Imkon Ventures announced a series of strategic investments into Startup Garage portfolio companies in early-stage education and financial technology startups collectively valued at over $9 million, reinforcing the firm’s long-term focus on backing foundational platforms in Uzbekistan designed to scale talent and technology over the next decade.
Leading the announcements is Darstop, an online education platform serving children ages 5 to 14. Darstop is a U.S.-based startup founded by Uzbek software engineer and educator Shukhrat Fayziev, with a mission to address the educational needs of the global Uzbekistani diaspora while building high-quality digital learning infrastructure accessible from anywhere in the world.
The idea for Darstop emerged from Fayziev’s personal search for a more meaningful and effective learning experience for his own child, which revealed a broader gap in structured, values-driven digital education for diaspora families globally.
Darstop delivers intentionally designed three- to four-month learning programmes that combine live small-group classes, high-quality recorded lessons, homework, project-based work, and certification upon completion. The platform offers structured academic pathways in coding, artificial intelligence, robotics foundations, English language learning, and cultural enrichment, with a strong emphasis on character development, values formation, and consistent progress tracking supported by regular parent communication. Imkon Ventures views Darstop as long-term educational infrastructure built to produce durable skills and real outcomes in an increasingly digital childhood.
“I wasn’t satisfied with my own child’s education,” Fayziev said. “So I started personally finding the best teachers and building a structured learning experience. Other parents quickly asked if their kids could join, and that’s how Darstop was born.”
In parallel, Imkon Ventures invested in Haysam School, a next-generation education platform centered on applied AI, creative technology, and modern digital skills; Karmon AI, an AI-powered financial accountability platform helping individuals and teams translate goals into execution; Orif.ai, an accountability-focused agentic AI platform designed for humans, enterprises, and institutions that enforces policy-bound follow-through without autonomous decision-making; and Asaxiy Invest, a Shariah-compliant community investment platform established in 2021 that expands access to ethical investment and installment-based financial solutions through a trusted commerce ecosystem.
Commenting on the firm’s approach, Mukhammad Khalil, one of the founders of Imkon Ventures, said, “We are intentionally focused on infrastructure, education systems, execution platforms, and access points that quietly shape outcomes over time. These are not fast trends; they are long-term foundations. Our role is to partner early with builders who are designing for durability, integrity, and real-world impact.”
About Imkon Ventures
Founded in Uzbekistan, Imkon Ventures is a private venture capital fund, managing a $5 million fund focused on pre-seed and seed-stage startups across fintech, B2B SaaS, AI, deeptech, and education technology. Backed by the UZVC Fund of Funds, Imkon Ventures plans to invest in 25–30 startups over the next two years, supporting the growth of local teams and their integration into the global technology ecosystem.
