MGIMO Ventures Tashkent and Astana Hub Battle: Competitions and Programs for Startups

We have compiled a selection of various competitions and incubation/acceleration programs for IT specialists and startups from Central Asia.

Startup Garage

An incubation program for startup projects at the idea stage and product development stage.

As part of the program, you will learn:

— the basics of running a startup

— how to package your product

— what you need to know to build a company.

By the end of the program, you will have

— a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of running a Tech Startup

— a ready-to-launch product

— sales based on a structured strategy.

Registration is available via this link.

ABC Incubation x TCA 7.0

A 12-week online business incubation program by Nazarbayev University focused on developing original business ideas, technological solutions, and early-stage innovative startup projects.

During the program, you will be able to:

— work with an individual tracker

— receive consultations from experienced experts

— create a prototype of your future product

— assemble your team

— launch sales

— attract initial investments.

The best projects will receive funding from NURIS and the opportunity to present their startups on international platforms.

Anyone over the age of 18 can participate, and participation is free.

Deadline: September 11

You can submit your application via this link.

Meet the Drapers

Astana Hub offers Kazakhstani startup founders the chance to pitch their project ideas to stars from Silicon Valley. This can be done on the startup reality show Meet the Drapers, with an episode to be filmed for the seventh season on October 12 and 13 at Digital Bridge 2023.

The winner of the reality show finale will win $1 million in investments and the ability to attract the attention of millions of people worldwide.

Deadline: September 1

You can submit your application here.

MGIMO Ventures Tashkent

The acceleration program will be available for startups from the early development stage and above that aim to scale their operations in the Uzbek market and other countries.

As part of the accelerator, organizers will help startups:

— improve their business metrics

— bring their products to the Uzbek market and other countries

— connect with the country's technological ecosystem and prepare for collaboration with major local companies.

Additionally, local startups will receive support from the accelerator's mentors, who will share insights on how to develop their tech projects both domestically and internationally.

Projects in the fields of FinTech, EdTech, AgriTech, FoodTech, MedTech, LingvoTech, LegalTech, HRTech, and GovTech, as well as startups developing solutions for E-commerce, Tourism/Events, SaaS, and Business Intelligence, can participate in MGIMO Ventures Tashkent. A total of 15 startups will take part in the program.

The main part of the program will take place online. Participation for startups is free.

Deadline: September 10

You can submit your application via this link.

Astana Hub Battle

Winners will be selected in three categories: Best Social Impact, The Most Innovative, and Exponential Growth.

The contest prize fund is $75,000. Winners in each category will receive $25,000.

To participate in this exciting contest, you must be a startup project with an IT component, be at the MVP, PMF, or Scale stage, and have at least two key members in your team.

Winners of previous Astana Hub Battle editions and recipients of Seed Money from Astana Hub are not eligible to participate.

Registration is available via this link.