Digital Startup Awards 2025: Competing Among Mongolia's Top 15 Startups

On October 28, 2025, we had the opportunity to participate in the "Best Startup Project: Mongolia Semifinal" competition at the National Information Technology Park in Ulaanbaatar. Our Oyu Data AI project was selected as one of 15 startups competing to represent Mongolia in the regional finals.

About the Competition

The Digital Startup Awards 2025, organized by Uzbekistan IT Park (StartupBase), brings together startup founders from eight Central Asian countries to promote innovation and technology collaboration across the region. The Mongolia semifinal served as a platform for local startups to showcase their solutions and compete for the opportunity to advance to the finals in Uzbekistan.

The event was co-organized by:

• National Information Technology Park
• KITE Mongolia

The Judging Panel

We were fortunate to present before an experienced panel of judges who brought diverse perspectives from investment, government, and entrepreneurship:

• Madina Zokirova - Program Manager, Uzbekistan IT Park
• M. Shurentsetseg - Head of Investment and Project Department, National Information Technology Park
• J. Bat-Ireedui - Board Chairman & CEO, Gund Investment LLC
• A. Yadamsuren - Head of Developing Startup and Ecosystem Department, Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications
• Z. Uyanga - Founder & CEO, Happiness Sync

Their questions and feedback provided valuable insights that will help us refine our approach and better serve our target market.

Oyu Data AI: Our Submission

Oyu Data AI is our solution for helping businesses make sense of their data through artificial intelligence. In an era where organizations collect vast amounts of information but struggle to extract actionable insights, Oyu Data AI bridges that gap.

The platform focuses on:

Data Integration and Processing Bringing together data from multiple sources and preparing it for analysis, eliminating the manual work that typically consumes significant time and resources.

Intelligent Analysis Using AI algorithms to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies that might not be apparent through traditional analysis methods.

Actionable Insights Translating complex data findings into clear, understandable recommendations that business leaders can act upon.

Accessibility Making advanced data analytics available to organizations that may not have dedicated data science teams, democratizing access to AI-powered insights.

The Competition Experience

Competing alongside 14 other innovative startups was both challenging and inspiring. Each team brought unique solutions addressing different problems, from healthcare to education to financial services. The diversity of approaches reminded us of the breadth of opportunities in Mongolia's growing technology sector.

The two winners selected to represent Mongolia in the Uzbekistan finals were:

• Egune AI - An innovative AI solution in their respective domain
• Uwish - Another promising startup addressing market needs

We congratulate both teams and look forward to following their progress in the regional competition.

What We Learned

Participating in this competition provided several valuable lessons:

1. Clarity in Communication

Explaining technical solutions to a diverse audience requires finding the right balance between detail and accessibility. We learned to articulate our value proposition more clearly, which will benefit our client communications going forward.

2. Market Validation

The questions from judges helped us think more deeply about our target market, pricing strategy, and competitive positioning. This feedback is invaluable as we continue to develop Oyu Data AI.

3. Regional Perspective

Understanding how our solution fits within the broader Central Asian technology landscape opened our eyes to potential opportunities and partnerships we hadn't previously considered.

4. Community Strength

The Mongolia startup ecosystem is growing stronger, with increasing support from government, investors, and established companies. Events like this demonstrate the collaborative spirit that will help all of us succeed.

The Bigger Picture

While we didn't advance to the regional finals, the experience of participating was valuable in itself. Competitions like Digital Startup Awards 2025 serve multiple important purposes:

Showcasing Innovation They highlight the innovative work happening in Mongolia's technology sector, attracting attention from investors, partners, and potential clients.

Building Connections Bringing together startups, investors, government officials, and industry leaders creates opportunities for collaboration and support.

Learning and Growth The feedback and exposure help startups refine their products and strategies, ultimately leading to better solutions for their customers.

Regional Integration By connecting startups across Central Asia, these competitions foster knowledge sharing and potential partnerships that can benefit the entire region.

Moving Forward

The competition has energized our team and reinforced our commitment to developing Oyu Data AI into a solution that truly serves our clients' needs. We're taking the feedback we received and using it to:

• Refine our product features based on market feedback
• Clarify our value proposition and target market
• Strengthen our go-to-market strategy
• Build partnerships that can help us scale

Gratitude

We're grateful to:

• Uzbekistan IT Park for organizing this regional initiative
• National Information Technology Park and KITE Mongolia for hosting and supporting the Mongolia semifinal
• The judges for their time, expertise, and constructive feedback
• Our fellow competitors for inspiring us with their innovations
• Everyone who has supported Oyu Data AI's development

What's Next for Oyu Data AI

We remain committed to developing Oyu Data AI into a powerful tool for businesses seeking to leverage their data more effectively. The insights gained from this competition will inform our development roadmap and help us create a solution that truly meets market needs.

If you're interested in learning more about how Oyu Data AI can help your organization make better data-driven decisions, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect.

The journey of building a startup is filled with learning opportunities, and competitions like Digital Startup Awards 2025 are valuable milestones along the way. We're excited about what lies ahead.