Take Off Samarkand 2026, Will Take Place in Samarkand on June 3-4

The global innovation ecosystem is meeting in the heart of Central Asia this time.

Take Off Startup Summit, one of the leading meeting points of the startup and technology world, will be held in Samarkand in 2026. The summit, which will be held in the historical city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan on June 3-4, is positioned as a structure that creates direct access between different ecosystems, going beyond being just an event.

Take Off Samarkand, realized with the contributions of the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers on the same platform every year.
 

More Than an Event: A Designed Access Platform

Since 2018, the focus of Take Off has been not only on growth but also on deepening the quality of interaction. This approach distinguishes the platform from classic events, enabling the formation of real collaborations through pre-planned, high-potential-focused interactions instead of accidental connections. This structure, where startups can directly contact the right investors, institutions the right solutions, and ecosystems each other, transforms Take Off from an event into a designed access platform.
 

New Stop: Samarkand, New Connections

With a population exceeding 38 million and access to a market exceeding 80 million across Central Asia, Uzbekistan represents not only a geographical shift but also a strategic orientation. The region, which has reached over $550 million in investment activity in recent years, offers a field for development for startups and investors with its structure that has not yet reached saturation. The high proportion of young people and the momentum in the digitalization process are also among the prominent elements of the region.
 

From Past Trade Routes to Today's Innovation Networks

Since 2018, Take Off has positioned itself as a platform that facilitates interaction on an international scale between entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions. This structure, which began and grew in Istanbul, made its first international expansion in Baku, establishing direct links between different ecosystems. This line, extending to Samarkand by 2026, creates a stronger and more continuous interaction platform between emerging markets and global capital and decision-makers. The expansion not only adds a new location but also enables early access to different markets, increased inter-ecosystem interaction, and rapid development of collaborations.

Samarkand, historically a crossroads of trade routes, stood out for centuries as a center facilitating the circulation of goods, knowledge, and culture. Today, a similar transformation is reshaping itself through technology and capital. Digital flows are replacing physical trade, and investment and innovation networks are replacing caravan routes. With Take Off, Samarkand is positioned not only as a historical reference point in this new era but also as the central hub of a new connection line established between emerging markets and the global ecosystem.
 

The First Step Towards the Samarkand Vision Was Taken in Istanbul

A promotional meeting was held to share the vision, strategic approach, and international positioning for the new edition of the Take Off Startup Summit, to be held in Samarkand in 2026. The program, held on April 13th at Topkapi Palace and Sepetçiler Kasrı in Istanbul, brought together prominent figures from the public sector, diplomacy, media, and technology ecosystem. Opening speeches were delivered by Sadullah Uzun, General Director of National Technology and Artificial Intelligence at the Ministry of Industry and Technology; Gökhan Yücel, Head of Communications at the Presidential Investment and Finance Office; Hami Aksoy, General Director of Science and Technology Policies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Sherzod Abdunazarov, Consul General of Uzbekistan; and Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Technology Team Foundation. The presentation on the vision and strategic framework of Take Off Samarkand was shared with the participants by İrem Bayraktar Aksakal, Director of the Take Off Startup Summit. The meeting addressed the strategic approach to the Samarkand edition of Take Off, areas of regional cooperation, and opportunities for interaction between ecosystems. The program also included a special tour of Topkapi Palace and a networking session.
 

Real Interaction, Measurable Results

The Summit is planned to include investor-entrepreneur meetings, stage sessions, and areas of cooperation that will enable direct connections between ecosystem actors. With the participation of international private sector representatives, investment funds, and ecosystem player institutions, direct interaction between different stakeholders is aimed for.

Through curated investor-entrepreneur meetings, strategic areas of cooperation, and focused networking formats, participants will be able to connect.

Instead of simply receiving these connections, they have the opportunity to transform them into tangible results. Insight-focused stage content and a carefully selected participant structure make the experience offered by Take Off deeper and more effective. Startup applications for Take Off Samarkand are also open. Startups from different parts of the world can apply to participate in the platform, where they can directly contact investors and gain international visibility, until April 30, 2026.