In "INNOLAND" Incubation and Acceleration Center the seed round investment made into the "Nextsale" and "Whelp" startups, participants of the winter acceleration program of the SUP "Startap Accelerator.

The investment in these startups was implemented jointly by the "Azfinans" Investment Company, the "Next Step" Innovation Center and Khazar Ventures.

The semifinal stage of the “Digital Startup Awards” competition has been held in Azerbaijan

In partnership with “INNOLAND” Incubation and Acceleration Center and “Sabah Hub,” the Azerbaijani semifinal of the international “Digital Startup Awards” competition in the “Best Startup Project” category was successfully held.

Twenty innovative startup projects representing Azerbaijan took part in the semifinal. The startup teams presented their projects to the jury, where they were evaluated based on criteria such as business model, technological innovation, and market potential.

The “Digital Startup Awards” program is an international initiative that fosters a multi-level development mechanism within the region’s startup ecosystem and is distinguished by its stage-based selection process. In the “Best Startup Project” category—one of the three main stages of the program—two projects, “StarKidsStories” and “Tryverse,” were announced as winners.

“StarKidsStories” is an innovative startup that creates personalized children’s storybooks using artificial intelligence technologies. The project stands out for its scalable model and strong profit potential.

“Tryverse” is a platform that combines 3D and augmented reality (AR) technologies to enhance online sales of physical products.

These two startup projects have earned the opportunity to represent Azerbaijan in the international final to be held in Uzbekistan, where they will compete with the most promising startups from nine countries.

The startups selected for the semifinal stage were chosen from nearly 100 applications and evaluated by distinguished jury members and experts, including Dalerkhon Nodirov (Deputy Director of IT Park Ventures), Mubariz Shahbazli (Head of the UNEC Startup Incubator), and Masud Alisoy (Investment Specialist representing the Sabah Foundation). Mr. Elshad Mammadzada (Executive Director of Akademi Group), representing the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center, evaluated the EdTech startups as an expert judge in educational innovation.

Overall, more than 150 startups from Azerbaijan applied for the competition. The “Digital Startup Awards” program is organized by “StartupBase,” an innovation platform of IT Park Uzbekistan. The program aims to promote digital innovation, support the development of the startup ecosystem across Central Asia and the Caucasus, and create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to gain international recognition.

From June 13 to 15, 2025, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Youth Foundation, the Azerbaijan Student and Youth Organizations Union (ATGTI), and organized by Enactus Azerbaijan, the “Enactus Champions League Simulation Camp” was held.

As part of this special program aimed at developing young leaders, participants gained both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, taking another step closer to the world of entrepreneurship.

During the camp, participants took part in various training sessions and workshops on entrepreneurship, innovation, and project management, held with the support of the “Innovation Center.” Among the speakers were: Director of the INNOLAND Incubation and Acceleration Center, Nijat Amiraslanov, who delivered sessions on “Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” “Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship,” and “Presentation and Communication”; ASAN Innovative Development Center trainer, Nofal Aliyev, who presented the topic “Artificial Intelligence Tools in Startup Development”; and Deputy Head of the Project Management Department, Ziniddin Babayev, who conducted training on “Project Management and Strategy.” Through these sessions, participants not only gained up-to-date knowledge but also developed teamwork and strategic thinking skills.

Later, the simulation of the semifinal and final stages of the “Enactus National Competition” took place. Teams presented their projects, showcasing their knowledge and skills in a competitive environment.

Based on the simulation results, the winning teams were:
1st place – Azerbaijan Medical University
2nd place – Baku State University
3rd place – Lankaran State University

Congratulations to all the teams! We wish you continued success!