Online registration has commenced for the "Startup School 4" project, implemented at the initiative of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) through its Enterprise Azerbaijan portal. This time, the project will be carried out under the slogan "Five Continents - 500 Startups."

This initiative is aimed at expanding cooperation between global innovation ecosystems and covers five continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, America, and Australia. The program is implemented with the objectives of strengthening startups' access to international networks, promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience between various ecosystems, and supporting the integration of startups into global markets.

Alongside leading parties of the local ecosystem such as "Caucasus Ventures," the Agricultural Innovation Center, and others, the following partners are participating in the "Startup School 4: Five Continents - 500 Startups" program:

From the American ecosystem: "Synapses Ventures" (USA), "TechDev Academy" (USA);

From the Asian ecosystem: "Silk Road High-Tech Industrial Park Association"-SRHPA (China);

From the African ecosystem: "DELPHI LTD";

From the Australian ecosystem: "MH INSPIRES PTY LTD";

From the MENA ecosystem: "LICORNE GULF" investment fund (Qatar);

From the European ecosystem: "Deep Tech Foundry" (Malta), "The Brutally Honest" (Finland), "BeHumbo" (Estonia);

From the Turkish ecosystem: Ostim Technical University, Nigde University Technopark, and others.

Furthermore, in order to expand partnership opportunities, discussions are ongoing with leading players from the local public and private sectors, as well as prestigious acceleration and research centers from the global ecosystem such as "Enterprise Singapore," "Gansu Science and Technology Development Promotion Centre" (China), "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade" (Pakistan), "New Mansoura University" (Egypt), the Institute of Leadership and Good Governance of the Ethiopian Civil Service University, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Uzbekistan IT Park, Astana HUB, and others.

One of the key advantages offered to startups within the framework of the "Startup School 4" project is the involvement of mentors from the world's leading innovation ecosystems. The program also envisions the participation of local and global venture funds and investors, supporting startups in investment readiness, and establishing connections with international investor networks.

A vital element of the project is the partnership established with "TEI Forum 2026" (Trade, Export & Innovation Forum). Within the framework of this cooperation, the "Demo Day" event-the final stage of the "Startup School 4" project-is planned to be organized parallel to and on the same platform as "TEI Forum 2026," which will be held at the Baku Congress Center on October 30-31, 2026. This will provide a unique platform for startups to establish direct contact with more than 500 entrepreneurs, investors, and business representatives, create potential partnerships, and expand investment opportunities.

Applications for the "Startup School 4" program will be accepted until May 15, 2026. After the registration phase, online training and mentoring programs presented by professionals from global ecosystems will be organized for selected startups, and the process of preparing startups for presentations to investors and investment readiness will be carried out.

Among the primary goals of the program are creating cooperation opportunities between startups applying from five continents, conducting a comparative analysis of different innovation ecosystems, and formulating new business models and development perspectives arising from this analysis.

Startups at the idea stage, those in MVP development, or those possessing an MVP can apply for the "Startup School 4: Five Continents - 500 Startups" project. Startups can register for the program via the link: https://startupschool.az/en/register