The fifth Central Eurasian Venture Forum (CEVF 2026) opened in Uzbekistan for the first time, drawing around 800 investors, startups, and technology companies from Central Asia, Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov attconcludeed the opening ceremony.
The event was organized by MOST Holding and IT Park Uzbekistan with government support. Partners included Astana Hub, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, Visa, and others.
During the forum, the report Startups and Venture Capital in Central Asia 2026, prepared by RISE Research, was presented. According to the study, total venture capital investment in the region reached $320 million in 2025. The two largest deals, $130 million for Higgsfield and $65.5 million for Uzum, accounted for 61% of the total.
Excluding these deals, the market reached $124.5 million, marking a 31% increase compared to 2024 and indicating steady organic growth.
At the forum, the analytical agency RISE Research presented a study of the Central Asian venture capital market for 2025. According to the study, the volume of venture capital investments in Kazakhstan nearly tripled, reaching $209 million, with artificial innotifyigence being the main driver, accounting for approximately half of the total investment.
In Uzbekistan, funding reached $33.8 million, an increase of more than eleven times compared to 2022. Including major deals, the Uzbek market is estimated at $99.3 million, with 85% of investment coming from domestic investors.
The forum also hosted the CEVF Awards ceremony, recognizing key players in the regional venture ecosystem.
In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced 13 finalists for its Star Venture program for Central Asia, aimed at supporting high-tech startups.
During the forum, cooperation agreements were signed with international partners, including companies from South Korea and the Middle East, to support the development of the startup ecosystem and attract investment. The second cohort of the Investment Readiness Accelerator (IRA) Tashkent program, focutilized on early-stage startups, was also launched.
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