More than 2,500 startup founders, investors, developers, venture capital representatives, and technology experts gathered in Uzbekistan’s capital from May 15-17 for the inaugural Global Tech Weekend × TECH FEST, an event organizers say reflects the region’s growing role in the international innovation economy.
Held in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan, the three-day festival featured more than 40 events and over 120 speakers from Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Discussions covered artificial intelligence, venture capital, gaming, digital transformation, startup scaling, and cross-border investment.
The event marks Global Tech Weekend’s first edition in Uzbekistan. Founded in Los Angeles in 2024, the event debuted in Tbilisi in 2025 before expanding in 2026 to Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Baku as flagship host cities.
“You have everything you need to achieve your goals. IT Park and the government provide strong support. I wish every country had this level of support,” said Jaba Kikvidze, co-founder of Global Tech Weekend, during the festival.
“My advice to founders in Uzbekistan is to work hard, look beyond the local market, explore new opportunities, and make use of the ecosystem being built around you,” he added.
@IT Park Uzbekistan
One of the recurring themes of the event was how Central Asian startups can move beyond domestic markets and attract international investment. During a panel titled “Roots: Local Playbooks on Investing and Building within Central Asia,” regional investors discussed how funding strategies and startup expectations are evolving across emerging economies.
Representatives from global accelerators and investment networks also highlighted growing international interest in founders from less traditional technology hubs.
Speaking to The Times of Central Asia, Farrukh Erkinov, head of the Startup Ecosystem Development Department at IT Park Uzbekistan, said one of the festival’s main objectives was to create direct links between local entrepreneurs and global investors.
“One of the most important factors in today’s startup ecosystem is connection to the global community,” Erkinov said. “Through Global Tech Weekend, we aimed to create a direct platform for startups in Uzbekistan to interact with international investors, accelerators, and technology partners.”
@IT Park Uzbekistan
Artificial intelligence was another major focus of the festival. Speakers including Ethan Pierse, a partner at Borderless Ventures whose work focuses on the AI economy, argued that traditional investment models are becoming less effective as AI reshapes industries and shortens startup development cycles.
The event also included startup pitch competitions featuring projects from Uzbekistan and neighboring countries, mentorship sessions with international experts, and esports tournaments centered on PUBG MOBILE and Mobile Legends.
Organizers said the festival is intended to connect Central Asia more closely with the Caucasus and other neighboring regions.
“We believe we can unite Central Asia and the Caucasus,” Global Tech Weekend co-founder Guri Koiava told The Times of Central Asia. “This means friendship, bridges between countries, joint investments, and new business opportunities. Here I see a strong drive from young people. They believe in what they are building.”
