The most important thing for startups: insights from the Startup & Venture Summit in Tashkent

First and foremost, we focus on culture. As I recently told a group of startups—being on time, knowing how to communicate with people at conferences, understanding which communication channels to use—these basic rules are of great importance.

Published 2 min read

One of the key events of ICT Week Uzbekistan 2025 is the Startup & Venture Summit. The summit brought together startups, investors, and international experts to discuss innovations, venture capital, and the future of entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan and beyond.

Kristy Kanida, Senior Director of Product at Alchemist Accelerator

Engage with customers. You may have an idea, but there is a high probability that it is incorrect. Until you talk to real people, you only have untested hypotheses. Therefore, we teach what questions to ask, how to listen, and how to continuously gain new knowledge.

Sergio Argento, Active Investor at IMPACTA Capital

Of course, much depends on the country and industry, but for me, the most important things are people, relationships, business value, and market understanding.

Honestly, I prefer that startups do not ask for money initially. First, they should enter the market, establish themselves, and prove there is real interest from stakeholders. Only then, when the need becomes obvious and confirmed, should they raise capital — not to fund dreams, but to support reality.

Robin Butler, Partner at Sturgeon Capital

A startup is ready to enter a new market when it clearly understands why that market is the right choice. This is not about chasing prestige or a high valuation, but about genuine product-market fit — how customers buy, who the competitors are, and where unmet needs remain.

Often, founders explain their desire to enter the US market or another large market simply because “there is money there.” But real readiness appears when the team can show specific reasons why their solution fits that territory better than others. Not just ambition, but a clear understanding of fit — this is the main signal that a startup is ready for international scaling.

Sasha Karimpour, Partner at Plug and Play Tech Center

Innovation is not an event that happens overnight, but a process. It requires research, curiosity, and the courage to continue even when things don’t work out immediately. Allow yourself to dream a little, be prepared for failures, know how to recover, and keep moving forward. That is how true progress is born and the ecosystem develops.