Central Eurasia's Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026 has selected its top three startups: Cerberus, WeGlobal AI, and LOOQ. The winners will advance to Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco, joining one of the year's most visible startup stages.
The regional final brought together 22 finalists chosen from a record 726 applications across 39 countries. The competition, organized by Silkroad Innovation Hub with TechCrunch, Freedom Holding, Astana Hub, and IT Park Uzbekistan, also reflected the growing reach of the Central Eurasian startup scene, with applications rising sharply from the program's 2025 debut.
Three startups, three distinct ideas
Cerberus, based in Uzbekistan, took first place with an AI-driven cybersecurity tool designed to detect vulnerabilities in corporate systems. The startup focuses on helping teams identify security gaps faster as AI-generated code becomes more common.
WeGlobal AI from Kazakhstan placed second with a platform built to support schools through AI-based student well-being tracking and career guidance. The concept addresses the limited availability of school psychologists by offering scalable digital support.
LOOQ, founded by Ayan Sakenov and Yudai Ishida, earned third place with camera-based hardware and an attention API that measures real-world billboard visibility. The system aims to give advertisers a clearer view of outdoor audience engagement.
Alongside the recognition, the three winners will share a $100,000 investment pool, with Cerberus receiving $50,000, WeGlobal AI $30,000, and LOOQ $20,000. OpenAI also awarded API credits to all 22 finalists, supporting further product development.
Beyond the prizes, the event highlighted a broader shift: Central Eurasian founders are increasingly building AI-first products with global ambition. As these startups prepare for San Francisco, their next stage could help shape how emerging markets connect innovation, talent, and international opportunity in the years ahead.
