Golden Gate Ventures opens Uzbekistan office with UzOman partnership

Golden Gate Ventures has launched a Central Asia office in Uzbekistan through a partnership with Uzbek-Oman Investment Company, giving the MENA-focused fund a new base to back startups and help portfolio companies expand across the region. The move, announced at the Tashkent International Investment Forum, also deepens links with IT Park and IT Park Ventures through a new MoU. Why it matters: - Golden Gate Ventures is using Uzbekistan as a launch point to connect startups, capital and markets between Central Asia and MENA. - The new office gives the Qatar-headquartered fund its first dedicated commitment to Central Asia. - The expansion is designed to help MENA portfolio companies enter Uzbekistan and the wider region while giving Central Asian startups access to regional and global capital. - UzOman’s participation signals rising institutional interest in Uzbekistan’s technology sector and in early-stage venture vehicles. What happened: - Golden Gate Ventures announced the opening of a new office in Uzbekistan to serve Central Asia. - The launch was executed in partnership with Uzbek-Oman Investment Company, or UzOman. - The announcement was unveiled at the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum in Tashkent. - The new office was introduced as part of Golden Gate Ventures’ MENA-focused fund, which is established and managed within the Qatar Financial Centre. - The office launch includes UzOman as an institutional limited partner. The details: - The office is intended to back technology companies across Central Asia. - The same platform is meant to give existing MENA portfolio companies a path to expand into Uzbekistan and neighboring markets. - Golden Gate Ventures described the initiative as a two-way bridge for founders, capital and markets between Central Asia and MENA. - UzOman is a Tashkent-based private equity fund created through a partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Sultanate of Oman. - UzOman brings local market expertise and a diversified portfolio spanning financial services, logistics, real estate and other sectors. - A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Golden Gate Ventures, IT Park Uzbekistan and IT Park Ventures. - The MoU creates a framework for joint entrepreneurship programs, structured early-stage startup pipeline development and co-investment in promising Uzbek startups. - The MoU also links local startup programs to regional and global capital. - Golden Gate Ventures said the office will source and support category leaders in fintech, B2B artificial intelligence, e-commerce, logistics, clean and alternative energy, and other technology-driven industries. - Uzbekistan is described as one of the fastest-reforming economies in Central Asia, with a young, digitally native population and a maturing startup ecosystem. - TIIF 2026 was held under the theme “Investment Resilience: New Frontiers, New Partnerships.” - The forum is presented as Central Asia’s premier gathering for global investors and draws thousands of delegates to Tashkent. Between the lines: - The partnership suggests Golden Gate Ventures is betting that Uzbekistan can serve as a gateway market for a broader Central Asian investment strategy. - UzOman’s role as an institutional limited partner gives the venture push local credibility and on-the-ground reach. - The MoU with IT Park and IT Park Ventures appears aimed at creating an early-stage deal flow pipeline, which is often the missing piece in emerging startup ecosystems. - Michael Lints said Central Asia is one of the most exciting growth stories in the world right now and called the arrangement a genuine two-way bridge. - Omar Bahram said UzOman sees technology as a strategic pillar of Uzbekistan’s growth story and views the fund commitment as a deliberate move to build exposure to high-potential early-stage companies. What’s next: - Golden Gate Ventures is expected to use the Uzbekistan office to build out investment sourcing and local support across Central Asia. - The firm and its partners will likely focus on startup programs, co-investment and cross-border expansion pathways under the new MoU. - The fund’s regional footprint now extends from the Middle East into Central Asia, creating a broader corridor for future investments and market entry. The bottom line: - Golden Gate Ventures is turning Uzbekistan into a strategic hub for a cross-regional venture platform that links Central Asian startups with MENA capital and expansion opportunities.