Startup Garage Expands to Middle East, Opening Doors for New Ventures
Startup Garage, Uzbekistan’s premier venture studio, is making a bold move by expanding its operations to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a new office in Doha, Qatar. This groundbreaking step marks the first time a Central Asian venture has set up shop in MENA, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and strengthening ties between the two regions.
Founded by Muhammad Khalil, Startup Garage has quickly become the leading venture studio in Uzbekistan, establishing a presence across 14 regions in the country in just eight months. The venture offers aspiring entrepreneurs mentorship, funding, and strategic guidance, with the support of Aloqa Ventures. By venturing into the Middle East, Startup Garage aims to serve as a bridge for Uzbek startups to access the thriving markets of MENA, while also assisting MENA-based startups in expanding into Central Asia.
Muhammad Khalil, Founder of Startup Garage, expressed his excitement about the expansion, stating, “This expansion represents a pivotal step in bridging Uzbekistan and the MENA region. Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem is rapidly growing, and by entering MENA, we are creating a two-way channel for innovation, investment, and market expansion. Our mission is to provide startups with the resources they need to scale, whether in Tashkent, Doha, or beyond.”
As part of the President of Uzbekistan’s initiative, Startup Garage, also known as the “Youth Bank” and supported by Aloqa Bank, is actively contributing to the development of Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem. The AloqaVentures fund, which supports youth-led startups, has already assisted over 100 local startups, with 10 currently in the process of securing external investments and 3 having agreements to attract nearly $1 million in funding.
Sukhrob Gaybulloev, Managing Partner at AloqaVentures, expressed his belief in the potential of Startup Garage’s expansion into MENA, stating, “We see immense potential in fostering collaboration between Uzbekistan and MENA, and we are excited to support this initiative that will drive regional innovation and economic growth.”
With this expansion, Startup Garage will focus on incubating high-potential startups, launching regional accelerator programs, and forming partnerships with investors, government agencies, and corporate entities in the MENA region.
Startup Garage is Uzbekistan’s first venture studio, dedicated to empowering startups with strategic support, mentorship, and access to capital. With its expansion into MENA, the company aims to facilitate cross-border startup growth, investment, and technological collaboration between Central Asia and the Middle East.
