“INNOLAND” residents successfully represented at the Azerbaijan International Investment Forum

Residents of the "INNOLAND" Incubation and Acceleration Center under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan participated at the “ASAN Service” stand within the framework of the 1st Azerbaijan International Investment Forum.

Startups "Convitsa", "Dovotes", and "Enverson", established through university collaboration within the “Skills for the Future” project, presented their innovative solutions and projects to local and international visitors.

High-level guests and officials were introduced to the technological innovations presented by the startups and highly appreciated their potential to enter international markets. Guests were also informed about the activities of “ASAN Service”, its innovative citizen services, achievements in digital solutions, and opportunities for international cooperation.

The Azerbaijan International Investment Forum serves as an important platform for showcasing the economic and technological potential of countries located at the strategic crossroads of East and West, as well as for exchanging knowledge and experience on new global competitiveness paradigms.
For participating companies and startups, the forum provided unique opportunities to establish high-level connections, sign strategic agreements, and build new partnerships.

The 3rd "RoboCode" Camp of "ASAN Service" has concluded

The "RoboCode III" robotic coding camp, jointly organized by the Innovation Center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, "Silicon Valley Bilisim," and "SAHA Robotics," and sponsored by Expressbank, has come to a close.

The closing ceremony was attended by Vusal Rustamov, Director of the Innovation Center; Tuba Oztepe, Deputy CEO of Silicon Valley Bilisim; Nida Emin Kirishchi, ecosystem development specialist; Burak Can Kaya, Head of Robotics Behavior and Navigation Systems at SAHA Robotics; camp participants; and other guests.

Prototypes developed by the 5 teams that formed during the camp and advanced to the final stage were evaluated by a panel of judges.

The winners earned the right to participate in an internship program at SAHA Robotics and to benefit from a 1-year office space at Silicon Valley Bilisim. In addition, the winning team that fully develops and completes their project will have the opportunity to participate in the "Take Off Istanbul" startup summit.

Over the course of the one-month camp, more than 150 applications were received in total, and 105 participants selected based on set criteria received training in both online and in-person formats. The training program covered technological topics such as "Fundamentals of ROS 2," "SLAM Algorithms," and "ROS 2 Tools and Custom Environment Creation in Gazebo," as well as training in entrepreneurship and team building.

Since the camps began in 2023, a total of 924 applications have been received across all three editions, with more than 300 applicants earning the right to compete.

The camp is held within the framework of a cooperation protocol signed in 2023 between the Innovation Center and Silicon Valley Bilisim Baku. The goal is to facilitate access to autonomous systems, robotics, and automation technologies, and to equip young people who wish to specialize and build careers in this field with knowledge and skills related to the ROS (Robot Operating System) ecosystem. Supporting participants in developing their projects in this area through the promotion of innovative solutions is also among the priority directions.

Have you heard startups say, “we’re already in the acceleration stage”? 
But what does acceleration mean?

Acceleration is the phase where startups that have tested their idea and are ready to grow gain speed.

At this stage, teams:
meet with investors
strengthen market strategies
refine sales and marketing plans
focus on realistic goals with mentor support

In simple terms, acceleration is the moment when a startup is not just starting, but preparing to grow. 

What do you think is the most important factor for a startup at this stage — mentorship, market strategy, or investor support?