Just a few years ago, Central Asia was virtually invisible on the global startup map. The region was more commonly associated with commodity exports, migration, or geopolitical discussions. Today, however, the narrative is shifting.
According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026 report published by StartupBlink, Central Asia has become the fastest-growing startup region in the world. Over the past year, the region’s startup ecosystem has expanded by 81%, marking the highest growth rate among all global sub-regions.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have been highlighted as the primary drivers of this growth. In particular, Uzbekistan’s performance has captured the attention of international experts.
Uzbekistan — “Country of the year 2026”
StartupBlink has officially named Uzbekistan the “Country of the Year 2026.” This title is awarded to the nation that achieves the world’s most significant breakthrough in terms of startup ecosystem growth rate.
- Rapid Rise: In 2026, Uzbekistan climbed 19 spots in the global rankings to secure the 79th position.
- Unprecedented Growth: The country’s startup ecosystem grew by over 227% in a single year, recorded as the highest growth rate in the report.
- Three-Year Progress: Considering Uzbekistan was ranked 111th in 2023, the country has leaped 32 places in just three years.
Tashkent emerges as the region’s new innovation hub
The report specifically emphasizes that Tashkent is becoming one of Central Asia’s most active innovation hubs. In just one year, the capital surged 121 positions in the global startup cities ranking, reaching 229th place among the world’s top startup cities.
Furthermore, Samarkand and Fergana entered the global Top 1,000 startup cities list for the first time. Today, Uzbekistan holds leading positions in Central Asia regarding startup community activity, corporate partnerships, investments, and ecosystem visibility.
What drives these results?
In recent years, a series of initiatives have been implemented to support technological entrepreneurship in the country. In particular, the expansion of IT Park, tax incentives for startups, programs aimed at attracting international investors, and the development of the venture capital market have all fueled the rapid formation of the ecosystem.
New programs adopted in 2026 aim to nurture startups right from the school level. The government plans to increase the number of startups in the country to 5,000 and attract up to $2 billion in venture capital investments by 2030.
The ultimate question: what is the next step?
Rapid growth in rankings is an important signal. However, global experience shows that the true strength of a startup ecosystem is reflected not in rankings, but in companies capable of entering the global market.
Today, Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem is transitioning from the formation stage to the growth stage. The primary task ahead is to attract more international investors, increase the number of startups creating products for global markets, and foster successful exits and unicorn stories.
As Central Asia cements its status as the world’s fastest-growing startup region, Uzbekistan stands at the epicenter of this transformation. The question is no longer whether the region will grow, but how effectively it can turn this growth into global tech success stories.
