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For the first time in Central Asia: Web Summit Spotlight to be held in Tashkent

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On September 27, 2025, Tashkent will host Web Summit Spotlight — a special edition of one of the world’s most influential technology forums — marking the first event of its kind in the history of Central Asia. The event is organized by IT Park Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with Web Summit.

The flagship Web Summit, held annually in Lisbon, brings together more than 70,000 participants — including startup founders, executives of leading global corporations, investors, and researchers shaping the international technology agenda. The arrival of Web Summit Spotlight in Tashkent expands the global reach of the Web Summit ecosystem, which already includes Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Doha, and provides Central Asia with direct access to world-class networking, investment, and expertise.

Web Summit Spotlight: Uzbekistan is designed to serve as a bridge between the country’s rapidly expanding technology community and international markets. The event will attract leading experts, venture capital funds, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss strategic directions for development and to establish new partnerships.

The Spotlight stage will feature renowned speakers and influential brands driving the global market. Among them are Alfredo Gomez Soria, Director of Corporate Relations at Plug and Play Tech Center, and Katrin Calledo, Chief of Staff and Head of Ecosystem Success at StartupBlink, who will discuss Uzbekistan’s innovative role and its place on the global startup map.

The participation of StartupBlink representatives carries particular significance. In 2025, Uzbekistan rose by 12 positions in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index, and the organization’s experts will highlight the reforms and achievements behind this progress, as well as the implications for the next stage of regional development.

The investment agenda will be led by leading venture capital experts, including:

  • Nada Shaheen — Managing Director of GB Ventures, the first Egyptian woman to lead a corporate venture capital fund in Africa;
  • Alexey Kolegov — Director of Tax and Legal Services in Uzbekistan at Ernst & Young, with over two decades of experience in leading international law firms;
  • Yagiz Karadeniz — Managing Partner at DOMiNO Ventures, who has overseen investments in more than 50 startups and managed over 70 financing rounds, while actively supporting ecosystem development in Central Asia;
  • Soumaya Ben Beia Dridje — Partner at Rasmal Ventures, with extensive experience in investment roles across Silicon Valley;
  • Imtiaz Basharat — Partner at Heartfelt Ventures, a venture and growth investor with extensive experience across Europe, the UK, and the United States, specializing in venture capital, growth equity, structured finance, and impact investment;
  • Andrea Kates, Managing Partner at Suma Ventures, is a recognized expert from San Francisco specializing in transforming innovation into business outcomes. For over 20 years, she has led bold initiatives across virtually all industries and regions worldwide, guiding companies in identifying priority products, services, and technologies, and in scaling effective business models;
  • Michael Lints — Partner at Golden Gate Ventures and member of the International Advisory Board (IABx) at the Municipality of Rotterdam;
  • Mammad Karim — General Partner at Caucasus Ventures, a pioneer of the startup and venture ecosystem in the Caucasus and Central Asia;
  • Abbas Kazmi — Co-founder and Managing Partner at Sabah.hub, serial entrepreneur and investor recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Standout and honored with the Maserati 100, and the Great British Entrepreneur Awardin the «Entrepreneur of the Year» category.

The corporate strategy for entering new markets will be presented by leaders in the creative and technology industries. Speakers include Ben Guerin, co-founder of Topham Guerin and creative digital strategist, credited with directing Boris Johnson’s 2019 election campaign, Kemi Badenoch’s internal leadership campaign and coordinating digital communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. He will be joined by Walid Barsali, President of La French Tech Warsaw and Managing Director of Webellian Uzbekistan and BallSquad; Cleona Jordan, Head of Early Stage Startups at Google for Startups, supporting UK and Irish startups in scaling through cloud-based solutions and growth strategies; and Matthew Neff, Product Director at Snoonu and former Director of Customer Product at Rappi (2021–2024).  

The technology agenda will be strengthened by Amy Peck, Founder and CEO of EndeavorXR, a leading global consultancy on XR (Extended Reality) strategies. She will discuss how XR and artificial intelligence help companies future-proof their businesses, enhancing resilience and competitiveness. Amy advises Fortune 500 companies, governments, and startups, and has been recognized among the Top 50 Women in Technology and the Top 100 Women of the Future.

Adding an entrepreneurial perspective, Beknazar Abdikamalov, Co-founder of HUPO, will share his journey. His company has attracted $4 million in investment from Meta, Goodwater Capital, January Capital, Strong Ventures, and Collaborative Fund, positioning it among the most promising startups in the APAC region. Beknazar will share his experience of scaling across borders and entering global markets. As an Uzbek founder, he exemplifies how local talent is not only competing globally but also contributing to shaping the future of leadership and innovation.

Alongside panel discussions and keynote addresses, participants will also have the opportunity to meet with venture funds in one-on-one sessions at the Investors’ Room.

«Web Summit Spotlight in Tashkent is a message to the global industry: Central Asia is entering the international technology dialogue as an equal participant. We are creating an environment where IT companies and investors see the country as a convenient and predictable platform for scaling, and where startups and young founders find ever more global opportunities,» 

stated Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan.

Hosting such a high-profile international event in Tashkent will act as a catalyst for the local IT ecosystem. It is expected to foster multinational collaborations, attract new investment, and launch joint projects. For emerging teams, it will provide an invaluable opportunity to showcase products to an international audience, receive feedback from practitioners, and access new markets.

The event will take place on September 27, 2025, at the Ministry of Digital Technologies, 7/2 Muminov Street, Tashkent.

Registration is available at: https://outsource.gov.uz/en/events/web-summit-spotlight-uzbekistan-the-first-central-asian-edition

For media inquiries: +998 90 328 80 77 (Vladislav Yun).

Background

Since 2009, Web Summit has organized the world’s largest technology events, bringing together hundreds of thousands of participants and fostering business connections between startups, corporations, and investors. Its portfolio includes Web Summit Lisbon, Web Summit Rio, Web Summit Vancouver, RISE Hong Kong, and Web Summit Qatar.

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