The delegation from IT Park Uzbekistan presented the distinctive opportunities of Central Asia’s burgeoning startup ecosystem at Web Summit Lisbon 2024, one of the world’s largest technology conferences. This participation marks a significant step in fostering international collaboration and positioning Uzbekistan as a promising destination for technological investments and innovation development.
Web Summit is the world’s foremost technology conference, annually attracting over 70,000 participants, including leading companies, startups, investors, and industry experts. The event serves as an unparalleled platform for the exchange of ideas, establishment of strategic partnerships, and promotion of pioneering innovations that shape the future technological industry.
During the summit, IT Park Uzbekistan engaged in high-level discussions with representatives of venture capital funds, accelerators, and technology enterprises. The Central Asian Innovation Hubs stand, presented jointly with Astana Hub, garnered substantial interest, further strengthening collaboration efforts and promoting regional innovation projects on the global stage.
Unicorn Factory Lisboa
The delegation held productive negotiations with Ms. Sofia Rolo, Strategic Projects Manager of Unicorn Factory Lisboa, exploring opportunities to develop tailored support programs for Uzbek startups.
Both parties committed to formulating incubation and acceleration initiatives, fostering startup exchanges, and involving international experts to bolster the local innovation ecosystem. Leveraging Unicorn Factory’s extensive experience and global network, Uzbek startups will gain unique opportunities to scale their projects and solidify their presence in the global market.
Unicorn Factory Lisboa, an initiative by the Lisbon Municipality, supports startups and scaleups through incubation, acceleration, and sector-specific programsin areas such as FoodTech and ClimateTech. Since 2024, it has facilitated the growth of over 820 startups, enabling them to attract more than €1 billion in investments. Headquartered in Lisbon, it aims to transform the city into a centre of innovation in Europe.
Raw Ventures
In a meeting with Ms. Maria Zherebtsova, Chief Investment Officer of Raw Ventures, the IT Park delegation provided an overview of Uzbekistan’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem, emphasizing its significant potential for international collaboration. Several promising startups active in the market andpoised for investment, were showcased, eliciting strong interest from potential partner.
During the talks, the parties agreed to organize meetings with startups seeking investment opportunities, opening new avenues for Uzbek entrepreneurs to access international capital, enter global markets, and expand their business ties.
Raw Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Potsdam, Germany, focuses on early-stage investments in technology-driven startups. The fund supports ventures in MedTech, AgriTech, FinTech, CleanTechand other innovative sectors, assisting startups to scale and attain sustainable growth. Since its establishment, Raw Ventures has made over 100 investments, offering not only financial backing but also the expertise of a seasoned team to ensure the long-term development of companies.
Leads-Results
The delegation held a dialogue with Ms. Helga Saraiva-Stewart, Founder and CEO of Leads-Results. With extensive experience in project management, business analysis, and strategic development, Ms. Saraiva-Stewart shared her insights on optimizing business processes and enhancing organizational efficiency. She also holds a position at Nova SBE, Portugal’s leading business school, which ranked among Europe’s top 21 institutions in the 2023 Financial Times ranking.
During the meeting, a detailed presentation on Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem was delivered, serving as the basis for discussions on potential collaboration. Ms. Saraiva-Stewart provided an in-depth market analysis, identified key challenges, and proposed specific solutions to address them. Particular attention was given to the possibility of integrating her methodologies into IT Park’s acceleration programs, which could enhance the training of startups and strengthen their competitiveness on the global stage.
Leads-Results is an international training centrecertified by the Institute of Sales Professionals. Company specializes in developing programs and resources to foster innovation in the B2B sales sector, enabling businesses to optimize client acquisition strategies and adapt to the demands of contemporary markets.
The participation of IT Park Uzbekistan in WebSummitLisbon 2024 provided a platform to enhance the country’s visibility on the international stage while reinforcing its standing as a promising partner for investors and technology companies. Uzbekistan continues to cultivate a conducive environment for startups, offering tax incentives, incubation programs, and access to the dynamic Central Asian market. As a result of the established connections, a significant influx of investments into local startups is anticipated, alongside the expansion of domestic projects into global markets.
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