Uzbek startup Cerberus took first place in the regional final of Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026, marking another significant international achievement for the country’s startup ecosystem. With this victory, Cerberus earned the right to represent Central Eurasia at the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 finals, which will take place on October 13–15, 2026, in San Francisco.
This year, the program received 726 applications from 39 countries. Following the national selection stages, 22 of the most promising startups advanced to the regional final. Uzbekistan was represented by six projects: Cerberus, MoliyAI, Sino AI, Deepen, Fermopolis, and Oqim App.
The regional final took place on August 12. The top three also included WeGlobal AI from Kazakhstan and LOOQ from Japan, which, together with Cerberus, advanced to the global stage of the competition.
Cerberus is a cybersecurity solution designed to automatically detect vulnerabilities in corporate IT systems using artificial intelligence. The project is developing technologies aimed at automating security testing with AI, as well as managing AI actions within predefined boundaries. In 2026, the startup also raised investment from the international venture capital fund 500 Global.
The winners will receive a total $100,000 investment prize fund, distributed among the top three teams: $50,000 for first place, $30,000 for second place, and $20,000 for third place. The funding will be provided by Astana Hub Ventures, IT Park Ventures, and Silkroad Innovation Hub.
In addition, OpenAI will provide API credits totaling the same amount and distributed in the same proportions. The top three teams will also have the opportunity to present on the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 stage, showcase their projects at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 exhibition area throughout all three days of the event, and receive a fully funded trip for two team members, including airfare and accommodation for up to one week.
At the global stage, the Cerberus team will present its technology to international investors, venture capital funds, and the global tech community. Startup Battlefield brings together promising early-stage startups from around the world, giving them the opportunity to attract the attention of international investors and gain visibility in the global market.
