Central Eurasia’s burgeoning startup ecosystem has reached a significant milestone with the culmination of the Road to Battlefield competition. This landmark event, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub in collaboration with TechCrunch and Freedom Holding, has provided an unprecedented platform for the region’s entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations on a global scale.
A Historic Competition
The Road to Battlefield competition attracted 485 applications from 27 countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, UAE, the U.K., Ukraine, the U.S., Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. This diverse participation underscores the region’s growing prominence in the global startup landscape.
Between July 21 and August 12, 380 startups presented their ideas across nine national rounds conducted online, resulting in 32 hours of pitching content. Notably, 35% of these startups were founded by women, highlighting the inclusive nature of the competition. The youngest participant, a 14-year-old entrepreneur from Uzbekistan’s Unify, exemplifies the youthful energy driving the region’s innovation.
The participating startups spanned various development stages: 43 in the idea stage, 224 with Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), 127 in pre-seed, 65 in the seed stage, and 26 in pre-Series A. This distribution reflects a vibrant and evolving startup ecosystem poised for growth.
The Four Trailblazers
After rigorous evaluation, four standout startups have earned the opportunity to represent Central Eurasia at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2025 in San Francisco:
1. Polygraf AI (Azerbaijan and USA): Specializing in advanced artificial intelligence solutions, Polygraf AI is at the forefront of AI innovation, developing technologies that enhance data analysis and decision-making processes across various industries.
2. QuickShipper (Georgia): Revolutionizing logistics, QuickShipper offers a streamlined platform that optimizes shipping processes for businesses and consumers, ensuring faster and more efficient delivery services.
3. Surfaice (USA and Kazakhstan): Bridging the gap between the USA and Kazakhstan, Surfaice focuses on developing cutting-edge surface technologies that have applications in multiple sectors, including manufacturing and healthcare.
4. ArtSkin (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan): Merging art and technology, ArtSkin creates innovative wearable devices that not only serve functional purposes but also make fashion statements, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Central Eurasia.
These startups will join a select group of 200 early-stage companies at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2025, competing for the coveted $100,000 equity-free prize and the opportunity to gain significant exposure to investors and media.
A Region on the Rise
Central Eurasia, encompassing countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, is home to a dynamic tech hub of 100 million people, many of whom are among the youngest populations globally. The region produces approximately 200,000 STEM graduates annually and hosts an estimated 7,000 active startups across sectors such as AI, fintech, edtech, medtech, and e-commerce.
Venture funding in Central Asia and the South Caucasus has experienced significant growth, increasing 5.5 times in recent years, reaching $110 million in 2023 and $150 million in the first half of 2024 alone. Notable successes include AI company Higgsfield, valued at over $100 million, and Uzbekistan’s Uzum, which raised $114 million in funding, becoming the country’s first unicorn with a valuation of $1.16 billion. Additionally, global players like Telegram and inDrive have established regional offices in Kazakhstan, further validating the region’s potential.
Despite this growth, Central Eurasia’s potential remains largely untapped by global investors. The Road to Battlefield competition aims to change this narrative by providing unprecedented visibility and access to Silicon Valley’s most influential networks.
Voices from the Ecosystem
Asset Abdualiyev, CEO and founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub, emphasized the significance of this initiative:
At Silkroad Innovation Hub, our mission is to put Central Eurasia on the global startup and VC map. This initiative represents an important milestone because, for the first time, TechCrunch hosted a regional competition to source great startups for their prestigious Battlefield competition. When we began, it was simply an idea, a vision to empower founders from underrepresented geographies. We’re pleased to announce that this has become the largest startup competition in Central Eurasia’s history, demonstrating a significant interest from founders across the region in building truly innovative companies and showcasing them globally. We’re grateful to TechCrunch for their continued partnership and their ongoing interest in the region.
Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub in Kazakhstan, highlighted the importance of this opportunity:
This initiative reflects the next step in our strategic roadmap to position Central Eurasian startups on the global stage. Residents of Astana Hub are already engaging international markets, participating in U.S.-based accelerators such as AlchemistX, Silicon Valley Residency, and Hero Training, and consistently demonstrating scalable growth. Collectively, startups within our ecosystem now generate over $1.5 billion in annual revenue — a strong indicator of market readiness and ecosystem maturity. Road to Battlefield marks the next phase in this trajectory: a direct pathway to venture capital, global partnerships, and one of the most respected startup platforms worldwide.
The Road Ahead
The success of the Road to Battlefield competition signifies a turning point for Central Eurasia’s startup ecosystem. By providing a direct pathway to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield, the initiative not only showcases the region’s innovative potential but also fosters connections with global investors and partners.
As the four winning startups prepare to take the stage in San Francisco, they carry with them the aspirations of a region ready to make its mark on the global innovation landscape. Their journey underscores the transformative power of providing underrepresented regions with platforms to shine, paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse global startup community.
