The Winners of the Second Wave of the President Tech Award Announced

On December 7, the grand finale of the President Tech Award marked the culmination of Digital Startups Week, uniting the nation’s most promising innovators. The event, organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies, IT Park Uzbekistan, and Plug and Play, showcased 15 finalist teams competing across five key technological sectors for recognition and a prize pool totaling $900,000 out of $1,000,000.  

The event commenced with an address by Farkhod Ibragimov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, who highlighted the dynamic growth of Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem and the increasing engagement of youth in entrepreneurial ventures.

"When we first initiated competitions for startups in 2019, we got around 100 applications, and half of them was on the idea stage without MVPs for their products. In 2024, under a Presidential initiative, we are hosting the second wave of the President's Tech Award, featuring a $1,000,000 prize fund. And now, we had over 550 applications from over 3,000 participants with almost all of the participants having their MVPs. We see the changes, and this is important," noted Farkhod Ibragimov.

"And I am sure, everyone who reached the MVP-stages during the competition, are ready for investment attraction. Additionally, the "Digital Startups Program" was launched to support startups from their very first steps. Funding opportunities are available from both government and private sectors, including banks, venture funds, investors, and more."

Competition Stages  

Stage 1: Mentorship Sessions  

During the mentorship sessions, teams delivered comprehensive presentations of their projects and received constructive feedback for project refinement. This process enabled the evaluation panel to gain an in-depth understanding of each project ahead of Demo Day.  

Stage 2: Demo Day  

A total of 50 teams advanced to Demo Day through the main competition, joined by 4 additional teams via the appeals process. Teams presented innovative projects across various categories, providing unique perspectives on the future of technology. Evaluation criteria were adapted to the specifics of each category.  

Stage 3: Fact-Checking  

The third stage involved a thorough fact-checking process by the jury to validate the functionality of the products. As a result, the top 15 teams (3 from each category) were selected to compete in the grand finale.   

Stage 4: Pitch Polish Session

This stage featured a specialized training session for the finalists. The bootcamp assisted the teams to refine their presentation techniques, provide valuable advice from experts, and prepare them for the final stage of the competition.  

Final Stage: The Grand Finale  

On December 7, the 15 finalist teams presented their projects to an international jury, competing for top honors. The winners were announced and awarded during an official ceremony, underscoring the vital role of young innovators in advancing Uzbekistan’s technological ecosystem.    

Winners of the Grand Finale 

“AI-Driven Technologies” direction

1st place TASS Vision	2nd place Speaklish	3rd place Cradle

The first-place accolade in this category was awarded to the startup TASS Vision, recognized for its exceptional advancements in artificial intelligence. The second prize was claimed by Speaklish, with Cradle securing third place.  

“Digital Technologies in the Social Sphere” direction

1st place Online Hamshira	2nd place Stepogram	3rd place BRAILLE RECOGNITION

The category leader was Onlayn Hamshira, whose digital solutions are dedicated to enhancing healthcare services. Stepogram was awarded second place, while BRAILLE RECOGNITION, focusing on providing support to visually impaired individuals, received third place. 

“Computer and Mobile Games” direction

1st place Gale-Force Entertainment	2nd place Fazliddin Games	3rd place Grimoire Entertainment

In this category, Gale-Force Entertainment emerged as the winner, captivating users with its game. The second and third prizes were awarded to Fazliddin Games and Grimoire Entertainment, respectively.  

“Technological Solutions in Micro-SaaS and AdTech” direction

1st place OYGUL	2nd place StudentHunter	3rd place EduTizim

The startup OYGUL secured first place for its innovative approach to microservices. StudentHunter earned second place, followed by EduTizim, which took third.  

“Entrepreneurship and Fintech” direction

1st place Jobster	2nd place Sug’urta Bozor	3rd place diip.uz

The top honor in this category was bestowed upon Jobster, which introduced a highly effective solution for streamlining recruitment processes. Second place was claimed by Sug‘urta Bozor, while diip.uz was awarded third place.  

The President Tech Award not only served as a celebration of innovation but also underscored the advanced expertise of Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem. The winners received financial rewards of $100,000 for first place, $50,000 for second place, and $30,000 for third place. Furthermore, the startups benefited from expert mentorship provided by international mentors and jury members, including, Victoria Hernandez, C-Level Board Member for Venture Capital; Meri Ellaranta, Partner at Courage Ventures; Piotr Serwin, Associate Director at AMA International (Appel Mergers and Acquisitions); Christopher Polligkeit, Ventures Associate at Plug and Play Vienna; Pavel Sikachev, Chief Product Officer at Jume.  

A special highlight of the event was a hackathon designed to bring together developers, entrepreneurs, and IT specialists to devise innovative solutions in the digital technology sector. Conducted in September 2024, the hackathon attracted over 260 participants organized into 70 teams competing for a grand prize of $100,000.   

The winning project, Focuscore Al, developed by the team Lorem Ipsum, introduced a platform prototype designed to convert entertainment content into educational material. Built on comprehensive research into generational differences in content perception, the platform supports 35 languages, including Uzbek and Chinese. This innovative solution is introduced in four countries: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, and India.