The first Startup World Cup in Uzbekistan.
Startup World Cup comes to Tashkent for the first time, bringing founders from Uzbekistan and beyond closer to San Francisco, global investors, and the or the $1,000,000 investment prize. Inside ICT Week Uzbekistan.
POWERED BY PEGASUS TECH VENTURES · ORGANIZED BY DON'TSETTLE LLC
The world's #1 startup pitch competition.
Learn more →Powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures (Silicon Valley) since 2016, Startup World Cup runs 100+ regional events across six continents. The winner of SWC × Tashkent earns a place at the Grand Finale in San Francisco to compete for a $1,000,000 investment prize - representing their startup on the global stage.
Open to founders everywhere.
- 1Incorporated startups with invoicing capability
- 2Tech startups from pre-seed stage up to Series A
- 3Teams with a goal of global expansion
- 4Founders or team members who can present in fluent English
- 5Startups from all verticals - no sector limitations
- 6Open to applications from all countries
A regional stage with global momentum.
Uzbekistan's early-stage funding grew from $0.3M in 2020 to $69.5M in 2024 — a 230× jump. A market of 38 million people, ~60% under 30, ranked #1 in Central Asia for political stability, now with direct flights to Tashkent including from New York. This is the regional stage Central Asian founders have been waiting for - and it's happening for the first time.
2020 → 2024 · public market figures
Across Central Asia, CIS, Asia, Europe, the Americas & MENA
Sources: Startup Survey 2026 Uzbekistan, based on 400 startup founders; U-Enter Innovation Center / GIZ / Intro Group. Funding growth figure is shown as ecosystem/public market data currently used on the page.
The country's flagship tech stage.
Explore ICT Week →SWC × Tashkent runs inside ICT Week Uzbekistan — the country's flagship tech event since 2004, supported by the Ministry of Digital Technologies and organized with IT Park Uzbekistan. Recent ICT Week stages have hosted Meta's VP of Generative AI Research, NVIDIA, and Microsoft AI leadership.
Compete for San Francisco.
Take about 4 minutes to apply to pitch at the Startup World Cup regional final in Tashkent for a chance to advance to the Grand Finale in San Francisco. Applications close on 31 August 2026. Selected finalists will be notified on 7 September.
An international panel — announced soon.
We're confirming a lineup of global founders, ecosystem leaders, and investors - the caliber that has shared this stage during ICT Week. Check back, or register to be first to know.
Win your seat at the $1M Grand Finale.
The regional winner flies to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco to compete for the $1,000,000 investment prize.
The SWC × Tashkent winner advances to the Grand Finale in San Francisco to pitch Pegasus Tech Ventures — on the same stage as the world's best startups.
A full day of pitches & connections.
Draft running order - the full programme will be announced soon.
Join founders, investors and ecosystem leaders.
Free registration. We'll send a confirmation and the full programme closer to the day.
The same main stage as ICT Week.
Global backing. Local momentum.
Press & media kit
Logos, fact sheet, and press release for media partners and journalists.
Incorporated tech startups from pre-seed to Series A, in any vertical, from any country, with a team member who can present in fluent English and a goal of global expansion.
No. Startups from Uzbekistan and beyond are welcome to apply. The regional final takes place in Tashkent, and selected finalists should be available to pitch live during the event.
Applications will be reviewed by an international jury based on the strength of the startup idea, market potential, team, traction, scalability, and fit with the Startup World Cup format. Following the internal selection process, only 15 startups will be chosen to pitch live at the regional final in Tashkent, where they will be evaluated by an international jury on stage.
After applications close, the organizing team will review submissions and shortlist selected startups for the regional final. Finalists will be notified by email and receive further instructions about pitch format, timing, and event participation.
The winner earns a place at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, where they will compete for a $1,000,000 investment prize. The flight ticket to San Francisco will be sponsored by IT Park Ventures. We want participating startups to get the maximum value from the event, so additional prizes and opportunities from our sponsors and partners will also be awarded.
Both are free. Applying to pitch and registering to attend cost nothing.
English. Pitches and the programme are delivered in English.
Partnership or press enquiries - Tatiana Solodovnikova, Head of Product, Don'tSettle · tatiana@dontsettle.ai