MicroMentor is a global entrepreneurial mentoring platform operating in more than 180 countries. It was launched in four Central Asian countries two years ago. In Uzbekistan, the U-Enter Innovation Center serves as the project’s local operator.

The results of the first stage were presented at the Business Mentoring Forum, which brought together mentors, entrepreneurs, representatives of the start-up community and active young people. The forum participants were welcomed by Matteo Colangeli, Managing Director of the EBRD’s SME Finance and Development.

He noted that Uzbekistan’s initial phase achieved remarkable outcomes, with over 1,000 entrepreneurs and 500 mentors participating nationwide, resulting in hundreds of active mentoring relationships.

According to the EBRD representative, the opportunity to draw on mentors’ experience through the online platform helps both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs improve their products, bring them to market more effectively, and better prepare for engagement with investors. At the same time, MicroMentor remains free for users, making professional knowledge and expertise accessible to every entrepreneur.

The platform’s most active participants were recognized for their contributions. Zaytuna Nasirova, founder of the ZN Standard consulting company, received the Most Active Mentor award.

To make MicroMentor more accessible, the platform was adapted for Russian, and the possibility of localization into other regional languages is being considered. Considerable attention was also given to engaging local experts capable of advising entrepreneurs, taking regional specificities into account.

Alongside online mentoring, in-person events are held jointly with U-Enter, where participants receive assistance with registering on the platform and taking their first steps toward obtaining mentoring support.