The startup ecosystem in Central Eurasia has reached a milestone with the conclusion of the largest pitch competition in the region’s history. Out of 485 applications across 27 countries, four startups have secured places at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2025 in San Francisco.
The Road to Battlefield competition, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub with TechCrunch and Freedom Holding, drew founders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and beyond. Between July and August, 380 startups pitched in nine national rounds, culminating in a regional final where 20 teams competed.
The four winners:
- Polygraf AI (Azerbaijan/USA): AI threat detection using locally deployed models.
- QuickShipper (Georgia): A delivery gateway enabling retailers to manage drivers and partners from one platform.
- Surfaice (Kazakhstan/USA): An AI-driven operating system to streamline construction workflows and boost productivity.
- ArtSkin (Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan): Neurointerface tech transmitting touch sensations for AR/VR, prosthetics, robotics, and surgery.
The event not only highlighted innovation but also diversity: 35% of startups were founded by women, and the youngest founder was 14 years old. Startups spanned AI, health tech, fintech, edtech, climate tech, and more.
“TechCrunch hosting a regional competition for the first time is historic,” said Asset Abdualiyev, CEO of Silkroad Innovation Hub. “It proves Central Eurasia’s founders are ready for the global stage.”
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The competition was backed by Freedom Holding Corp., a Nasdaq-listed financial services company valued at ~$10B, alongside national innovation hubs and accelerators from across the region.
The four winners will now join the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt this October, competing against top startups worldwide for funding, visibility, and partnerships.
