From September 19 to 21, Silkroad Innovation Hub is presenting an exclusive pavilion to Silicon Valley investors at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 international conference. Fourteen startups from Central Eurasia left their mark on the global stage, QazMonitor reports citing the press service of Astana Hub.
Kazakhstan was represented by six companies: Citix, Cyborgbase, TengriLights, Falcon.ai, Kscooter, and Rhinotales.
During the conference, CerebraAI, a Kazakh startup specializing in artificial intelligence and neuroradiology for automated stroke diagnosis, participated in the world's largest startup competition, Startup Battlefield 200.
I am confident that companies from Central Eurasian countries can become new international 'unicorns.' Despite the immense potential, our startup founders are underrepresented and receive limited support from the global venture capital market. We established the Silkroad Innovation Hub to become a center of attraction and promotion for startups from Central Eurasia. Today, at TechCrunch Disrupt, where startups are evaluated by investors with a combined portfolio of over $26 billion, our companies are representing the region with dignity, and this is just the beginning.
Startups from Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan - oblako.me, Wiot, Doki, Zypl.ai, MyID, IMAN, Mohirdev, and Workly - also demonstrated the region's impressive potential and diversity. Most of the startups presented at the event are graduates of Astana Hub's accelerators, currently scaling their projects in global markets.
The conference hosted a panel session titled "The New Digital Silk Road: From Central Eurasia to Silicon Valley," which featured key speakers such as Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, Askar Zhambakin, Executive Director of IT Park Uzbekistan, Abdulahad Kuchkarov, and Acting Chair of IDDA, Inara Valiyeva.
Silkroad Innovation Hub organizers encourage Central Eurasian startups to join the innovation community and utilize the opportunities provided to create promising technology projects. The hub emphasizes that by joining forces, it is possible to achieve significant results in the next 5-7 years: five 'unicorns,' $300 million in investments in startups, and $1.5 billion in exports of IT services from the region.
TechCrunch Disrupt is one of the leading international events for the startup community, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and journalists from around the world every year to discuss the latest trends and innovations in the tech world. The event has gained a reputation as a place where startups can gain global recognition. For example, successful companies such as Dropbox and Fitbit first presented their innovations at TechCrunch Disrupt and later became 'unicorns' with billion-dollar valuations.
Launched on September 15, Silkroad Innovation Hub is a community in Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, California, US) for founders and startups from Central Eurasia. Its mission is to create the new 'digital Silk Road' and promote the region's talent on the global stage.