Historic regional competition launches to showcase Central Eurasia’s rising startup ecosystem on Silicon Valley’s biggest stage.
For the first time in its history, Central Eurasia will have a direct pathway to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield through the launch of “Road to Battlefield,” a groundbreaking regional competition that promises to put the underrepresented region firmly on the global innovation map.
The competition, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub in partnership with TechCrunch and Freedom Holding, will span nine countries across Central Eurasia: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. National competitions will lead to a regional final where the top three startups will earn spots in TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2025 in San Francisco.
“We’ve been exhibiting startups at TechCrunch Disrupt for several years as partners — 14 startups in 2023, 24 startups in 2024 — and we see that they can be competitive,” said Asset Abdualiyev, CEO and founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub. “In 2024, we had the largest pavilion at TechCrunch Disrupt. We are happy to take our partnership with TechCrunch Disrupt to the next level by providing direct access to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 to the most promising startups from the Central Eurasian region.”
A region ready for recognition
Central Eurasia’s startup ecosystem has been quietly building momentum, representing a dynamic tech hub of 100 million people with one of the youngest populations in the world. The region produces approximately 200,000 STEM graduates annually and is home to an estimated 7,000 active startups across key sectors, including AI, fintech, edtech, medtech, and e-commerce.
The numbers tell a compelling story: Venture funding in Central Asia and the South Caucasus has grown 5.5x 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 Uzum from Uzbekistan, which raised $114 million in funding, becoming the country’s first unicorn with a valuation of $1.16 billion. Meanwhile, regional offices of global players, such as Telegram and inDrive, have established operations in Kazakhstan.
Despite this growth, the region’s potential remains largely untapped by global investors. The Road to Battlefield competition aims to change that narrative by providing unprecedented visibility and access to Silicon Valley’s most influential networks.
“Not all investors understand how vast the opportunities are in that region,” explained Abdualiyev. “This competition is about showcasing that Central Eurasia has startups that deserve global recognition.”
The initiative has garnered strong support from key regional players. Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub in Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of this opportunity: “We’ve been helping startups scale in the US through our acceleration programs and have seen real progress. Many companies have already secured local investments, and this competition provides an even bigger platform for Kazakhstan’s startups to be exposed.”
Strong regional partnership
The competition benefits from a robust partnership network across the region, supported by leading regional innovation hubs and accelerators:
Astana Hub (Kazakhstan); IT Park Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan); Future Laboratory (Georgia); Sabah Hub and Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) (Azerbaijan); IT Park Mongolia (Mongolia); Accelerate Prosperity (Kyrgyzstan); IT Park Dushanbe (Tajikistan); and Startup Centrum (Türkiye).
IT Park Uzbekistan, one of the key supporters, sees this as a crucial step in ecosystem development. “We are happy to support and help Uzbek startups scale globally,” said Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan. “We wish that through our efforts to evolve the venture ecosystem, our startups can be seen in the US market and expand globally. As part of the Central Asia Innovation Hub that we are now implementing with Astana Hub, this initiative aligns perfectly with our regional development goals.”
The initiative is backed by Freedom Holding as the main partner, demonstrating significant private sector commitment to regional innovation. “Freedom Holding Corp. has been supporting Central Eurasian teams on the global TechCrunch stage for several years now, and this year is no exception,” said Marlen Sikhayev, adviser to the president of Freedom Finance Global PLC. “We believe in the potential of regional entrepreneurs and want to give them access to best practices, mentorship, and investments. This initiative not only provides crucial support for startups but also demonstrates that Central Eurasia’s technology and innovation sector is keeping pace with global trends and developing as a unified region.”
Competition structure and timeline
The competition follows a carefully structured process:
Stage 1: National Competitions (July 21 – August 10). Each country will host online pitch events.
Stage 2: Regional Final (August 15). The top 20 startups will compete in an online regional final to determine the three winners.
Stage 3: Battlefield Preparation (September 1 – October 24). Winners receive intensive preparation through weekly webinars leading up to TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.
Stage 4: TechCrunch Startup Battlefield (October 26 – 29). The three finalists travel to Silicon Valley to compete in the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.
Exclusive benefits for winners
The three winning startups will receive a comprehensive package designed to maximize their Silicon Valley experience:
- Guaranteed spots in TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.
- Round-trip flights to San Francisco for up to two team members.
- Accommodation covered for up to 2 weeks.
- Startup booth and exhibit space for all three days of TechCrunch Disrupt.
- Investor and networking access to top VCs and private industry events.
- Branding and media exposure through event materials and coverage opportunities.
Startup criteria
The competition targets early-stage startups that meet specific criteria:
- Must not have exceeded the pre-Series A funding stage.
- Must have a functional MVP.
- Should have limited global media exposure.
- Must be based in one of the nine Central Eurasian countries.
Building on success
TechCrunch Disrupt stands as one of the world’s most influential tech conferences, attracting over 165,000 attendees and featuring speakers such as Elon Musk, Serena Williams, and Satya Nadella.
At its core, TechCrunch Startup Battlefield boasts an impressive 15-plus-year track record of launching global tech giants, including Trello, Dropbox, N26, Mint, and Forethought AI. Alumni companies have collectively raised over $32 billion, with more than 50 unicorns emerging from the program.
Each year, 200 early-stage startups compete for unparalleled exposure to top-tier investors and media, with 20 finalists advancing to compete live for $100,000 funding and the iconic Disrupt Cup.
A historic moment
The launch of Road to Battlefield represents more than just a competition; it’s a historic moment for Central Eurasia’s startup ecosystem. By creating a direct pathway to one of the world’s most prestigious startup stages, the initiative promises to accelerate the region’s integration into the global innovation economy.
As the competition opens for applications, entrepreneurs across Central Eurasia now have an opportunity to showcase their innovations to Silicon Valley’s most influential investors and partners.
For a region that has long been underrepresented in global startup competitions, it could be the catalyst that transforms Central Eurasia into a recognized hub of global innovation.
Applications for Road to Battlefield are now open, with a deadline of July 15, 2025.
