A startup accelerator is a fixed-term, intensive programme that takes an early-stage company from an idea or a first product to the point where an investor wants to see it. Y Combinator made the model famous worldwide; in Uzbekistan it is run by UzCombinator. This guide covers what an accelerator actually gives, who it suits, and how it works in Uzbekistan.
How an accelerator differs from an incubator
Both help startups, but in different ways:
| Accelerator | Incubator | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Short and fixed (45 days at UzCombinator) | Open-ended, sometimes years |
| Stage | A team and a first product | Often the idea stage |
| Format | A batch: dozens of startups together | One at a time |
| Ending | Demo Day - a pitch to investors | No set ending |
| Equity | Usually a small stake | Varies; often rent or service fees |
In short: an incubator grows, an accelerator speeds up. You come to an accelerator with a team, a product that works (or nearly does), and readiness to grow.
What an accelerator gives a startup
1. Mentors who have built companies. At UzCombinator every week is spent with a mentor who built their own company: practitioners from MyTaxi, TBC Uzbekistan, Click, AloqaVentures and Silkroad Innovation Hub run sessions on valuation and due diligence, finding the first 50-100 customers, entering the US market, growing through SEO, product management.
2. A weekly goal and trackers. Every week has a measurable goal, and trackers follow whether it was met. In 45 days nothing is left for "later".
3. A stipend and an office. UzCombinator gives founders a $1,000 stipend and an office in Tashkent, so the team works on nothing but the startup for the whole programme.
4. First customers and partners. Teams work with real customers during the programme, go on office tours and meet partner companies.
5. Demo Day. The programme ends with a pitch in front of investors. UzCombinator's first batch raised a total of $975,000 from investors at Demo Day.
6. Community. After the programme, alumni stay in touch with each other, with mentors and with investors. This is often the benefit that lasts longest.
An accelerator in Uzbekistan: UzCombinator in numbers
- 2 batches run, applications open for batch 3
- 5,036 applications (batch 1: 1,453; batch 2: 3,583)
- 56 startups accepted (29 + 27)
- $975,000 raised by the first batch at Demo Day
- 45 days, a $1,000 stipend, an office in Tashkent
- The programme runs with the support of the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan and in partnership with the Yoshlar Ventures fund; partner funds include AloqaVentures, MOST Ventures, SilkBridge Ventures, Imkon Ventures, SQB Ventures, CS//Angels and IT Park Uzbekistan
Every accepted startup, with its sector and founders, is on the portfolio page.
Who an accelerator is for
An accelerator is the right call when:
- there is a team of at least two (solo founders are accepted, but a team is an advantage);
- there is a product, or one can ship within 45 days;
- the founders can commit full-time for the programme;
- the goal is to raise investment or to grow faster.
If there is only an idea so far, the Founders Camp events held in the regions and the open sessions on the channel are a good place to start.
How to apply
The application is online and takes about ten minutes; no pitch deck is required - you write what you are building in your own words. Shortlisted teams are invited to a 30-minute interview. UzCombinator selects the person who will build it rather than the idea, so the founders themselves are the main criterion.
More questions are answered on the FAQ page.