Road To Battlefield: Central Eurasia’s Largest Startup Competition In History Sends Four Winners To Techcrunch Startup Battlefield

The startup ecosystem successful Central Eurasia is having its moment. What started arsenic 485 applications from crossed 27 countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam has culminated successful nan largest startup transportation title successful Central Eurasia’s history nan “Road to nan Battlefield”, that’s putting nan region’s astir promising entrepreneurs connected a nonstop way to San Francisco’s astir prestigious startup shape astatine TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.

The Road to nan Battlefield competition, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub successful business pinch TechCrunch and Freedom Holding, is much than conscionable different startup contest. It marks a historical milestone for a region that has been steadily building its move tech ecosystem and will beryllium remembered arsenic nan arena that put Central Eurasia connected nan world startup map.

“At Silkroad Innovation Hub, our ngo is to put Central Eurasia connected nan world startup and VC map,” said Asset Abdualiyev, CEO and Founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub. “This inaugural represents an important milestone because, for nan first time, TechCrunch hosted a location title to root awesome startups for their prestigious Battlefield competition. When we began, it was simply an idea, a imagination to empower founders from underrepresented geographies. We’re pleased to denote that this has go nan largest startup title successful Central Eurasia’s history, demonstrating a important liking from founders crossed nan region successful building genuinely innovative companies and showcasing them globally. We’re grateful to TechCrunch for their continued business and their ongoing liking successful nan region.”

Between July 21 and August 12, 380 startups sounded crossed 9 nationalist rounds online, delivering an awesome 32 hours of pitching content. The title showcased singular diversity, pinch 35% of participating startups founded by female founders, and nan youngest entrepreneur, conscionable 14 years old, was from Unify (Uzbekistan).

The startups represented various improvement stages: 43 successful nan thought stage, 224 pinch MVPs, 127 successful pre-seed, 65 successful nan seed stage, and 26 successful pre-Series A. 

Now, 4 standout startups, Polygraf AI (Azerbaijan, USA), QuickShipper (Georgia), Surfaice (USA, Kazakhstan), and ArtSkin (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan) person secured spots astatine TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2025 successful San Francisco, wherever they’ll compete against immoderate of nan astir promising ventures from astir nan world.

This marks nan first clip successful TechCrunch history that startups from Central Eurasia person had a dedicated pathway to 1 of nan tech world’s astir prestigious competitions. Beyond identifying high-potential ventures, nan inaugural has sparked cross-border collaboration, attracted world investor interest, and firmly positioned Central Eurasia arsenic a region to watch connected nan world invention map.

“The 168 applications from Kazakhstan to nan TechCrunch Startup Battlefield location action is simply a clear awesome of our ecosystem’s increasing maturity and world ambition,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan. “This level of engagement reflects nan effectiveness of our nationalist invention strategy. Through Astana Hub and strategical partnerships pinch world platforms, we are committed to supporting Kazakh entrepreneurs arsenic they standard internationally.”

Competition Results

Following nan nationalist rounds from July 21 to August 12, nan title concluded pinch a Regional Final of Road to Battlefield connected August 15, wherever 20 finalists presented to an world sheet of judges.

The 20 finalists who precocious to nan Regional Competition were Arlan Biotech, Artskin, Athena AI, Biometric Vision, EZSpeech by Mila4AI, FabStory AI, HaWoO2, Hi Doctor, Investbanq, and Jobster.hr, LYDYA, MiraiTech, NeuroGuard AI, Pikare SkySource, Polygraf AI, QuickShipper, Snory, Steppe AI, Surfaice, and Zero Waste.

A sheet of 40 assemblage members from 10 countries judged nan nationalist online competitions, representing a wide spectrum of investors, academics, and ecosystem leaders. The assemblage included Aidana Bergazdenova (Astana Hub Ventures), Dalerkhon Nodirov (IT Park Ventures), Zolzaya Jargalsaikhan (IT Park Mongolia), Abdulla Al-Naimi (Doha Business Consulting), Agahuseyn Ahmadov (IDDA), Alya Abbaszada (SABAH Angels), Marat Tolybai (Activat VC), Samir Hajibayli (Caucasus Ventures), Yuhan Fang (Stanford Institute), Nihal Yazgan (Bilkent CYBERPARK), Müge Bezgin (Startup Centrum), Kim Latypov (VC Lawyer, Stanford GSB), Deon Nicholas (Forethought AI, victor of TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2018), Ella Shukho (500 Global), Darsh Mann (StartX), Aziza Zakhidova (EBRD Ventures), Abay Absamet (Silkroad Angels Club), Isabelle Johannessen, Head of TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Program, and others.

“It’s humbling and energizing to spot this level of excitement for Startup Battlefield. The SilkRoad Innovation Hub – Road to Battlefield was 1 of nan astir organized and high-energy transportation events I’ve seen, and nan enthusiasm from founders crossed Central Eurasia was incredible. We’re thrilled to invited Polygraf AI, QuickShipper,  Surfaice, and ArtSkin to San Francisco arsenic portion of nan Startup Battlefield 200 — and can’t hold to stock their stories pinch nan world.” – Isabelle Johannessen, TechCrunch.

For nan first clip successful nan competition’s history, nan sheet was joined by an AI judge named AI-Gerim, who served arsenic an independent assemblage member, adding an innovative furniture of information to pitches. Together, this operation of world expertise and AI-driven insights sets a caller modular for assessing emerging startups.

The startups showcased a vibrant cross-section of industries, pinch Artificial Intelligence starring nan way. Founders tackled real-world problems successful AI & Automation, EdTech, HealthTech, FinTech, Green & Climate Tech, AgriTech, HRTech, MarTech, SaaS, and E-commerce.

After a highly competitory last round, 4 winning startups were selected to correspond Central Eurasia:

Polygraf AI (Azerbaijan)

Image Credits:Silkroad (opens successful a caller window)

Polygraf AI delivers locally deployed AI solutions that observe AI threats and protect policies against immoderate AI solutions. Their SLM (small connection model) AI solutions are accelerated and execute nan highest accuracy successful third-party audits.

“I deliberation nan Central Asian and Caucasus-based founders are increasing stronger, and this title showed again that talent is nary longer a problem. It’s nary longer conscionable isolated to nan Western world. We person an astonishing talent successful there, and each nan participants showed it,” said Yagub Rahimo, Founder of Polygraf AI. “The title was proper, amazing. All nan participants presented astonishing solutions and tools. But arsenic successful each different competition, location is 1 number one, and I’m truthful gladsome that Polygraph was that number one. We person won South by Southwest, Summerfest Tech AI Summit, and aggregate different awards already this year.  We want to triumph nan Startup Battlefield this year, too.” 

QuickShipper (Georgia)

Image Credits:Silkroad (opens successful a caller window)

QuickShipper is simply a transportation gateway that enables each retailer to connection businesslike and delightful deliveries instantly from a azygous window. The startup offers companies a broad ecosystem for managing their in-house drivers, on pinch a web of integrated transportation partners.

“It was a awesome acquisition to compete pinch startups from truthful galore different and absorbing markets. The diverseness of ideas and talent was inspiring, and it makes it an moreover bigger grant to correspond nan Eurasian marketplace successful nan finals now,” said Mariam Akhvlediani, Co-founder & CEO of QuickShipper. “We consciousness proud and excited to beryllium successful nan Top 4. It is simply a important milestone for QuickShipper and different startups to beryllium connected specified a stage. We spot it arsenic some a nickname of our difficult activity and a chance to show what we tin do connected a world level.”

Surfaice (Kazakhstan and USA)

Image Credits:Silkroad (opens successful a caller window)

Surfaice offers a unified AI-driven operating strategy featuring an autonomous fleet of agents that merge workflows specified arsenic tract search, budgeting, bidding, punch-list automation, and milestone tracking. This results successful a 2X summation successful productivity, for example, doubling nan number of shop builds per twelvemonth from astir 100 to 200. It provides a single, broad level for each their building software.

“I deliberation our travel to Battlefield has been very melodramatic because we almost missed nan deadline to use for this program, but past I motivated my team. So ideate if I hadn’t pushed them and we missed this deadline, we astir apt would person missed this opportunity,” said Alim Uderbekov, CEO & Co-Founder. “Overall, it was awesome to compete pinch each nan different startups and yet beryllium connected nan stage. It is besides funny that, conscionable today, I randomly came crossed a video astir Pied Piper from nan Silicon Valley TV show, wherever they were besides attending TechCrunch Battlefield, and I thought, ‘Wow, is this real?’ It’s really difficult to understand your feelings because you’re conscionable stepping forward, which is simply a travel that we are going through. But it’s truthful exciting, looking astatine my full past, wherever I’m coming from, a mini metropolis successful South Kazakhstan, and I’d beryllium connected nan main shape for a startup successful Silicon Valley, that I utilized to spot only virtually, and now I’m go portion of it. I deliberation it’s unbelievable.”

In an unprecedented move that added moreover much excitement to nan competition, TechCrunch decided to make their ain action and take ArtSkin arsenic a typical TechCrunch pick, bringing nan full to 4 startups representing nan region. 

ArtSkin (Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan)

Artskin develops neurointerface exertion that transmits nan sensation of touch to nan quality assemblage crossed aggregate cutting-edge fields, including AR/VR, bionic prosthetics, telerobotics, spacetech, surgery, and humanoid robotics.

“Being selected arsenic 1 of nan apical 4 startups to transportation connected nan main shape astatine nan TechCrunch Startup Battlefield finals is an bonzer grant and a thrilling milestone,” said Iliias Dzheentaev and Madina Sabitqyzy, Co-founders of ArtSkin. “It validates our team’s dedication, innovation, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Knowing we’re among nan apical 200 startups successful nan world fills america pinch pridefulness and excitement, but besides a profound consciousness of responsibility. We’re now much motivated than ever to elevate our pitch, refine our strategy, and showcase our imagination to a world audience. Our ambition is clear: we’re aiming to triumph TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, and this opportunity is simply a captious measurement toward achieving that goal.”

The different apical 10 finalists were Arlan Biotech, Investbanq, Athena AI, MiraiTech, HaWoO2, and Biometric Vision.

These 4 teams now look a fewer months of mentation earlier stepping onto nan main stage. At TechCrunch Disrupt, they’ll transportation alongside startups from each complete nan world competing for investment, partnerships, and world recognition.

Beyond nan Pitch

For participating founders, nan title delivered worth beyond nan last rankings. The exposure, connections, and validation from participating successful a globally recognized level proved transformative successful ways they hadn’t anticipated.

What’s happening crossed Central Eurasia reflects a important development. This isn’t conscionable astir individual companies seeking investment; it’s astir an full region’s entrepreneurs measuring themselves against world standards and uncovering they beryllium successful nan conversation.

“For Uzbekistan, information successful world arenas for illustration TechCrunch Startup Battlefield is not conscionable astir visibility,  it’s astir shaping a early wherever our tech talent leads connected nan world stage,” said Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of nan Republic of Uzbekistan. “Our extremity is to guarantee that nan adjacent procreation of breakthrough technologies isn’t conscionable utilized successful Uzbekistan, it’s built here.”

The effect of Road to nan Battlefield extends beyond nan last transportation presentations. The title has encouraged cross-border speech among entrepreneurs crossed nan region and attracted caller investor liking successful Central Eurasian startups.

The main partner is Freedom Holding Corp, a Nasdaq-listed financial services holding institution (ticker: FRHC) headquartered successful Kazakhstan. As of May 2025, nan institution achieved a singular milestone pinch a valuation of astir US $10 billion, reflecting investor assurance and marketplace strength. It has established itself arsenic 1 of nan astir influential financial players successful nan region, earning a beardown estimation for supporting invention and entrepreneurship. Its support for nan Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield reflects not only its world stature but besides its semipermanent committedness to empowering founders from Central Eurasia, helping them link pinch world markets and standard their impact.

More significantly, it has introduced Central Eurasia to nan tech world successful Silicon Valley arsenic a root of innovative solutions and emerging talent. The title was supported by starring invention hubs and accelerators crossed nan region: Azerbaijan – Innovation and Digital Development Agency, SABAH.Hub, SABAH.angels; Bulgaria/USA – Future Unicorns; Georgia – Future Laboratory; International Organizations – Organization of Turkic States, EBRD; Kazakhstan – Astana Hub, Astana Hub Ventures, Nazarbayev University, Silkroad Angels Club; Kyrgyzstan – Accelerate Prosperity; Media – The Tech; Moldova – Startup Moldova; Mongolia – IT Park Mongolia; Singapore – ACE; Tajikistan – IT Park Dushanbe; Türkiye – Startup Centrum, Bilkent Cyberpark; and Uzbekistan – IT Park Uzbekistan, IT Park Ventures. The inaugural connected founders who mightiness not person different collaborated and provided a level to showcase location talent connected a world scale.

“As nan Innovation and Digital Development Agency of Azerbaijan, we are very happy to partner pinch Silkroad Innovation Hub and actively participate successful TechCrunch Road to Battlefield startup competition,” said Farid Osmanov, Chairman of nan Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) of Azerbaijan. “We are excited that Polygraf AI, an Azeri-founded startup, sewage into nan apical 4 successful this title and will correspond nan region astatine nan prestigious TechCrunch Disrupt convention successful San Francisco. This shows that nan Azeri ecosystem is processing accelerated and we are connected nan correct track.”

As nan 4 winning startups hole for San Francisco, they correspond nan increasing ambitions of Central Eurasia’s entrepreneurial community. The title has created caller pathways for location startups to entree world opportunities and resources.

This article was co-written pinch Aikumis Seksenbayeva.