Ordo Startup Studio is launching in Bishkek with a goal of working with Central Asian founders from the early stages of an idea through to Series A. The venture studio also aims to build a new startup corridor connecting Bishkek and Tashkent.
Ordo plans to accept its first cohort of residents in September 2026, with up to six startup teams selected for the initial intake. More than a traditional accelerator Unlike a traditional accelerator, Ordo plans to work with startups as an operational partner rather than limiting its role to mentorship or short-term programs.
The studio will work alongside founders on product development, finance, hiring, growth, fundraising and international expansion. The program can last up to 18 months, with the goal of preparing startups for Series A rather than simply getting them to a Demo Day or their first funding round.
Each resident company will be assigned an operating partner who will work directly with the founder on financial planning, team building, product strategy, growth and market expansion.
Ordo is also building a network of more than 60 experts from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the UAE and Silicon Valley. Together with partner networks, the number of experts is expected to exceed 100.
The first cohort will focus on several technology verticals relevant to Central Asia’s economy and export potential. These include embedded fintech for SMEs, vertical SaaS, AI products for Turkic languages, logistics, EdTech and marketplaces supporting cross-border trade.
However, Ordo does not impose strict sector restrictions. The key selection criteria will be the founder’s understanding of the market problem, execution capabilities and potential to take the company beyond Central Asian markets.
For aspiring entrepreneurs who have not yet started building a company, Ordo is also launching an eight-week Founder School. The program will cover product, sales, unit economics, finance, hiring and investor pitching through practical assignments and cases. The strongest teams may later enter the Ordo Residency program.
Ordo Startup Studio was founded by three partners: Managing Partner Aybek Kurenkeyev, Operating Partner Bakhriddin Inamov and Strategic Partner Muhammad Khalil. A key part of the studio’s strategy is its partnership with Tashkent-based Startup Garage. Through the partnership, Ordo residents will be able to operate in both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, connect with local mentors and investors, and access startup infrastructure in Tashkent.
The long-term goal is to create a startup corridor between Bishkek and Tashkent where founders, talent, expertise and capital can move more freely. The model could later expand to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and other Central Asian markets.
The studio sees regional integration as an opportunity to overcome the limitations of relatively small individual domestic markets. A connected early-stage ecosystem across Central Asia could make the region more attractive to investors while giving founders access to a larger pool of talent, capital and markets.
The first Ordo Residency cohort is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with up to six startup teams expected to join. The studio says its key measure of success will not be the number of startups going through the program, but how many investment-ready, fast-growing and globally competitive companies emerge from Central Asia.
