The Road to Battlefield competition, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub, is back for its second year. This initiative provides a direct pathway for startup founders across Central Eurasia to reach the global stage. By partnering with TechCrunch, the program connects regional entrepreneurs with international investors and technology ecosystems, a link that previously lacked the necessary scale to support high-growth potential.
The competition saw significant growth in 2026. Applications reached a record 726 submissions from 39 countries, representing a 50 percent increase over the previous year. This interest spans a broad geography including Central Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and parts of the Middle East and South Asia. Judges from international venture firms evaluated the entries alongside an AI-driven jury to select the current pool of 22 regional finalists.
Artificial Intelligence defines the current applicant pool, with 84 percent of the 726 startups building AI-focused products. This trend reflects a broader shift in the regional economy where founders prioritize global market entry from the inception of their ventures. Countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are leading this wave, demonstrating that these areas are maturing into substantial startup hubs capable of producing globally competitive technology.
The final stage of the competition takes place on August 12, where three winning startups will be selected. These winners receive a total investment prize pool of 100,000 dollars, split between first, second, and third place. Additionally, the winners earn a fully funded trip to San Francisco to participate in the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 during the Disrupt event this October.
Beyond the primary investment prizes, the competition offers tangible support for technical development through OpenAI API credits. The top three finishers and the remaining finalists receive significant credit allocations to support their infrastructure needs. This structure aims to provide founders with both the capital and the technical resources required to scale their operations outside of their home markets.