Azerbaijan 500

ASAN Startup Program

Organizers

500 Global

500 Global is a venture capital firm on a mission to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. It is one of the most active venture capital firms in the world.

Since its inception in Silicon Valley, 500 Global has invested in over 2,400 companies via its 5 global funds and 17 thematic funds dedicated to either specific geographic markets or verticals. Its 100+ team members are located in 20 countries around the world in order to support the 500 global portfolio of investments which spans more than 75 countries. Notable investments in the 500 portfolios include Credit Karma, Twilio, Canva, Grab, Bukalapak, The RealReal, Talkdesk, Knotel, Udemy, and Ipsy,

Beyond providing seed capital, 500 supports startups via their Seed Accelerator Programs which emphasize digital marketing, customer acquisition, lean startup practices, and fundraising for pre-Seed companies. 500 Global further contributes to the development of innovation ecosystems by supporting startups and investors through educational programs, events, conferences, and partnerships with corporations and governments around the world.

The State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAPSSI) was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan No.685 dated 13 July 2012. The State Agency is the central body of executive power that, according to its direction of activities, will carry out the unified management of the “ASAN service” centers, coordinate the functions of the employees of the state agencies to act at those centers, hold control and provide assessment, carry out the mutual integration of databases of state agencies, accelerate the organization of electronic services and improve the management system in this area.

Innovations Center

Established in 2013, the Innovations Center under the subordination of the SAPSSI is focused on developing an innovation ecosystem, fostering digital transformation, supporting startups and SMEs in Azerbaijan. The Center’s main services include developing innovative products, automating business processes, and improving information systems and information resources. Starting from 2018, the Innovations Center enhanced its operations for developing the startup ecosystem, focusing on providing a favorable environment, funding opportunities, and practical tools to the early-stage entrepreneurs.