On December 26, 2024, as part of the “Tumaris.Tech Central Asia” initiative, the second wave of the export accelerator concluded with a demo day supported by USAID’s Entrepreneurship and Business Environment Development Project. During the event, startups founded by women from five Central Asian countries – Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – presented their business plans aimed at entering new markets.
Project outcomes
In 2024, the program provided comprehensive support to participants, enabling them to expand their presence in international markets and enhance their businesses. The second phase recognized the following achievements:
• VR Delivery (Kazakhstan): A startup offering innovative technologies to develop cognitive skills in the younger generation and boost their motivation for education. The team increased their revenue by 28% and improved investment profitability by 40% compared to the previous month.
• AI Sales & Marketing (Kazakhstan): A project that leverages artificial intelligence to automate business processes, offering tailored AI-powered assistants to ease entrepreneurs’ workloads. The startup increased its user base by 50%, reaching 3,000 users, and established partnerships in the Turkish market.
• Barakelde AI (Kyrgyzstan): A startup that helps assess eligibility for U.S. visa applications. The team successfully signed 12 cooperation agreements with international universities.
• ESG & Human Track: A platform that monitors key environmental indicators, employee health, and financial performance. It consolidates data on workplace safety, physical and mental health, community sentiment, and social initiatives. The platform offers real-time data visualization and automated reporting, helping companies manage their ESG factors more effectively, allocate resources strategically, and attract external funding. The company secured agreements with two Swiss organizations.
Event significance
Anastasiya Filippova, Head of Startups, Venture Investments, and Local IT Services Development at IT Park Uzbekistan, highlighted the project’s importance:
“The Tumaris.Tech initiative not only inspires women entrepreneurs in Central Asia but also empowers them to confidently step into international markets. We are proud to support startups founded by women and witness their transformation into globally successful businesses. Demo day marks a significant milestone for our participants, and I am confident that the knowledge, mentorship, and partnerships they have gained will help them achieve new heights in entrepreneurship.”
Learning process of the second phase
The second phase of the accelerator lasted 12 weeks and included seven training sessions focused on markets in Central Asia, the MENA region, the U.S., and Southeast Asia. Participants collaborated with experienced trackers and experts for over 120 hours, developing tailored plans to enter international markets.
The demo day featured leading venture capital funds and business angels such as Sturgeon Capital, Aloqa Ventures, UC Ventures, Pivot.uz, and Activat VC. The investors not only observed the presentations but also provided valuable feedback to help the participants reach new milestones.
Future of Tumaris.Tech
Launched in August 2020, the Tumaris.Tech program plays a pivotal role in promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the region. The third wave of the program is expected to launch in 2025, attracting new participants and investors.
Supported by USAID, this initiative continues to serve as a critical platform for bridging Central Asian women entrepreneurs to the global stage.
