A new chapter for the regional tech scene
Central Asia is steadily transforming from a peripheral market into one of the world’s most promising frontiers for technology entrepreneurship. Startups from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are entering international accelerators, attracting venture attention, and proving that innovation in the region is not a coincidence — it’s a pattern.
While local ecosystems are maturing, a wave of global venture capital firms is beginning to view the region as a strategic investment destination. Below are 11 international funds that are actively engaging with Central Asian founders and shaping the next stage of regional growth.
1. Purple Ventures
Origin: Czech Republic
Focus: Early-stage (Pre-Seed, Seed) startups in FinTech, HRTech, AI, SaaS, and EdTech.
Purple Ventures supports purpose-driven founders across emerging European markets, and has recently shown interest in Uzbekistan’s growing AI and SaaS landscape.
2. DOMiNO Ventures
Origin: Netherlands
Focus: High-tech and digital startups across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Turkey.
The fund invests in logistics, e-commerce, HealthTech, and B2B SaaS, and recently established a dedicated presence in Uzbekistan to back early-stage founders and strengthen ties with local accelerators.
3. Sturgeon Capital
Origin: United Kingdom
Focus: FinTech, marketplaces, logistics, and digital infrastructure.
One of the earliest global investors to enter Central Asia, Sturgeon Capital has supported several regional success stories and continues to explore new opportunities in fast-digitizing economies.
4. Prosus Ventures
Origin: Netherlands
Focus: Global digital businesses in FinTech, EdTech, FoodTech, and marketplaces.
Prosus is known for investing in high-growth frontier markets and has recently supported AI-driven startups in Central Asia, recognizing the region’s rising technical talent.
5. WePlay Ventures
Origin: Turkey / Europe
Focus: Game development studios at pre-seed and seed stages.
Operating across Europe and Central Asia, WePlay Ventures partners with IT Park Uzbekistan to mentor and fund regional gaming startups seeking global reach.
6. SABAH Fund
Origin: Azerbaijan
Focus: Early-stage startups in EdTech, HealthTech, AI, and social-impact innovation.
By supporting purpose-oriented founders, SABAH Fund helps strengthen cross-regional collaboration between the Caucasus and Central Asia.
7. Talos Capital
Origin: International (multi-market)
Focus: AI, DeepTech, cybersecurity, and defense technologies.
Talos Capital is exploring partnerships in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian markets to co-develop next-generation digital infrastructure and applied AI solutions.
8. EPS Ventures
Origin: Malaysia
Focus: IT outsourcing, consulting, and early-stage tech investments.
EPS Ventures positions Uzbekistan as a strategic hub for IT exports, investing in FinTech and AI projects while supporting local talent development.
9. AMKM Investments
Origin: United Arab Emirates
Focus: FinTech, SaaS, AR/VR, gaming, wearable tech, biotech, and consumer healthcare.
A private investment firm led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana Al Maktoum, AMKM Investments engages both in direct investments and in collaborations with Silicon Valley funds — including projects from Turkmenistan and beyond.
10. 500 Global
Origin: United States
Focus: SaaS, FinTech, EdTech, AI, and consumer technologies.
A leading early-stage fund and accelerator, 500 Global has already backed startups such as Yaya (Kazakhstan) and IMAN Invest (Uzbekistan), while running regional programs to foster export-ready tech ventures.
11. Y Combinator
Origin: United States
Focus: Scalable, globally minded tech products.
Y Combinator continues to accept applications from across Central Asia — with alumni such as Nozomio and Leaping AI (Kazakhstan) showing how regional founders can compete on the world stage. Participants receive up to $500 000 in funding, mentorship, and access to the Silicon Valley investor network.
Why this trend matters
The entry of global funds marks a structural shift for Central Asia’s innovation economy. These investors bring not only capital, but also mentorship, technical expertise, and global distribution channels. For Uzbekistan and its neighbors, this engagement helps transform local potential into internationally scalable ventures.
Sectors like AI, HealthTech, FinTech, SaaS, and gaming are becoming the region’s strongest growth engines. And as more investors open regional offices or form partnerships with local accelerators, Central Asia is no longer viewed as an emerging story — it’s part of the global innovation narrative.
Central Asian founders today stand where Eastern European startups were a decade ago: ready to scale, rich in talent, and increasingly visible to global investors. The next wave of billion-dollar companies from this region will likely come from the intersection of local insight and global ambition — supported by the very funds now opening their doors.
