The First Stage of the Creative Startups Competition Concludes: 10 Projects Advance to the Final Round

 

IT Park Uzbekistan, the Art and Culture Development Foundation, and the Youth Affairs Agency have announced the finalists of the Creative Startups Competition held as part of the IV World Conference on Creative Economy.

 

 

On October 1, 2024, the Youth Affairs Agency hosted the first round of startup pitches, organized by IT Park Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan and the Youth Affairs Agency. The objective of the competition is to encourage the founders of projects within the creative industry and to promote this rapidly evolving sector.

 

 

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.

 

The participants presented their projects to an expert panel, which evaluated the startups based on the following criteria: creativity, relevance, innovation, and the expertise level of the project teams.

 

 

The panel included:
- Yulia Paramonova, Head of the Department of Education and Programs, Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan;
- Shakhzod Narzullaev, Head of the Startup Ecosystem and Venture Investment Development Department, IT Park Uzbekistan;
- Orian-Mekhroj Rashidov, Director of Youth Entrepreneurship Support Center of Uzbekistan.

 

The finalists of the competition are:

Paper AI — an AI-based tool for analyzing scientific research.
MegaSkill — a gamified VR tool for education.
The Golden Horde: Turan — a historical RPG game set in the 13th century Central Asia, developed using Unreal Engine 5.
LexiKid — an educational application designed for children with dyslexia.
Talklif — a tool for creative event management.
Usta — an educational project aimed at teaching the traditional art of ceramics, with plans for launching online courses.
ARTime Capsule — an AR tool for preserving photos and cherished memories in a innovative manner.
EdSmart — an interactive media studio.
Tile MosaiC — a project for creating artistic materials from recycled plastic to support environmental sustainability.
Trendy’s — an online platform for selling second-hand designer clothing.

 

 

The competition serves as a key component of the IV World Conference on Creative Economy, bringing together startups focused on fostering creative solutions and supporting talented entrepreneurs. The final round of the competition will take place on October 4 at 15:00 at CAEx, providing finalists with the opportunity to present their projects to an international jury, gain valuable feedback, and compete for prestigious awards.