The Female Founders Forum Tajikistan 2026 took place in Dushanbe, with more than 600 participants from 8 countries.

On June 4-5, the first international Female Founders Forum Tajikistan 2026 3F Forum took place at the Hyatt Regency Dushanbe — the largest regional platform bringing together women entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives, international organizations, and business leaders to discuss the future of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in Central Asia.

The forum gathered over 600 participants from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and other countries. The event was organized by ShiraV Studio and TechXhub of Excellence in collaboration with TechnoWoman Kazakhstan.

The two-day program included five panel discussions, eight practical workshops, international keynote speeches, a business breakfast, a cultural retreat, and a startup battle for promising regional projects.

One of the central events of the first day was the “3F Moment in Central Asia” block, which brought together leading women leaders from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Participants discussed the development of women’s leadership, the role of technology, and the need to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs in the region.

Within the framework of the forum, expert discussions were held on issues of women’s access to financing, the role of financial institutions in developing entrepreneurship, women’s participation in boards of directors, and mechanisms for supporting innovative businesses. Representatives of the IFC, EBRD, UNDP, Asian Development Bank, diplomatic missions of the UK and US, the banking sector, and the investment community discussed existing barriers and practical solutions to accelerate the economic inclusion of women.

Zaytuna Saidullaeva, CEO and co-founder of ShiraVStudio and TechXhub of Excellence
The Female Founders Forum is not just an event. We are creating a sustainable ecosystem where women gain access to knowledge, investments, international connections, and new opportunities for growth. Our goal is to form a long-term support infrastructure for entrepreneurs in Central Asia and amplify the region’s voice on the global stage.

Particular attention was drawn to the speeches by international experts. Her Excellency Catherine Smithton, British Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan, delivered a report on the role of gender equality as a factor in economic development. Sohibakhon Mukhitdinova, Investment Director at InsurTech NY, shared practical tools for attracting investment and revealed key principles of successful fundraising in international markets. Expert from Saudi Arabia Manal Adham presented opportunities for Central Asian entrepreneurs to enter the markets of Gulf countries.

The practical part of the forum included a series of specialized workshops on topics such as attracting investments, corporate governance, engaging women in boards of directors, preparing startups for work with international investors, applying artificial intelligence in business, sustainable development, taxation, and company scaling. Participants received practical tools and knowledge necessary for developing projects at both local and international levels.

The closing event of the forum was the international startup battle, organized in collaboration with Founders School and Ilmhona. The competition featured 16 startups from various industries — from artificial intelligence and agrotechnologies to fintech and educational solutions.

The winners of the startup battle were:
— 1st place — Solomon AML Sultancho Nazarshoev — a grant of 6,000 somoni
— 2nd place — Fieldron Nigora Jabbarova — a grant of 4,000 somoni
— 3rd place — InTech-Forecast Aruzhan Mominbaeva — training in the Founders School Pro program.

The Female Founders Forum Tajikistan 2026 became an important step in the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Central Asia and confirmed the high interest of the international community in the investment and innovative potential of women in the region.

The forum was organized with the support of ADB, EBRD, GIZ, IFC, UNDP, the Delegation of the European Union in Tajikistan, AmCham Tajikistan, NASMB Tajikistan, Alif Bank, FINCA, Founders School, Ilmhona, Coca-Cola, Nextview, the State Committee for Investments and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan, and other partners.