Pitch at the First-Ever Startup World Cup in Uzbekistan.
On 24 September, 15 startups pitch at CAEx Tashkent, inside ICT Week. The winner flies to San Francisco on 6 November to compete for a $1,000,000 investment from Pegasus Tech Ventures. Startup World Cup arrives in Tashkent for the first time, bringing a global pitch stage, international investor attention, and a direct path to the Grand Finale in San Francisco. Free to apply, from anywhere.
Applications closed on 31 August at 23:59 Tashkent. The 15 finalists will be announced on 7 September.
Reserve a free seat →How to Wow investors.
A 60-minute live session on Zoom with Bill Reichert — General Partner & Chief Evangelist at Pegasus Tech Ventures, Chief Evangelist of Startup World Cup, co-author of Getting to Wow! Co-hosted with Nick Shilov of Cursor Community Uzbekistan.
The world's #1 startup
pitch competition.
Read event details →Powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures (Silicon Valley) since 2016, Startup World Cup 2026 runs 100+ regional events across six continents. The winner of SWC × Tashkent earns a place at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco to compete for a $1,000,000 investment prize from Pegasus Tech Ventures — representing their startup on the global stage in front of international investors, media, and fellow founders from 60+ countries.
Four stops. One route.
Submit a four-minute application. No fee, no pitch deck required at this stage, no geographic restriction.
Pegasus Tech Ventures and the regional panel review every application. Fifteen startups are named publicly and briefed on format.
Fifteen pitches, one international jury, a 950-seat main hall. The regional winner is announced on stage the same afternoon.
The winner pitches against regional champions from six continents for a $1,000,000 investment from Pegasus Tech Ventures. Flight and stay sponsored by IT Park Uzbekistan.
Open to founders everywhere.
There are no geographic restrictions and no preferred sector. If your company meets the six requirements, you're eligible to compete for a place on the Tashkent stage.
- An incorporated company that can issue an invoiceAny jurisdiction. Sole proprietors and pre-incorporation teams are not eligible for this round.
- A technology product, pre-seed to Series ARevenue is not required. Traction helps.
- Ambition beyond one marketThe jury weighs global scalability heavily. Tell us where you go after your first country.
- Someone on the team who pitches fluently in EnglishAll pitches and Q&A happen in English on stage.
- Any sectorFintech, AI, health, climate, logistics, consumer, deep tech. No vertical is excluded.
- Available to pitch live in Tashkent on 24 SeptemberRemote pitching is not offered for the regional final.
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 Grand Finale brings together regional winners from around the world for a single pitch competition on the global stage, with investors, mentors, and media coverage across the startup ecosystem. Flight to San Francisco is sponsored by IT Park Uzbekistan.
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.
Beyond the grand prize.
Special-category awards from our partners - each given to the finalist it fits best.
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Microsoft Startup Package
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VC Score Fundraising Package
The Sturgeon Capital Package
SEOZA Startup Growth Package
C-Space Workspace Package
Cursor Community Builder Package
15 finalists.
5 international jury.
Selected from 219 applications across 29 countries — these 15 startups take the stage at Startup World Cup Uzbekistan 2026.
On 24 September, they will pitch live in Tashkent before an international jury of investors, founders and technology leaders - competing for one place at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco.
NoteJury members will be announced as final confirmations are completed.
Six hours. Fifteen pitches.
One winner.
PANEL DISCUSSIONThe 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.
Join founders, investors and ecosystem leaders.
Free registration. We'll send a confirmation and the full programme closer to the day.
CAEx Tashkent,
inside ICT Week.
Central Asia's largest expo hall, during the country's flagship tech week, organised with IT Park Uzbekistan and supported by the Ministry of Digital Technologies. Recent ICT Week stages have hosted leadership from Meta, NVIDIA and Microsoft.
Main stage — curved LED
Startup pitch — full-screen
Panel — international speakers
Investor panel — the line-up
Investor meetings — 1:1 tablesGlobal backing. Local momentum.
Questions founders ask.
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 Uzbekistan. 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.
One pitch. One global
opportunity. The distance
between them is your application.
Reserve a free seat →
Partnership or press enquiries - Tatiana Solodovnikova, Head of Product, Don'tSettle · tatiana@dontsettle.ai · LinkedIn