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Road to Battlefield narrows to 22 finalists from 726 applications across 39 countries
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The Silkroad Innovation Hub's Road to Battlefield competition, now in its second year, has selected 22 finalists from 726 applications spanning 39 countries, with a regional final scheduled for August 12 to determine three startups that will advance to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.
The competition provides Central Eurasian founders a direct route to TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt in San Francisco, connecting them with global VCs and ecosystems they previously lacked at this scale. The nearly 50% increase in applications and expansion from 27 to 39 countries signals growing startup activity in the region, particularly in AI products, which comprise 84% of submissions.
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Applications grew nearly 50% from 485 in the first year to 726 this year, expanding from 27 to 39 countries across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South Asia.
84% of applicants (609 of 726 startups) are building AI products, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan each contributing six of the 22 finalists.
Three finalists from the August 12 regional final will advance to represent Central Eurasia at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 during Disrupt from October 13 to 15 in San Francisco.
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