Tashkent Hosts Venture Talks at CEVF 2026 Forum

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 2 April, a venture financing session was held in Tashkent at the C-Space venue as part of the Central Eurasian Venture Forum (CEVF) 2026. The event was organized by UzVC in partnership with international funds Big Sky Capital and MOST Ventures.

Around 100 representatives of the investment community took part in the forum, including investors, startup founders, and leaders of the regional ecosystem. The meeting was held in a closed-discussion format designed to facilitate professional networking and the exchange of experience.

The program featured an overview of the venture capital market in Central Asia, discussions on the practical application of artificial intelligence in investment processes, panel sessions, presentations, and announcements of new partnership initiatives.

A key highlight of the event was the official announcement of cooperation between UzVC and Big Sky Capital. The partners plan to co-invest in promising companies in Uzbekistan and across the region, support portfolio startups, and build an investment portfolio with a focus on AI and deep tech.

In dedicated panel sessions, experts discussed the evolution of the startup ecosystem, the region’s investment appeal, the growing number of startups, the development of infrastructure and digital technologies, as well as access to capital, corporate governance, and entry into international markets.

Among the speakers were representatives of UzVC, Big Sky Capital, and MOST Ventures. In a separate session, Shane Sabine of Punch Capital (USA) and Zhan Karsibayev of Big Sky Capital examined evaluation criteria for emerging markets, prevailing stereotypes about the region, and the most promising sectors for global investors.

Particular attention was given to the practical use of AI in venture investment. Timur Tazhibayev, CEO of Grizz AI, presented approaches to automating startup analysis, improving early-stage project evaluation, and standardizing investment processes.

The forum also featured the presentation of the Uzbek-language edition of the book “VC Boards,” посвящённой роли наблюдательных советов и корпоративного управления в развитии компаний, привлекающих венчурный капитал.

New investment partnerships were announced, including cooperation between SQB Ventures and Big Sky Capital. The role of IT Park Uzbekistan in supporting startups, developing talent, and enabling companies to enter global markets was also highlighted. The Techstars Uzbekistan program was presented by Hackonect, outlining opportunities available to local startups.

The event concluded with a summary of outcomes, identification of next steps for cooperation, and an informal dinner and networking session.