At the final of the Green Youth Cup in Uzbekistan on October 29, 2026, sixteen youth-created environmental startups presented their innovative solutions in green technologies to investors and experts. Three projects that showed the best results were given the opportunity to attend the Web Summit Qatar in 2027.
The competition highlighted the efforts of young Uzbek innovators in developing practical methods for waste recycling, air purification, sustainable resource management, and environmental education.
The Green Youth Cup program is implemented by the U-Enter Innovation Center together with Intro Group with the support of Virtual Accelerate, as well as with the participation of the governments of Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The final event took place at the CAEx exhibition center, which hosts the International Week of Innovative Ideas, Innoweek. The venue provided participating startups with additional opportunities to interact with potential partners and study innovations from across Uzbekistan.
The program started on October 7 and attracted 118 applications, of which 55 projects were selected at the initial stage. During October, participants attended ten educational sessions conducted by international trainers at U-Enter and participated in two practical business trips.
During the final Demo Day, teams presented their projects in Uzbek, English, and Russian, using presentations and product demonstrations to explain their technologies and business concepts. Participants also answered questions from the jury members within a strictly allocated time.
The creators of the three leading startups will be able to attend the Web Summit Qatar, scheduled for January 31 to February 2, 2027, in Doha. This event will allow them to present their developments internationally and explore opportunities for entering new markets.
Examples of Successful Projects
Among the leaders were projects such as CoffeeCycle, an environmental startup developing organic fertilizers from coffee grounds. Team member Diyora Khasanova described this initiative as a practical application of circular economy principles, transforming everyday waste into a useful product for crop cultivation. These fertilizers contain coffee grounds along with other organic components. The team continues to improve the product composition in collaboration with young specialists, including biotechnologists. CoffeeCycle unites youth concerned about increasing waste volumes and interested in finding practical ways to reuse discarded materials.
Two other leading startups focused on air purification technologies. Plazion, led by Bekzod Ergashev, creates an intelligent plasma air purification system designed for industrial facilities and greenhouses. The project team consists of students from the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers. This technology aims to solve air purification problems in industrial and agricultural settings.
Another significant project, the air purifier AirO², offered a different approach to improving air quality. The team led by Raykhona Abdiyeva developed an electrostatic air purifier model intended for indoor use. Among the supposed advantages of this device is its affordability.
In addition to the three main projects, the competition demonstrated a wide range of environmental innovations created by young participants. Eco Leaf, developed by Ayatulloh Abdujabborov, already produces eco-friendly products from fallen leaves. According to Abdujabborov, leaves from fruit trees such as apricots, sour cherries, and sweet cherries are used to make pellets for cattle and sheep feed. Leaves of almost any tree type can also be processed into fuel briquettes as an alternative to coal. The same raw material is also used to produce stronger boards suitable for construction and repair, including thermal insulation, as well as for the furniture industry.
Another finalist, Ecogenesis, focuses on environmental education through interactive technologies. Its creator, Otabek Erdonov, is a ninth-grade student at one of Uzbekistan's Presidential Schools. He developed an educational product in a game format where participants manage climatic conditions and communities, observing the simulated system's reaction to their decisions. The startup's goal is to help users understand their personal contribution to overall resource consumption, draw conclusions from their choices, and increase general environmental awareness.
EcoDataHub, founded by 17-year-old Jasmina Ziyodullaeva, offers a more comprehensive approach to waste management. Instead of focusing solely on recycling specific types of waste, the project aims to increase transparency across the entire waste management system. Ziyodullaeva views eco-activists from various regions of Uzbekistan, pilot schools, organizations, and green technology experts as potential partners. The proposed platform would allow citizens to upload photos and geolocation data about environmental problems, including illegal landfills. Eco-activists could use the received reports to respond to recorded incidents.
The Green Youth Cup final demonstrated the diversity of environmental issues addressed by young innovators—from industrial air pollution and organic waste recycling to sustainable materials and environmental monitoring. The organizers aimed to give young entrepreneurs the confidence and practical skills necessary to develop their ideas and present them to potential partners. Investors, who are traditionally invited to finals of programs organized by U-Enter and its partners, have already begun considering the participating startups. The next stage of development will depend on the initiative and determination of young entrepreneurs striving to turn their environmental solutions into viable projects.
