $25,000 each.

Application deadline: September 6

Builders Pitch Fest 2026
BITSoM, in collaboration with LENZ, is launching a program for early-stage B2B AI startups. Participants will gain access to pilot projects with major companies, over $40,000 in AI credits, support from the BITSoM Vertex MBA team, and mentorship from industry representatives.

Application deadline: September 6

AI Engineer by nFactorial School
nFactorial School is launching an online course on AI development for engineers who want to master working with LLMs and modern AI tools. The course lasts six months. Participants will learn to work with GPT, Claude, Cursor, LangChain, and RAG, automate up to 70% of routine team tasks, create production-ready AI products, and design systems with thoughtful architecture. The course can be taken with a grant from TechOrda.

Application deadline: September 7

AI Steppe Tech Hack
Steppe Tech Lab will host a one-day hackathon focused on creating AI solutions. Participants will work in teams of two to five people and will have eight hours to develop a prototype, followed by an evening pitch presentation. The total prize pool is 1 million tenge. The first-place team will receive 500,000 tenge, second place — 300,000 tenge, and third place — 200,000 tenge.

When: September 11
Where: Astana, Alem.ai center

Shark Tank: Gamechangers
At the Kazakhstan Growth Forum 2026, ten promising companies will present their projects to leading entrepreneurs and over 400 participants. Each team will have 10 minutes on stage — five minutes for the pitch and five minutes for feedback from business "sharks." Participants will also have the opportunity to receive mentorship and new business contacts.

When: September 16
Where: Almaty, The Ritz-Carlton

ICTWEEK UZBEKISTAN 2026
Registration is now open for startups to participate in the exhibition part of ICTWEEK UZBEKISTAN 2026 — Central Asia's largest technology week. Participants will be able to present their products and solutions to a wide audience. The event will bring together over 25,000 guests, 300+ exhibitors, and representatives from 51 countries.

When: September 22-25
Where: Tashkent, CAEx, Milliy Bog Street, 1

Draper Founders Challenge
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 opens the path to Silicon Valley for Kazakh startups. Technological startups from Kazakhstan at the MVP stage or higher with confirmed market demand are invited to participate. The pitch must be in English. The final round will take place within the framework of AI & Digital Bridge 2026 in Astana.

Application deadline: September 22

HackAlem AI
A large-scale offline hackathon focused on creating AI agents. Participants from around the world will have five hours to develop AI solutions for one of 10 priority economic sectors. The best teams will receive prizes and technological resources from OpenAI totaling $1 million, while the most promising projects will have opportunities for further development and potential piloting.

Application deadline: September 19 at 23:59

When: September 23
Where: Astana