BILLZ, a member of IT Park Uzbekistan and a prominent startup specializing in automation solutions for retail and financial services targeting small and medium-sized enterprises in Central Asia, has secured a strategic investment from distinguished investor and entrepreneur Evren Ucok. This investment, coupled with Ucok's appointment to the board of directors, marks a new chapter in BILLZ’s development, fortifying its position as a potential leader in retail technology across Central Asia.
Evren Ucok is a highly experienced investor with a notable record in building, scaling, and supporting leading technology companies in emerging markets. His achievements include:
- Trendyol Group — the foremost e-commerce platform and Turkey’s first decacorn.
- Peak Games — among Turkey’s earliest tech unicorns, acquired at a high valuation, reinforcing Turkey’s role as a center for mobile gaming.
- Earlybird Digital East Fund (EDEF) — the pioneering venture capital fund in Eastern Europe, achieving approximately 14x profitability and generating $2 billion in returns.
- UiPath — the largest tech IPO in Europe and a global leader in business process automation, supported by EDEF from its early stages.
Moreover, Ucok actively invests in enterprise software, biotechnology, and deep technology sectors and has played a significant role in establishing over 20 specialized venture funds. His involvement is expected to be instrumental in accelerating BILLZ’s growth, providing vital support in expanding and advancing the company’s technological infrastructure.
“Evren Ucok is a global expert, and we are honored to welcome him to BILLZ,” stated Rustam Khamdamov, CEO and co-founder of the company. “His strategic vision and extensive experience will enhance our position in Central Asia and support our mission to transform the region’s retail sector.”
Evren Ucok also expressed his expectations: “I am deeply committed to the mission of BILLZ and am inspired by their vision to advance small and medium-sized enterprises in Central Asia. The BILLZ team demonstrates exceptional capabilities, and their platform possesses considerable potential to transform retail technology in the region. Additionally, I am pleased that my first investment in Uzbekistan is in a company with such promising potential and talent. Uzbekistan is a country with immense possibilities and impressive achievements, particularly highlighted by its success in the field of chess.”
With the addition of this strategic investor, BILLZ aims to strengthen its technological foundation, broaden its market reach, and develop innovative solutions for retail businesses across Central Asia.
The interest and engagement of investors of Evren Ucok's caliber underscore the emergence of promising startups within Uzbekistan that are poised to attract international expertise and strategic investment.
About BILLZ
BILLZ, a member of IT Park Uzbekistan, provides a comprehensive platform for retail automation encompassing inventory, personnel, and financial management, alongside advanced analytics, CRM, training, and integrations with marketplaces and other applications. BILLZ’s solutions enable stores to reduce operational time costs by up to 40% and increase sales by 30%. The platform also offers access to financing of up to $120,000 without collateral, fostering business growth. Currently, BILLZ solutions are utilized by over 3,000 stores across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, including renowned brands such as L'Occitane, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, and others.
