Speedrun, TrustMe Hackathon, and MLContest: a calendar of opportunities for startups in January 2026

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Funding for early-stage social startups with scalable and innovative solutions to social and environmental problems. The foundation provides up to $300,000 in grants or investments, strategic mentoring for three years, and access to a global network. Startups with proven impact and growth potential are supported, and applications are accepted year-round.

Online Startup Pitching for Central Eurasia to Chinese VCs
Khan Tengri Innovation Hub is launching a series of online pitch sessions for startups from Central Eurasia to venture capital firms in Hong Kong and mainland China. Participants will gain access to investors, receive professional feedback, and have the opportunity to enter the Chinese market and the GBA region.

Microsoft Imagine Cup 2026
A global competition for high school, college, and university students that helps develop innovative technological solutions and startups using Microsoft tools and AI. Participants can choose the Launch or Scale track, receive mentoring, Azure resources, community support, and a chance to win prizes up to $100,000.

Application deadline: January 9

Cafe Cursor Tashkent
The first informal meetup for coders, founders, and vibe coders. Participants will be able to network, exchange practical experience, and attend short talks by experienced professionals, followed by discussions in a live dialogue format.

When: January 10 at 09:00
Where: Tashkent

MUBL Bootcamp
A six-week intensive program for students under 18, focused on mastering robotics, artificial intelligence, and engineering with practical application of ideas into real projects. The curriculum includes building robots with Arduino and AI integration, 3D modeling and printing in Fusion 360, and developing strategic design skills. Proficiency in English (B2+) is required, along with basic C++ knowledge and a motivational essay.

Application deadline: January 12

Luminate Accelerator
Luminate Accelerator supports startups in optics, photonics, and visualization, helping them attract investment, grow their business, and scale solutions. Participants receive $100,000 at the start, up to $1 million in follow-on funding, access to 30+ global investors, business training, IP support, and tools, as well as access to the New York photonics cluster. The program is hybrid and based in Rochester, USA.

Application deadline: January 12

Webinar on Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Acceleration Programs
An online webinar for international startups interested in entering the Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area, and Chinese markets. In 60 minutes, participants will learn how to choose the right Incubation, Co-Acceleration, or Soft-Landing program, get acquainted with key selection criteria and common application mistakes, and understand the available levels of financial support, grants, and subsidies.

When: January 15 at 14:00 Astana time
Where: Online

TrustMe Hackathon 2026
A unique event for developers ready to build the future of digital trust in Web3. Participants can work individually or in teams, using TrustMe SDKs, APIs, and PoU modules to sign contracts, verify actions, and participate in the PoU economy, where tokens are created based on real-world actions. The hackathon will last 48 hours; participation is available offline in Astana and online from anywhere in the world, with top projects receiving cash prizes and nominations.

Application deadline: December 16

When: January 17
Where: Online / Astana

MLContest at New Uzbekistan University
A practical machine learning competition where teams of up to three people will solve case studies on the Kaggle platform in a competitive format over five hours.

When: January 17 at 12:00
Where: Online / Tashkent, 1 Mavrorunnahr Street, New Uzbekistan University

Yulduz Tech Awards — 2025
A national competition in Uzbekistan organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the GAP Women's IT Club, aimed at supporting and recognizing women in the IT sector. The competition highlights innovative ideas, professional achievements, and participants' contributions to technology development, encouraging startups, AI projects, digital transformation, IT education, and social impact initiatives. Winners are awarded in 15 categories.

Application deadline: January 20

Cursor Café
A one-day pop-up format by AI startup Cursor for developers, data engineers, and founders centered around collaborative coding with AI. The program includes practical work with AI tools like Cursor, demos, workshops, and networking with local and international communities.

When: January 22
Where: Astana

Speedrun by Andreessen Horowitz
Speedrun supports early-stage startups by investing up to $1 million and providing access to an experienced team of talent, marketing, GTM, HR, visa support, and capital specialists. Participants receive mentoring programs, a community of over 600 founders for experience sharing, feedback, and client connections.

When: January 26 to April 12
Where: San Francisco, USA

Open Meeting with DOMINO Ventures
A meeting with representatives of the international venture fund DOMINO Ventures, organized by Startup Lab 119 in collaboration with the WeFund public foundation. The event will bring together startup founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and participants from the Central Asian innovation ecosystem, focusing on raising venture capital, preparing startups for funding, and entering international markets.

When: January 30 at 12:00
Where: Bishkek, "Technopark"

Hult Prize
The world's largest startup competition for students, where participants develop, scale, and present innovative business ideas. The winning team receives $1 million to develop their project. The competition covers more than 130 countries, attracts over 50,000 entrepreneurs and 200,000 participants annually, providing opportunities for mentoring, sponsorship, and participation in a global changemaker community.

Application deadline: January 30