Prime Highlights
- Ivanidze said GTW’s role is to compress the distance between local founders and global capital.
- Organisers plan to return in 2027 with a bigger platform and stronger international participation.
Key Facts
- Global Tech Weekend Tashkent 2026 was held in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan, a government-backed technology institution.
- Uzbekistan has a population of 36 million, a young median age and a government actively removing barriers to foreign investment.
Background
Uzbekistan put its technology ambitions on full display as Tashkent welcomed the first-ever Global Tech Weekend 2026. The three-day festival, held in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan, brought together startups, investors, entrepreneurs and technology leaders from across Central Asia and international markets.
The event featured more than 40 sessions, including startup pitch competitions, Demo Day presentations, investor networking, AI-focused discussions and mentorship meetings. Hundreds of speakers and thousands of participants took part, with conversations centred on venture capital, startup scaling and the future of technology ecosystems in emerging markets.
Event co-founder Nodo Ivanidze said Tashkent stood out for its depth of local talent and the preparation of its founders. He noted that startup founders at the demo sessions understood their markets, showed real traction and asked sharp questions, adding that the gap between Tashkent and more globally recognised hubs is closing faster than most people realise.
Ivanidze pointed to Uzbekistan’s population of 36 million, its young demographics, growing digital infrastructure and government reforms as key factors drawing international investor attention. He also credited institutions such as IT Park Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Digital Technologies for playing an active role in building the ecosystem rather than simply observing from the sidelines.
He made sure that it is not just about visibility but about connecting the local founders directly with international capital. The organizers have made it clear that their intention is to be back in Uzbekistan in 2027, promising to provide a bigger platform with even greater international participation.