LocationsMentorship sessions and open meetups with a venture investor, strengthening dialogue between startups, universities, and the investment community.
Expert Visit by Denis Kalyshkin: Honest Dialogue with Startups and an Investor's Inside Perspective
December 24, 2025
Photo: C-Space
In December, as part of a series of events for the startup ecosystem, an expert visit by Denis Kalyshkin took place - Investment Director of I2BF Global Ventures, business angel, and startup mentor with international experience.
The international expert's visit was organized with expert and financial support from the project "Knowledge Management and Capacity Development in Russia-UNDP Partnership, Phase III" and was aimed at strengthening the practical competencies of startup founders and investors.
During the visit, several practice-oriented events were held, aimed at developing startups' investment readiness and strengthening dialogue between founders, the university environment, and the venture community.
Startup Roasting: Honest Feedback Without Filters
On December 10, a "Startup Roasting" session took place, organized by UzVC together with School 21 and Umed Rakhimov. Startups Robosell, Delever, and Smart Haul Yield presented their projects and received direct, professional feedback on their products, business models, and scaling strategies. The format allowed founders to see their solutions through an investor's eyes and identify key growth points.
Photo: C-Space
Meetup with Founders at C-Space
A meeting with startup founders took place at the C-Space coworking space, dedicated to the topic of investment readiness. Denis Kalyshkin shared real cases from European practice, explained what investors pay attention to when evaluating teams, traction, and growth potential, and provided practical recommendations for fundraising preparation.
Photo: American University of Technology
From Campus to Investment
On December 11, a meetup for university startups was held at the American University of Technology. Participants discussed how to transform academic and student projects into investment-attractive products. Startup teams received practical advice on idea validation, solution packaging, and working with investors.
The visit made an important contribution to the development of the startup ecosystem, strengthening the practical connection between founders, investors, and the educational environment, and helped startups better understand venture market requirements and investor expectations.
The events within the visit were conducted within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP "Empowering Youth for Digital Economy and Digital Entrepreneurship Development," implemented with financial support from the Russia-UNDP Development Trust Fund, and became part of efforts to develop the startup ecosystem and investment culture.
