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Silkroad Innovation Hub's Road to Battlefield competition sees increased applications
Key points
- Road to Battlefield is in its second year.
- 726 applications from 39 countries were received this year.
- 22 startups advanced to the regional final on August 12.
- Three finalists will represent the region at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.
Competition Overview
The Road to Battlefield competition, a collaboration between Silkroad Innovation Hub, TechCrunch, Freedom Holding, Astana Hub, and IT Park Uzbekistan, is now in its second year. Its primary goal is to offer founders across Central Eurasia a direct route to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt, scheduled for October 13-15 in San Francisco.
Growth in Participation
The program has experienced significant growth, with applications increasing from 485 in its first year (2025) to 726 this year, representing a nearly 50% jump. The number of participating countries also expanded from 27 to 39, covering Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South Asia. This growth highlights the increasing startup activity in the Central Eurasia region.
Selection Process
Founders pitched online to 47 judges from eight countries, including venture capitalists, tech hub representatives, and experienced founders, alongside an AI judge named AI-Dana. Following the national rounds held from July 6 to 20, 22 startups have been selected to proceed to the regional final on August 12. From these, three finalists will be chosen to represent the region at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.
Regional Impact
Asset Abdualiyev, founder and CEO of Silkroad Innovation Hub, stated that the competition aims to connect regional founders with top VCs and global ecosystems, a connection previously unavailable at this scale. The competition's trajectory suggests that Central Eurasia is developing into a rapidly growing source of startups within emerging markets.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The second annual Road to Battlefield competition, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub, has concluded its national rounds, with 22 startups advancing to the regional final. This competition provides founders from Central Eurasia a direct path to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200, and this year saw a nearly 50% increase in applications from 39 countries, indicating growing startup activity in the region.