Uzbekistan to Launch Soum 150 Billion Startup Program in 2027

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan will launch a new program to finance startups and stimulate private investment starting in 2027, under a decree signed following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's sixth open dialogue with entrepreneurs.

The "Entrepreneur of the Future" program will run from 2027 through 2030. Under the initiative, the UzVC National Venture Fund will competitively finance up to 30 startups across eight priority directions.

Each selected project will be eligible to receive up to 5 billion soums in investments for a three-year period. Funding will be provided in the form of interest-free, collateral-free convertible loans or Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE).

The state's equity stake in a startup cannot exceed 49 percent, and founders will have the opportunity to buy back the state share at market value in the future.

At the initial stage of implementation in 2027, the state budget plans to allocate 150 billion soums to the program.

Support will cover startups operating in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, the chemical industry, building materials, water- and energy-saving technologies, agriculture and agrotechnologies, as well as aerospace technologies.

A special "regulatory sandbox" legal regime will be established for program participants. Relevant government agencies and industry organizations will also assist startups in entering into contracts with enterprises to conduct pilot tests and place orders.

Specific measures are included to attract private capital into the startup ecosystem. Individuals who invest in a startup registered on the Startup Base unified electronic platform, including via SAFE or convertible loans, will be able to acquire "Business Angel" startup-investor status.

Provided the investor retains their equity stake in the startup for at least three years, income generated from its subsequent sale will be exempt from personal income tax.

The new mechanisms aim to expand technological projects' access to financing, increase private investor participation, and accelerate the commercialization of startups.

The program forms part of the ongoing development of Uzbekistan's startup ecosystem, in which IT Park Uzbekistan participates by supporting tech projects, developing the venture market, and creating infrastructure for interaction between startups and investors.

The decree entered into force on 28 August 2026.