The orientation session for the prestigious President Tech Award, held at the U-ENTER Innovation Center, proved to be a valuable experience for young entrepreneurs entering the startup ecosystem. With a total prize fund of $1 million, the event focused on key factors that contribute to building a successful startup, offering real-life lessons and practical advice to interested participants.
A winning pitch and a strong team: the formula for success
Throughout the session, speakers repeatedly emphasized that a pitch is not just a presentation, but the art of conveying the “soul” of a project to investors. The experience of the “Online Hamshira” project winner illustrated this perfectly. Initially unsuccessful, the project’s shortcomings were due to weak traction (sales and user growth), limited personal experience, and underdeveloped pitch skills. This demonstrated that no matter how unique the idea is, it must be backed by real metrics and delivered with impact.
“The person pitching must deeply understand the project. We’ve seen great ideas fail just because the founder couldn’t explain them properly.”
While language skills are helpful, what truly matters is the ability to tell the story of the startup with emotion—why it was created, why it matters, and why this team deserves to win. The positive societal impact of the startup also plays a crucial role in attracting investment.
Technical considerations
The session also addressed key technical requirements. Participants were informed that sharing GitHub code repositories is required to verify the technical foundation of the project—though security would be guaranteed. Encouragingly, projects built on no-code platforms are also eligible, opening the door to a broader range of participants regardless of technical background.
Speakers advised avoiding over-complicated tech solutions and instead prioritizing simplicity and functionality.
Financial Structure: Support Without Payback
Financially, it was clarified that awarded funds are non-refundable. However, disbursement occurs in two stages:
- An initial amount provided upfront.
- The remainder released upon meeting specific KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).
This two-step approach is designed to encourage ongoing development and motivate startups to expand into international markets.
Key resources and tips for startup success
Attendees received several valuable recommendations and resources to boost their chances of success:
- Follow media channels of VC funds and actively participate in pitch-day events to connect with investors.
- Watch Y Combinator’s YouTube content to better understand the startup ecosystem.
- Explore local programs via Startupbase.uz to identify opportunities in Uzbekistan.
At the session’s close, a key difference between the startup ecosystems of Uzbekistan and Silicon Valley was highlighted: speed. In global markets, an idea today must become an MVP tomorrow, requiring fast-paced teamwork and agile execution. This serves as a call to action for Uzbek startup founders to move faster and push further.
The President Tech Award orientation session offered more than just preparation for a competition—it became an essential masterclass in startup success. By sharing honest stories of both achievements and mistakes, the session laid a strong foundation for future innovation in Uzbekistan’s growing tech landscape.
Prepared by Gulnoza Mikhailovna
