The Road to Battlefield competition, now in its second year, has become a key gateway for Central Eurasian startups to gain exposure on the international stage. The contest aims to identify and elevate promising founders from the region directly to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200, highlighting the rapid growth of AI-driven startups and emerging innovation hubs, particularly in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
- Applications grew nearly 50% year-over-year with 726 startups competing
- Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lead as the region’s largest startup ecosystems
- AI-focused startups comprise around 84% of applicants
What happened
The Silkroad Innovation Hub, in partnership with TechCrunch and regional tech parks such as Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan, hosted its second annual Road to Battlefield competition. It offers founders across Central Eurasia a direct path to compete at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200, scheduled for October in San Francisco. Applications increased substantially from 485 in 2025 to 726 this year, spanning startups from 39 countries across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South Asia.
A panel of 47 judges from global venture firms, tech hubs, experienced founders, and an AI judge evaluated the submissions. Following online national rounds in July, 22 startups advanced to the regional final in August. These finalists represent diverse countries and sectors with a significant concentration in AI products, reflecting the technology’s dominant role in the regional startup ecosystem.
Why it matters
The competition serves as a critical bridge connecting talented founders from Central Eurasia to top-tier venture capitalists and global technology ecosystems. By spotlighting startups from less globally recognized markets, Road to Battlefield helps unlock investment and partnership opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible at this scale.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’s dominance in the finalist pool signals their rising status as innovation hubs within the region. This trend highlights significant ecosystem improvements and growing ambitions among founders, who are increasingly building products with global scalability, particularly in artificial intelligence. The high volume of AI startups—about 84% of applicants—illustrates this pivot toward cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of regional entrepreneurship.
What to watch next
The regional final on August 12 will narrow down the 22 startups to three that will represent Central Eurasia at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 in October. These finalists’ performance on the global stage could catalyze further interest and investment into the region’s fast-maturing startup landscape.
Stakeholders will be watching how well these startups leverage connections to international markets, investors, and networks post-competition. The growth of AI-focused ventures will remain a key theme, as well as the ongoing role of innovation hubs like Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan in scaling founders from regional contenders into globally competitive companies.