Tashkent Hosts the First International “Global Tech Weekend” Technology Festival
2026-05-15 19:35:00 / News of ministry
The international technology festival “Global Tech Weekend” has officially opened in Tashkent, bringing together representatives of the global startup, investment and innovation ecosystems. The event is being held from May 15 to 17 and includes more than 40 technology-focused sessions, discussions and networking activities.
More than 120 local and international speakers, as well as thousands of startup founders, investors, engineers and young innovators, are participating in the festival.
The official opening ceremony took place on May 15 with the participation of First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies A. Sultanov, who highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at developing Uzbekistan’s innovation ecosystem and expanding international cooperation in the field of advanced technologies.
A series of thematic sessions were held on the first day of the festival. Among the keynote speakers was Yasin Ehsan, startup scout at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), who delivered a presentation titled “What Are YC and a16z Looking for in Founders Today and How to Achieve It?”. Sasha Skurikhin, representing XFounders Accelerator, also shared insights on current trends shaping the global venture capital market.
The festival’s main panel discussions additionally featured Tobin Ireland and Azamat Rahmonzoda, who explored the topic “From Monetization to Ecosystem: How UGC Platforms Are Becoming a Full-fledged Business Model.”
The second day of the festival, scheduled for May 16, will focus on startups, artificial intelligence and business transformation. Sessions will feature international experts including Ethan Pierce, Audun Abelsnes, Olga Potapseva, Nika Kohodze and Nika Abashidze.
On May 17, the program festival will continue with events dedicated to youth engagement and startup ecosystem development. Planned activities include Demo Day presentations, VC Mixer sessions, mentoring meetings and closed networking events with investors.
Participants will also have access to mentorship booths, where they will be able to receive direct recommendations and consultations from international investors, accelerator representatives and business experts.
Organized in partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan, the “Global Tech Weekend” festival is expected to further strengthen Uzbekistan’s position as an emerging international center for technology and innovation, support the development of the national startup ecosystem and facilitate the integration of local projects into global markets.