A Tajik startup focused on artificial intelligence for government agencies has made it to the final round of the Silkway Accelerator, an international program backed by Google for Startups and Astana Hub. The announcement was made following the selection of 15 finalists from across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia on July 8 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The Tajik finalist, epsilon3.ai, led by Najima Noyoftova, offers AI-powered solutions for public sector agencies, including anomaly detection, forecasting, and automation of workflows.
“We are already preparing to sign our first contract with a government body, grow the team, and complete product development,” said Noyoftova. “Our goal is to hit $1M in ERR by the end of the year. This accelerator is our launchpad to scale and finalize the platform, which partners will be able to connect to as early as this summer.”
What is Silkway Accelerator?
The Silkway Accelerator is a flagship program aiming to boost high-potential startups from Central Eurasia. Over 200 applications were reviewed for the current (sixth) cohort, and only the most scalable and mature projects were selected.
Projects are already at the Product-Market Fit (PMF) or Scale stages and offer real-world solutions in artificial Intelligence, fintech, edtech, logistics, healthcare, e-commerce, and business operations
Since its inception, the accelerator has received over 1,500 applications, supported 77 startups, and helped attract US$28 million in investments. Combined startup valuations now exceed US$500 million, highlighting the region's growing potential in the global tech landscape.
Meet the other finalists
In addition to epsilon3.ai, standout projects include:
- 🇦🇿 Tryverse (Azerbaijan): A platform for generating 3D and AR content for e-commerce
- 🇰🇬 Booster (Kyrgyzstan): A digital solution to manage sewing production from order to delivery
- 🇲🇳 Steppe AI (Mongolia): An IoT+AI platform with proprietary devices for logistics, energy, agriculture, and smart cities
- 🇺🇿 Marjan (Uzbekistan): A logistics marketplace connecting advertisers and truck owners without middlemen
Kazakhstan is represented by 10 startups, including platforms for AI-powered video marketing, smart CRM systems for clinics, and edtech tools using conversational AI.
What’s next?
The program includes a three-month in-person acceleration in Astana, offering: intensive mentoring and hypothesis testing; business and product development support; networking with global experts; free office space and co-living arrangements; and access to investment opportunities via Astana Hub Ventures
The journey will culminate in Demo Day at Digital Bridge 2025 this October — a premier tech forum where participants will pitch to investors, corporations, and tech leaders from around the world.
