DOMiNO Effect Newsletter #20
DOMiNO Effect Newsletter #20
As we move through the second quarter of 2025, we’re proud to reflect on the strong start our portfolio has made this year. The first quarter brought meaningful milestones, highlighting the innovation, resilience, and growth potential across our startups. Our momentum continues, most recently marked by our third investment in Central Asia region where we see tremendous opportunity. With more investments on the way, we’re focused on deepening our impact and scaling our support in the months ahead.
DOMiNO Effect in the Spotlight
- We’re excited to announce our new investment in Datatruck, a next-gen AI-powered freight logistics platform that automates operational and financial workflows, reducing manual tasks by up to 60%!
DOMiNO Ventures & IT Park Ventures have a signed a strategic MoU!
- DOMiNO Ventures & BGlobal Ventures have signed a strategic MoU!
- Our Managing Partner, Yagiz Karadeniz was a guest on The Tech media!
- Connecting with Uzbekistan’s Thriving Startup Ecosystem at IT Park Ventures Meetup!
- Mustafa Kopuk attended Globalturk Capital’s 2025 Outlook on Investments and Private Capital in Turkiyeand Environs – LONDON event!
- Büşra Yılmaz joined Summit Erciyes’25 as a speaker at the Future of the GSYF/VC Ecosystem panel!
- Highlights from the meetup with Yagiz Karadeniz at the U-ENTER Innovation Center.
Portfolio Facts!
- We’re excited to share that Atlas Space, one of our portfolio companies, has begun developing projects within the NVIDIA Omniverse ecosystem—a major step forward in their mission to build the infrastructure for immersive, enterprise-grade virtual collaboration.
Portfolio News!
- Cognitiwe, one of our portfolio companies, has been featured in Forbes as part of The Next Wave of Retail Tech article!
- Lumian Energy has been recognized by StartUs Insights as one of the Top 10 Renewable Energy Startups to Watch in 2025!
DOMiNO Impact for Better Future
At DOMiNO Ventures, we align with Better Future Goals (BFGs), which represent our commitment to sustainability and social progress, driving innovation in AI, DeepTech, CleanTech, HealthTech, and other critical sectors.
Highlights for Better Future on Linkedin!
Explore the latest editions of Highlights for a Better Future below, DOMiNO Ventures’ newsletter dedicated to sustainability and impact. Stay updated with the most recent news and insights in entrepreneurship, technology, investing, and more, all through the lens of sustainability and impact.
Tensions between the United States and China have escalated sharply, as President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports. This move has raised fears of a broader global economic conflict, with potential ripple effects on key industries such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, and climate technology.
Read more here what does new tariffs mean for ClimateTech
Other significant news:
- ❓ European VC Investors Weigh in on Trump’s Exploring whether Trump’s tariffs present a disaster or an opportunity for European venture capitalists.
- 🇪🇺 EU Omnibus Proposal: What Lies Analyzing the potential impacts of the EU’s omnibus proposal and what it means for the future of environmental and energy policies.
- 🚗 Energy & EVs: How Will China Hit Its 2035 Carbon Targets?: Analyzing China’s path to achieving its 2035 carbon reduction goals, with a focus on electric vehicles and clean energy.
Explore more news and articles in our newsletter—subscribe now using the links below!
- Highlights for Better Future #19
- Highlights for Better Future #20
- Highlights for Better Future #21
- Highlights for Better Future #22
- Highlights for Better Future #23
BetterFuture AI Acceleration Program
Excited to officially kick off the third batch of the BetterFuture Uzbekistan Acceleration Program! In partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan, we’re proud to support 12 exceptional Uzbek-founded startups — tackling everything from logistics and education to AI, real estate, and even space technologies! In this 8-weeks period, these teams will work closely with mentors, sharpen their growth strategies, and get ready to scale regionally and globally. The journey will culminate in a high-energy Demo Day, with 50+ international VCs joining us both in Tashkent and online!
- We’re thrilled to launch the third batch of the BetterFuture Acceleration Program — this time in collaboration with IT PARK Uzbekistan!
Better Future Talks
Tune into Better Future Talks, a dynamic YouTube show hosted by our Managing Partner, Yagiz Karadeniz. Join him as he engages with leading investors and key players from the startup ecosystem, exploring insights, opportunities, and transformative ideas shaping the region.
- 4th Episode Guests: Valeri Petrov from Eleven Ventures
Ecosystem News from Our Focus Regions
- Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its position as Central Asia’s leading venture capital hub, securing $71 million in investments in 2024, which accounted for 74% of all regional deals, reported RISE Research, a market intelligence and advisory company.
- Uzbekistan’s IT Park launched a $10 million venture fund to support early-stage tech startups with global potential. Investments have been made in startups like Unitlab AI, Geomotive, and Datatruck, focusing on sectors such as AI and logistics.
- In Q1 2025, the CEE startup ecosystem reached a total worth of nearly €243 billion with more than 3,800 active startups and 275 scaleups. The pace showcases a consistent growth from 2020’s €180 billion valuation, although with some downturns during the epidemics period and problems with late-stage funding.
Curated Content for You
Read:
- The venture capital landscape is in constant flux, making it essential for both investors and entrepreneurs to stay informed about emerging trends. A global survey of more than 100 venture capital General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs) highlights the key developments influencing the industry in the second quarter of 2025. The findings offer a snapshot of the dynamic mix of challenges and opportunities currently shaping the venture ecosystem.
- The venture capital investment market is set to expand significantly in 2025, rising from $301.78 billion in 2024 to $364.19 billion, reflecting a strong CAGR of 20.7%. This growth is driven by advances in artificial intelligence, breakthroughs in healthcare, and developments in green technology. Additional factors include a shift toward investing in niche startups, the rise of equity crowdfunding, and increased support from private wealth sources. Despite global economic challenges and evolving regulatory landscapes, the venture ecosystem remains resilient.
Watch:
- In this session, futurist Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute, delves into the convergence of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced sensors—what she terms a “technology supercycle.” She introduces the concept of “living intelligence,” discusses programmable matter, and explores the implications of multi-agent AI systems and organoid intelligence.
Listen:
- What hurdles await the global economy amid rising tariffs and growing geopolitical tensions? In this episode, Nicolai Tangen interviews Kenneth Rogoff, a renowned economist and co-author of “This Time Is Different,” to explore the evolving economic landscape. Their conversation covers the possible effects of Trump’s tariff strategies, the future status of the US dollar, and the reasons inflation might resurface unexpectedly. Kenneth also offers insights drawn from his background as a chess player, discussing strategies for trade negotiations and sharing unconventional views on China’s economic prospects and the impact of technological disruption.
Clarity. Ambition. Precision. Respect. Impact.
At DOMiNO, our mission is to back bold founders and create the DOMiNO Effect for Better Future. These five values guide everything we do from how we choose our partners to how we show up for them. They reflect who we are, what we stand for, and how we build together.
Bold Moves Shift The Future
We back high-tech, pure-digital, and first-day global startups led by founders obsessed with finding innovative ways to build a Better Future with the DOMiNO Effect. We support outstanding technology founders from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus to help them realize their global ambitions.
Early and Growth Stage AI-driven Tech Startups
Qualified Founders and Multi-Functional Teams
First-day global thinkers with global scaling potential
Fully in-house Tech Solutions with Laser Focus
Early and Growth Stage AI-driven Tech Startups
Qualified Founders and Multi-Functional Teams
First-day global thinkers with global scaling potential
Fully in-house Tech Solutions with Laser Focus
Beyond Sectors. Into Scale
We’re looking for high-tech, pure-digital and first-day global startups and the big brains behind them. It’s not just about the category, it’s about clarity of vision and the courage to scale it fast.
AI
Deeptech
Cleantech
Healthtech
Fintech
Hrtech
Edtech
Gametech
Cybersecurity
Life Science
AI
Deeptech
Cleantech
Healthtech
Fintech
Hrtech
Edtech
Gametech
Cybersecurity
Life Science
Working on something big? We're all ears.
The best way to reach us is via someone we mutually know. You can always email us directly at apply@dominovc.com
Looking to invest in bold ideas for a Better Future?
The best way to invest with us is through shared vision and bold ambition, if you're ready now, our funds and portfolio are open to those ready to shape the future. Let's invest in it together.
DOMiNO Ventures is a venture capital fund focusing on high-tech, pure-digital and first-day global startups with strong origins in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. We are backing founders who are solving new problems of the modern world in AI, Deeptech, Cleantech and beyond, helping them realize their global ambitions to create DOMiNO Effect for Better Future.
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