Innovative Collaboration Between Banks and Startups: Unlocking New Opportunities in Fintech

The Ministry of Digital Technologies in Tashkent hosted a dedicated seminar for representatives of the banking sector, fintech companies, and the startup ecosystem. Organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies, IT Park Uzbekistan, and Plug and Play, the event focused on new mechanisms for fostering corporate innovation and building partnerships with startup studios. Representatives from 10 banks took part in the roundtable discussion.

The session was formally opened by Jakhongir Radjabov, Business Development Director of IT Park Uzbekistan.

Representatives from the banking sector, fintech companies, and the startup ecosystem gathered to discuss mechanisms for collaboration between banks and technology projects, as well as to define pathways for jointly implementing innovative fintech solutions. 

Elyor Maksudov, representative of IT Park Uzbekistan presented the results of IT Park’s initiatives to support startups, as well as the startup studio project.  

Plug and Play Uzbekistan has been actively developing the innovation ecosystem in the country, having already launched four accelerator programs with a focus on FinTech and AI. Among its key achievements are the support of 57 startups, the creation of over 450 jobs, and the attraction of $3.7 million in investments, including the expansion of companies into the markets of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other countries.  

During the roundtable, representatives Mukhammadjon Mahmudov and Alfredo Gomez shared successful case studies of integrating startups into corporate ecosystems, particularly in the banking sector. They discussed Plug and Play’s global experience, including partnerships with leading financial institutions, and emphasized how such collaborations accelerate digital transformation. Special attention was given to the Cybernet project (Kazakhstan), which, after acceleration, expanded into the markets of Uzbekistan, Egypt, and the U.S., increasing its revenue by 2.6 times.  

The event also featured a showcase of fintech solutions by four startups from Plug and Play’s 4th accelerator cohort, presenting innovations in digital payments, lending, and data analytics:

• 4Rize – A platform for analyzing fintech products, providing screenshots and videos of user experiences from top banking and fintech applications to study best practices without the need to open multiple accounts.
• Jett – A mini-app that transforms any mobile app into an investment platform within two weeks, offering a full range of services — from account opening to analytics and profit withdrawal.  
• 1doc – The simplest way to create, edit, send, and sign documents online with the help of an AI lawyer, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements on a secure platform.  
• Karmon – A personal finance management app that leverages gamification to simplify budgeting, debt management, and improve financial literacy.

Jahongir Radjabov, Business Development Director of IT Park, stated:

“Today’s discussion underscored the vital synergy between traditional banking and technological innovation. We are building an ecosystem where startups can test their solutions with real market players, while banks access cutting-edge tools to expand customer base and optimize operations.”

The event served as a starting point for launching joint initiatives. The discussions and presentations highlighted the crucial role of collaboration between banks, fintech, and startups in developing agile solutions to modern market challenges. Successful case studies of startup integration into corporate ecosystems, along with demonstrations of projects in digital payments and financial management, confirmed that such synergy strengthens Uzbekistan’s position as a promising hub for fintech experimentation and cross-industry partnerships.