With the support of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA) and organized by SUP VC, a panel discussion titled INNOSTART on the topic “Support for Azerbaijani Startups” was held at Nakhchivan State University.

The panel featured Nijat Amiraslanov, Head of the “INNOLAND” Incubation and Acceleration Center, Mubariz Shahbazli, Director of the UNEC Incubation Center, and Huseyn Asgarli, Head of the IT Department of NSU, as speakers. The main purpose of the panel was to familiarize young people in the region with innovation and startup opportunities and to encourage them to engage in this field. During the panel, there was a broad exchange of views on state support mechanisms for startups, investment opportunities, and the innovation environment

During the first week of July mentors and startups from “INNOLAND“ visit the new “INNOLAND“ Sheki to discover new startups. Participants will be introduced to basic entrepreneurial concepts during 2 days of workshops, followed by a Hackathon to apply the newly gained knowledge and put it into practice. The winners of the Hackathon will be accepted to “INNOLAND“ Sheki 6-month Incubation Program including working space in “INNOLAND“ Sheki Coworking.

Selection Criteria

• over 18
• basic level of English

Agenda:

Day 1: General Workshops

• What is a startup?
• How to come up with a startup idea?
• Market Research: Why and How?
• Value Proposition

Day 2: General Workshops

• Business Model Canvas: Business Modelling, Business Planning
• Lean Methodology
• Pitching

Day 3: Start of Hackathon + Speakers

• Startups from “INNOLAND“ Baku will share their entrepreneurial experience
• Hackathon will be launched: Ideas put on voting, best 5-6 will be chosen for team forming with a goal to form a startup by the end of the Hackathon

Day 4: Teamwork + Mentoring

• Selected teams will work on their projects with the support of “INNOLAND“ mentors + “INNOLAND“ Baku startups.

Day 5: Teamwork, Final Presentations + Winner Announcement

• Half day: Continue teamwork
• Half day: Final Presentations in front of the jury to determine the top 3 teams

For registration: http://bit.ly/2MWFSQX

INNOLAND’s resident successfully represented at the Digital Startup Awards 2025!

On December 12–13, the Grand Final of the international “Digital Startup Awards” program was held in Tashkent, jointly organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, IT Park Uzbekistan and IT Park Ventures. The total prize fund of the program, one of the largest startup initiatives in the Central Eurasia region, amounted to 1 million USD.

Within the incubation program, our resident startup “Lingozy”, representing Azerbaijan, received a prize of 10,000 USD.

It should be noted that startups from Azerbaijan received a total of 70,000 USD in grants. In the acceleration program, the startup “Recepta” was awarded 50,000 USD, while “SnackPack AZ” earned 10,000 USD within the incubation program. Additionally, in the “Best Startup Project” category, Azerbaijani startups “StarkidStories” and “Tryverse” represented the country in the final stage. Other Azerbaijani startups that qualified for participation in the incubation program included “Crable”, “himate.az” and “OLSUN”.

The “Digital Startup Awards” program strengthened cooperation among regional startup ecosystems and contributed to increasing international recognition of Azerbaijani startups, opening new opportunities for their development.