On 27 September 2025, Tashkent hosted Web Summit Spotlight for the first time in the CIS — a special format of one of the world’s most influential technology forums. The event was organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan and IT Park Uzbekistan in partnership with Web Summit.
The flagship Web Summit annually brings together more than 70,000 participants in Lisbon, including startup founders, corporate executives, investors, and researchers. Hosting Spotlight in Tashkent expanded the geography of the Web Summit ecosystem, which already includes Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Doha, providing the region with direct access to global networking, capital, and expertise.
The program was opened by Olimjon Umarov, First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. In his address, he emphasized that the summit represents a “gateway to the future,” where Uzbekistan is gradually taking on a key role in the global digital economy.
Ciara Haley, Executive Producer for Special Projects at Web Summit, officially launched Web Summit Spotlight: Uzbekistan — the first event of its kind in Central Asia and the CIS — underscoring the symbolism of its being held in Uzbekistan. According to her, the participation of more than 400 attendees, including 90 international guests from over 30 countries, demonstrates the growing global interest in the country. Hailey noted that Uzbekistan currently ranks second in the world in terms of startup ecosystem growth, according to StartupBlink, which is a clear signal of a new generation of entrepreneurs supported by an ambitious national strategy and an ecosystem ready to scale.
The program also featured keynote addresses and panel discussions with international experts, venture capital funds, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
At the event, Alfredo Gomez Soria, Director of Corporate Relations at Plug and Play Tech Center, shared the accelerator’s experience working in Uzbekistan:
“We have seen ambition. We have seen hunger, drive, and new opportunities brought by startups. And all of this has been made possible thanks to bold reforms, strong motivation, and a team ready to go beyond the ordinary. My message today is simple: let us work together. You have the Plug and Play network, which will help establish these connections. We genuinely want you to succeed, to scale, and for us, Uzbekistan already holds a central place in the heart of Central Asia as our regional hub.”
Following this, Katrin Calledo, Head of Ecosystem Success at StartupBlink, presented a report on Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem, highlighting its significant progress in the global startup ecosystem ranking:
“This year, Uzbekistan entered the global top 100 for the first time. From 2012 to 2025, the country demonstrated remarkable progress — an 89.9% growth rate, placing first in Central Asia and second globally in terms of growth rate. Tashkent alone grew by more than 132%. Compared to other regions, Uzbekistan’s pace of development is four times higher, reflecting the country’s dynamic growth and its increasing importance on the global stage.”
The forum featured the panel discussion “Global Venture Investment Trends and Their Impact on Emerging Markets” with leading venture market experts. The session was moderated by Nada Shaheen, Managing Director at GB Ventures. Panelists included Mustafa Kopuk, Managing Partner and Founder of Domino Ventures, who emphasized the importance of developing B2B and high-tech startups; Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures, who highlighted the role of international co-investments and openness to talent and new connections; and Alexey Kolegov, Director of Tax and Legal Services in Uzbekistan at Ernst & Young (EY), who stressed the need for flexible regulatory tools and the positive reforms making the country more attractive to foreign investors.
Beknazar Abdikamalov, Co-Founder of HUPO, presented the journey of his startup, describing its transformation from the wellness sector to developing real-time AI coaching solutions now used by global corporations such as Sephora, KPMG, and Oracle.
He emphasized that HUPO aspires to become a global operating system for frontline teams and serves as a clear example of a startup from Uzbekistan that has successfully scaled internationally. The company has already raised $4 million from international funds, including Meta, Goodwater Capital, January Capital, Strong Ventures, and Collaborative Fund.
Insights on this topic were shared during the panel “Why Invest in Central Eurasian Startups?”, moderated by Andrea Kates, Managing Partner at SUMA Ventures.
Imtiyaz Basharat, Partner at Heartfelt Ventures, emphasized that the rapid growth of startups and ecosystems is the primary signal for investors.
Michael Lints, Partner at Golden Gate Ventures, stressed the importance of working with founders at the earliest stages and understanding their risks.
Mammad Karim, General Partner at Caucasus Ventures, shared experiences of deals born out of networking and openness in the region.
In turn, Abbas Kazmi, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at SABAH.fund, urged the creation of unique strategies tailored to each country rather than replicating Silicon Valley’s model, noting that the successes and visibility of startups themselves will attract international investors.
At Web Summit Spotlight: Uzbekistan, Amy Peck, Founder and CEO of Endeavor AI, delivered a presentation on the potential of digital twins, artificial intelligence, and XR technologies. She underscored their role in reducing costs, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening business resilience. Peck noted that companies must think like startups, foster a culture of innovation, and balance core business development with forward-looking investments to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
The panel “Opportunities for Global Corporations in Emerging Markets” was dedicated to international experience and strategies for scaling, with speakers offering practical perspectives on startup development and Uzbekistan’s role in the global ecosystem. The discussion was moderated by Iro Tsagareishvili, Managing Director at Axel — Georgian Business Angel Network.
Cliona Jordan (Google for Startups) noted the country’s impressive growth rate and the importance of IT Park infrastructure in accessing the global stage. Ben Guerin (Topham Guerin) spoke about the advantages of working in emerging markets and the unique entrepreneurial energy present in Uzbekistan. Walid Barsali (BallSquad, La French Tech Warsaw) emphasized the need to sustain Uzbekistan’s leading role in Central Asia, drawing parallels to the French model. Matthew Neff (Snoonu) shared his company’s success story, demonstrating how perseverance, growth, and a customer-centric approach can transform local startups into international players.
In his closing address, Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, stated:
“In just a few years, Uzbekistan has transformed into one of the fastest-growing technology ecosystems in the world. We grew from $600,000 in IT exports in 2017 to more than $900 million in 2024. From just four companies, we have built an ecosystem now recognized globally, paving the way for the emergence of new billion-dollar companies. And this is only the beginning of our journey.”
The hosting of Web Summit Spotlight: Uzbekistan in Tashkent not only confirmed the rapid growth of Uzbekistan’s IT ecosystem but also marked an important step in strengthening its role on the global technology map. The forum created new opportunities for collaboration, attracted the attention of investors, international companies, and media to the region, and demonstrated that Central Asia is ready to take its place as an equal participant in the global technology dialogue.
The media partners of the event: Aniq.uz, Daryo.uz, Frank.uz, Kursiv, Nova 24, The Tech, UzbekFintech, Weproject, Vzglyad.uz, and the radio station Oriat Dono.
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