Tashkent hosted the INMerge Innovation Summit Roadshow, bringing together start-ups, investors and technology leaders to explore the future of Central Asia’s digital economy and regional cooperation.
The event, organised by PASHA Holding, followed its previous stop in Istanbul and forms part of the lead-up to the main INMerge Summit, scheduled to take place in Baku on 8–9 October 2026. Established in 2006, PASHA Holding operates in six countries and manages assets exceeding $18 billion.
Discussions during the summit reflected Uzbekistan’s growing role as a regional centre for innovation, particularly in fintech, e-commerce and digital services. At the same time, scaling start-ups beyond domestic markets remains a key challenge.
Tughra Musayeva, Head of Innovations at PASHA Financial Holding, told AnewZ that investment decisions are primarily based on three factors.
“We are looking for three basic things. Number one is the founder, then the market, and then the product,” she said. “The founder is the person who will make it or break it… who can make all the changes and the pivots needed for the product to grow," she said.
She added that scalability and competitive advantage are essential when evaluating start-ups, noting that a strong combination of these elements determines long-term success.
The transition from cash-based systems to digital services was another key topic, with a focus on user trust and accessibility.
Maksim Evdokimov, Chief Product, Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at BIR Ecosystem, told AnewZ that hybrid solutions are helping to bridge the gap between cash and digital economies.
“People are literally inserting cash into digital terminals and at some point adopting the digital experience,” he said, referring to a network of more than one million payment terminals.
He noted that trust remains one of the main barriers to digital adoption, particularly in markets where users are accustomed to face-to-face interactions.
According to Evdokimov, consistent service quality and repeated positive experiences are key to forming digital habits, while widespread smartphone usage is accelerating the shift towards digital platforms.
The summit also addressed the broader concept of a “Digital Silk Road”, with participants noting that sustainable ecosystem development depends not only on investment, but also on talent, regulation and cross-border cooperation.
The event concluded with a start-up pitch competition, with selected teams earning the opportunity to present their projects at the INMerge Summit in Baku later this year.
As one of the key stops in the 2026 Roadshow, Tashkent highlighted Central Asia’s growing role in connecting innovation, capital and technology across borders.
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