Tashkent, April 3, 2026 — Within the framework of the Central Eurasian Venture Forum (CEVF) 2026, the leading institutions of Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem received high regional recognition. According to the results of the CEVF Awards 2026, the following entities were recognized among the best in their respective nominations:
- Startup Garage — Best Ecosystem Player
- AloqaVentures — The Best Venture Fund
- Pivot — The Best Tech Media
Held for the first time in Tashkent on April 3, 2026, the Central Eurasian Venture Forum emerged as one of the most important meeting points for the region’s investors, funds, tech companies, and startups. The official agenda of the forum included the Startup Alley, MOST Investable Battle, investor sessions, closed meetings on fund and syndicate formation, and the CEVF Awards ceremony. This turned CEVF into not just an event, but a practical platform for regional capital formation.
The simultaneous recognition of Uzbekistan’s representatives across three categories demonstrates the increasing sophistication of the country’s startup environment. The award for Startup Garage highlights the strength of the support infrastructure built for local founders; the recognition of AloqaVentures signifies the institutional maturation process within the venture capital market; and the acknowledgement of Pivot indicates that the tech media space has risen to a professional level.
The core significance of this achievement is that Uzbekistan is no longer merely a promising market. It is now recognized as a complete ecosystem with its own platforms to prepare startups, funds to provide them with capital, and media institutions to bring the market’s story to the global stage. It is exactly this synergy that lays the necessary foundation to turn the country into one of the technological and venture hubs of Central Eurasia.
The fact that CEVF 2026 was held in Tashkent is no coincidence. According to open sources, more than 800 investors, entrepreneurs, and venture market representatives were expected to attend the fifth edition of the forum. Built around the theme of “Smart Capital,” the forum aimed to discuss more professional and sustainable investment approaches in sectors such as AI, fintech, and deep tech.
In recent years, Uzbekistan’s startup market has been growing at a remarkable pace. Open sources note that the country’s startup ecosystem has expanded 13-fold, reaching a total valuation of $3.9 billion, with total investments amounting to $329 million and the formation of 750 startups. The recognitions received at CEVF 2026 prove that this growth is not accidental, but rather an institutional result.
Today’s outcome confirms one truth: Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem is no longer just in the phase of internal development, but is successfully taking its place in the regional competitive arena. The success of institutions like Startup Garage, AloqaVentures, and Pivot means that this journey is only just beginning, with even greater integration, more capital, and stronger cross-border collaborations lying ahead.
