Highlights from guest lecture with "Eli David"

Yesterday, innoWIUT hosted Eli David, Founder and CEO of StartupBlink, at WIUT. Here's what we took away:

Build your startup for the world, not just for Uzbekistan. This was the message students remembered most. Startups that go global from day 1 are the ones that grow big. And Uzbekistan is ready for it. In StartupBlink’s 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, which ranks startup ecosystems worldwide, the country (Uzbekistan) climbed to 79th, the biggest one-year jump among all countries.

Tashkent also became the top startup city in Central Asia.

Build a "subsidy layer" first. Most startups don't earn for the first few years, so keep something profitable alongside, like freelancing or consulting, to keep the startup alive.

Sell before you build. Test demand with a simple MVP, try pre-selling, and keep costs low. Every dollar you save is a dollar of profit.

Don't work alone. "What you build × your network = the result." Go to events, find co-founders and get feedback early. "Stealth mode is for rich people."

We are thankfull to Eli David, for his time, his honest advice and a speech that gave our students a lot to think about. Thanks also to the StartupBlink team and everyone who joined us.

Next time you hear "innoWIUT guest lecture", don't just read about it. Be in the room.