Startups from Central Eurasia will make it to the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield finals for the first time

Silkroad Innovation Hub, in partnership with TechCrunch and Freedom Holding, announces the launch of the first-ever regional selection process, which will open a direct path for startups from Central Eurasia to participate in the final of the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield pitch at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, the largest technology conference in San Francisco. Submit your application by July 15!

The competition will cover countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Following the national and regional selections, three startups will secure guaranteed spots in the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield final, which will take place from October 27-29 in San Francisco, USA.

Why this matters

The launch of the regional selection is not just a competition—it is a historic moment for the Central Eurasian startup ecosystem. By creating a direct pathway to one of the world's most prestigious startup platforms, the initiative promises to accelerate the region's integration into the global innovation economy.

With the opening of the application process, entrepreneurs across Central Eurasia now have the opportunity to showcase their innovations to some of the most influential investors and partners in Silicon Valley.

With a population of over 100 million people, the region remains relatively unknown on the global venture capital map, despite the annual graduation of approximately 200,000 STEM specialists and the presence of around 7,000 active startups in key sectors ranging from artificial intelligence to FinTech, EdTech, MedTech, and e-commerce. Meanwhile, venture capital investments in the region have shown impressive growth, increasing five and a half times in recent years: $110 million in 2023 and $150 million in the first half of 2024 alone. The success of startups such as Uzum, valued at $1.16 billion, and Higgsfield, worth over $100 million, confirms the region's readiness to compete on a global scale.

Asat Abdualiev, CEO and Founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub
For several years, we have represented startups at TechCrunch Disrupt on the startup alley as partners—14 companies in 2023, 24 companies in 2024—and witnessed their high competitiveness. In 2024, we organized the largest pavilion at TechCrunch Disrupt. Today, we are thrilled to take our partnership with TechCrunch to a new level, providing direct access to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 for the most promising startups from the Central Eurasian region.

The competition is supported by leading regional innovation hubs: Astana Hub, IT Park Uzbekistan, Future Laboratory, Sabah Hub, IDDA, IT Park Mongolia, Accelerate Prosperity, IT Park Dushanbe, and Startup Centrum.

Magzhan Madiev, CEO of Astana Hub
For us, participation in this international project is not just an opportunity, but a logical continuation of our strategy to bring regional startups to global markets. Astana Hub residents are already working with foreign markets, participating in accelerators in the US, such as AlchemistX, Silicon Valley Residency, and Hero Training, and demonstrating steady growth. The combined annual revenue of Astana Hub participants today exceeds $1.5 billion, reflecting the maturity of the ecosystem and its readiness for scaling. Road to Battlefield will be the next step: it opens direct access to venture capital, international partners, and one of the most authoritative startup stages in the world.

Abdulkhach Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan
The technology sector in Uzbekistan is developing steadily. Today, we are the fastest-growing ecosystem in Central Asia and the second fastest in the world. More than 10 startups founded by Uzbeks are already operating in the US, and several other projects are preparing for scaling. Today, our ecosystem is valued at $1.2 billion—a 1,200-fold increase in recent years, while the volume of venture capital investments has grown 230 times. As more founders expand beyond regional markets, programs like Startup Battlefield become a real tool for international growth.

The initiative is supported by Freedom Holding as the main partner, demonstrating the private sector's serious interest in developing regional innovations.

Marlen Sikhaev, Advisor to the President of Freedom Finance Global PLC
Freedom Holding Corp. has supported startups from Central Eurasia on the global TechCrunch platform for several years, and this year will be no exception. We believe in the potential of entrepreneurs from our region and strive to provide them with access to best practices, mentorship, and investments. This initiative not only provides critically important support to startups but also clearly shows that the technology and innovation sector of Central Eurasia is keeping pace with global trends and developing as a unified region.

Competition stages:
July 21 – August 10: national online selections.
August 15: regional online final.
September 1 – October 24: preparation of winners.
October 26-29: participation in TechCrunch Disrupt, San Francisco.

3 winners will receive:
— guaranteed participation in TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200
— round-trip airfare and accommodation for two participants
— a booth for all days of TechCrunch Disrupt and access to investors
— media support and global coverage.

Applications can be submitted until July 15, 2025, on the website road2battlefield.com

For The Tech, Asat Abdualiev, CEO and Founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub, will provide more details about TechCrunch Startup Battlefield in a live broadcast.
The broadcast will take place on July 7 at 11:00 AM Astana time.
Format: online, The Tech Telegram channel.