The Creative Startups Competition, organized by IT Park Uzbekistan, the Art and Culture Development Foundation, and the Youth Affairs Agency, has successfully concluded, revealing three outstanding startups that showcased creativity, innovation, and relevance in the field of creative economy. The competition is a key element of the IV World Conference on Creative Economy, which aims to foster creative entrepreneurship and promote the rapid development of the creative industry.
A total of 173 applications were submitted for the competition, of which 40 startups were selected by the organizing committee to participate in the first pitch round on October 1st. From those 40, 10 startups were then chosen to participate in the final pitch session, where they presented their ideas to the jury today.
The jury panel for the final round included:
- Mike Pio Roda, Founder, Creative VC
- Helene George, CEO, Creative Economy
- Guillaume Therien, Partner, Tryptiq Capital
- Varun Patra, Media & Cultural Entrepreneur, Co-Founder & CMO, Homegrown
- Ricky Pesik, Deputy Chairman, Indonesia Chamber of Commerce
Criterias of evaluation of startups:
- Creative Idea: Assessment of the originality and creativity of the startup’s concept.
- Feasibility and Compatibility: The project’s relevance and potential impact on the creative economy.
- Innovation: How novel and groundbreaking the solution or product is.
- Team Experience: The team's expertise and capacity to execute the project successfully.
The top three winners of the competition are:
- Tile Mosaic – Winner of 60 million UZS, this project focuses on recycling plastic into artistic materials for decorative purposes, emphasizing environmental sustainability.
- Lexi Kid – Securing 40 million UZS, this educational application assists dyslexic children by providing tailored learning tools.
- EdSmart – Awarded 25 million UZS, EdSmart offers an innovative solution for universities by providing tools to record and share lectures for remote education.
The competition highlights the significant potential of Uzbekistan's creative economy, showcasing the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit emerging in the country. These winning startups represent the future of their industries, offering promising solutions that can drive progress and economic growth.
