In 2024, startups from Central Asia achieved remarkable success, attracting significant investments, expanding their markets, and introducing innovative solutions. These companies not only strengthened the technological ecosystems of their respective countries but also became key players on the international stage. Below is an overview of the region’s most successful startups that are driving the growth of the digital economy.
Kazakhstan
EasyTap
EasyTap entered the Uzbek market, won $50,000 at the Fintech Stars 2024 competition, and signed a contract with the major Uzbek company MCosmetic.
Paidax
Paidax secured $600,000 in a Pre-seed round. Additionally, Paidax and MOST Investors Club signed a memorandum of cooperation with key players in the investment market.
HeRo Study
HeRo Study raised over $600,000 from UC Ventures during the third funding round, which totaled $1.7 million. The company’s valuation surpassed $11 million, showcasing its strong growth in the market.
Cerebra
CerebraAI won a $150,000 prize at the Rocket Fuel Startup Pitch Competition for its innovative use of artificial intelligence.
1Fit
1Fit entered the Mexican market and earned over $4 million in revenue for the first time.
Yaya
Yaya increased its revenue 30-fold in one year, attracted investments from 500 Global in Eurasia, and was among 24 startups showcased by Silkroad Innovation Hub at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Yaya also won first place at the She Loves Tech Global Startup Competition.
Hero’s Journey
Hero’s Journey, the world’s first gamified fitness studio, raised $6 million in investments. The project is supported by the MA7 fund and other investors, aiming to help people exercise more effectively and build sustainable fitness habits.
Courstore
The SaaS AI platform for online courses, Courstore, secured $40,000 in investments and won third place at the Glovo Startup Competition, receiving a €5,000 prize. The platform also expanded into the Uzbek market.
CodiPlay
Recognized by the UN as a “Digital Public Good,” CodiPlay was named the best educational project in the world. The EdTech startup’s innovations have been implemented in schools across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Qatar, Turkey, and other countries.
Kyrgyzstan
Alma
The Kyrgyz startup Alma, focused on simplifying the visa process for tech professionals, founders, and researchers, raised $5.1 million from leading Silicon Valley venture funds.
Codify
Codify, in partnership with USAID and the Aga Khan Foundation, organized the “Startup Nation” hackathon alongside the Accelerate Prosperity accelerator.
AkylAI
AkylAI, the first AI assistant to speak the Kyrgyz language, was accepted into the Launch accelerator program by Founder University, founded by Jason Calacanis.
Mugalim AI
Mugalim AI won the AI in EdTech category at the Startup Battle Connected 2024 competition and secured third place at the She Loves Tech Global Startup Competition.
Fal.ai
The Fal.ai platform, founded by a Kyrgyz entrepreneur, raised $23 million in funding for its AI models that generate audio, video, and images.
enji.ai
enji.ai was named one of the top 10 startups for acceleration by DOMiNO Ventures and was accepted into the Dutch Better Future AI accelerator.
Mentium
Founded by Kyrgyz entrepreneur Aziz Satarov, Mentium successfully raised $3.2 million in investments, bringing its total funding to approximately $4 million since its inception.
Uzbekistan
Tahrirchi
Tahrirchi was awarded a $150,000 presidential grant to further develop its product, with plans to add Kazakh language support.
BILLZ
BILLZ raised $500,000 to expand its operations in Central Asia. It was also one of the 24 startups showcased by Silkroad Innovation Hub at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024.
Deepen.uz
Deepen.uz, an ERP system for fitness studios, raised $750,000 in funding from CS//Angels Club and South Korean partners. The investment will be used for further automation and expansion into new regional markets.
Hupo
Hupo, a leadership coaching platform that helps managers become better leaders and build effective teams, secured funding from Meta and other global funds.
Lola.uz
The women-focused taxi service Lola.uz raised $100,000 in investments from AloqaVentures.
Uzum
Uzum Market became the leading online shopping platform in Uzbekistan and achieved unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. It raised $100 million in its first investment round and expanded its delivery service to eight cities.
Oygul
Oygul, a flower delivery marketplace, attracted 300,000 users within three months and won a prestigious award after launching its miniApp on the Click SuperApp platform. At the President Tech Award grand finale, it won first place in the Micro-SaaS and AdTech category, earning a $100,000 prize.
Sug’urta Bozor
The insurtech startup Sug’urta Bozor raised $100,000 in a bridge round from an international private equity fund.
Tajikistan
zypl.ai
The FinTech startup zypl.ai was featured in a Stanford case study highlighting the development of AI in Tajikistan. It also partnered with UZCARD to establish a joint venture for implementing AI technologies in the financial sector.
Re-skill
Re-skill secured $8,000 in the A-Hub acceleration program’s grand finale in Baku and partnered with Tcell and Ilmhona to advance IT education in Tajikistan.
Yalla
Yalla was named the “Best Young Entrepreneur in IT” at the National E-commerce Awards in Tajikistan.
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