Biotech Startup Takes Top Prize at GIST Regional Startup Training Central Asia

Biotech Startup Takes Top Prize at GIST Regional Startup Training Central Asia

November 15, 2018

 

A biotech startup from Uzbekistan is taking home the top prize at the GIST Regional Startup Training Central Asia Demo Day. With this win, GIST is highlighting the innovation in science and technology that is emerging in Central Asia.

Co-founders Sherozbek Dalimov and Mardonali Mirzaliev from Uzbekistan won first place with their startup called Pectin. Capitalizing on a widely used plant compound known as Pectin. Their startup will use raw materials to boost the production of this compound in Uzbekistan. Pectin is used in everything from gelatins to medicines.

As the first place winners, Dalimov and Mirzaliev will receive $3,000 USD in seed capital from GIST. They can use this money to help scale their startup in Uzbekistan and the region.

Startup Easy Silk Road from Tajikistan won second place at the Demo Day, securing $1,500USD in seed capital. Easy Silk Road developed an app for tourists that provides important information including directions and areas that are dangerous.

Startup Fastago from Uzbekistan won third place at the Demo Day and will receive $500 USD in seed capital. Fastago created an API that helps retailers improve their shipping while cutting down on costs.

The “Spirit of GIST” award was given to Waste to Wealth from Kyrgyzstan. This award is given to a startup that has created an innovative science or tech startup with a positive social impact. Waste to Wealth developed an app that aims to reduce waste by helping users locate businesses close by that will purchase recyclable materials.

The GIST Regional Startup Training Central Asia was a four day training in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for startups from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The training provided teams of founders with the skillset necessary to grow a successful business. Coursework included a seminar on the Lean Startup Method, customer discovery exercises and one-on-one time with experience entrepreneurs and trainers.

This particular GIST Startup Training was also a featured event of Global Entrepreneurship Week. From November 12-18, nine million people in 170 countries will take part in 35,000 events, activities and competitions that help make it possible for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business.

GIST partnered with the C.A.T. Science Accelerator to host the GIST Regional Startup Training Central Asia. C.A.T. Science Accelerator is the first accelerator in Uzbekistan for scientific projects and the commercialization of scientific developments. 

The GIST Initiative is the U.S. Department of States flagship science and technology entrepreneurship program, supporting young innovators in more than 130 emerging economies around the world.

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