Expert Visit of I2BF Global Ventures Investment Director Denis Kalyshkin Held in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In December, Uzbekistan hosted an expert visit by Denis Kalyshkin, Investment Director at the international fund I2BF Global Ventures, business angel, and startup mentor.

The programme of the visit focused on improving investment readiness among startups and strengthening founders’ competencies in working with venture capital.

The events were organised with the support of the project “Knowledge management and capacity building within the Russia–UNDP Partnership” (Phase III) and formed part of broader efforts to develop digital entrepreneurship under the joint initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP.

Practical activities for startups

On 10 December, a “startup roast” session was held by UzVC in cooperation with School 21 and Umed Rakhimov. The teams Robosell, Delever, and Smart Haul Yield presented their solutions and received direct professional feedback on their product, business model, and scaling strategy. The format allowed founders to look at their projects from an investor’s perspective and identify key points for growth.

At the C-Space coworking hub, a meetup was held with founders dedicated to preparing for investment attraction. Denis Kalyshkin discussed European best practices, criteria for assessing teams and traction, and shared recommendations on fundraising.

On 11 December, a separate meeting with university startups took place at the American University of Technology. Participants discussed ways to transform academic projects into investment-attractive products, validate ideas, and package solutions for the market.

Ecosystem support and next steps

The expert visit contributed to strengthening links between founders, universities, and investors, while also supporting the development of an investment culture within Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem.

The events were financially supported by the Russia–UNDP Trust Fund for Development.