DOMiNO Effect Newsletter #21
DOMiNO Effect Newsletter #21
As we approach mid-2025, the momentum across our portfolio continues to strengthen. Recent developments include notable product launches, significant commercial achievements, andconsistent revenue growth among several portfolio companies. Additionally, our founders have gainedincreased recognition in international markets, underscoring the expanding global impact of their solutions. Moving forward, we remain committed to advancing a robust pipeline and delivering sustainable value toboth our founders and investors.
DOMiNO Effect in the Spotlight
- We’re excited to announce our investment in Algoma, the AI-native platform transforming how real estate deals get done — from address to investor-ready in days!
Welcome Aboard, Again! We’re proud to support Co-one, one of our portfolio companies, with a follow-oninvestment in their €1M pre-Series A round!
- We’re proud to announce our latest investment in Datatruck, a next-generation AI logistics platform redefiningfreight operations through intelligent automation!
- We had the pleasure of welcoming esteemed guests from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to our Istanbul office!
- We’re proud to announce that Emre Can Kolukısa joined our team as the UK Country Manager!
- Mustafa Kopuk and Yagiz Karadeniz participated in the Central Asia Startup Cup 2025, held on April 24–25.
- Mustafa Kopuk took the stage at Future AI Summit’25!
- Mustafa Kopuk and Yagiz Karadeniz were at the #RoadtoGlobal in Vienna, Austria!
Portfolio Facts!
- We’re proud to support Lumian Energy, one of our portfolio companies, as it pioneers the shift toward smarter,more efficient energy management with its AI-powered Energy of Things (EoT) platform.
- We’re proud to support Cineshort, one of our portfolio companies, as it redefines how short films reach global audiencesthrough its boundary-pushing streaming platform!
Portfolio News!
- We’re excited to share that idenfit, one of our portfolio companies, has secured a new round of investment from ÜNLÜ & Co Ar-Ge GSYF to accelerate its growth and product development.
DOMiNO Insights!
- Navigating the Deep Tech Landscape: Opportunities and Challanges
- From Local to Global: ScalingStartups in Emerging Markets
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 tosustainability 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.
European investment in cleantech ventures dropped across the board in the first quarter of 2025, according to a newreport.
Late-stage funding took the biggest hit amid the “unprecedented uncertainty” caused by Donald Trump’s trade war, figures from Cleantech for Europe show.
Read more here what does unprecedented uncertainty mean for ClimateTech in Europe market
Other significant news:
🔭 The Four Megatrends Lightrock Is Looking to Invest Lightrock outlines its focus areas for future investments, spotlighting key trends driving scalable climate and impact innovation.
🌱 150 ClimateTechs to A curated list highlighting the most promising climate tech startups shaping the future of sustainabilityand decarbonization.
☀ Enpal Secures €110M Led by The German solar unicorn accelerates its growth with a major equity round, furtheringenergy transition efforts in Europe.
Explore more news and articles in our newsletter—subscribe now using the links below!
BetterFuture AI Acceleration Program
Excited to officially kick off the third batch of the BetterFuture Uzbekistan Acceleration Program! In partnership with ITPark 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 halfway through the third batch of the BetterFuture Uzbekistan Acceleration Program — and what a start it’sbeen! In partnership with IT Park Uzbekistan, we’ve already wrapped up 4 dynamic sessions with global mentors, covering everything from business models and fundraising to international expansion and B2B marketing. With 12 high-potential Uzbek startups on board, we’re now gearing up for an exciting Demo Day in June — where 50+ international VCs will join us in Tashkent and online to witness what’s next for Central Asia’s boldest founders.
Ecosystem News from Our Focus Regions
Uzbekistan Enters the Global Top 100 in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 for theFirst Time
In a milestone achievement, Uzbekistan entered the global Top 100 startup ecosystems for the first time in 2025,demonstrating record-breaking progress. The country was recognized as the fastest- growing startup hub in CentralAsia and one of the most dynamic emerging ecosystems globally.
Central Asia & Caucasus Set the Pace for a Digital-First Decade as the World’s Biggest Tech & Startup Event Arrives in Kazakhstan
The inaugural GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus x Ai Everything Kazakhstan, hosted by the Ministry of DigitalDevelopment, Innovation & Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan in partnership with Astana Hub, to take place from 2-4 June 2026 in Astana.
Turkish Startup Investments in 2025 Q1
The Turkish startup ecosystem reached a deal volume of $70.2 million in Q1 2025, up from $43.1 million in Q1 2024, in line with the global market trend. Although this figure represents a decline from Q4 2024, it still reflects a notable improvement compared to the same period of the previous year.
Curated Content for You
Read:
The VC industry needs a geopolitical reboot
The venture capital industry is at a crossroads, confronting economic and geopolitical challenges that are reshapinginvestment landscapes. Rising interest rates and market volatility are prompting a shift from software to capital-intensive AI hardware investments.
AI ‘Vibe Coding’ Startups Achieve Sky-High Valuations
AI-driven code generation startups, known as “vibe coding” companies, are rapidly gaining investor attention. SanFrancisco-based Cursor raised $900 million at a $10 billion valuation, and Mountain View’s Windsurf is reportedly in acquisition talks with OpenAI for $3 billion.
Watch:
AI’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity: Sequoia AI Ascent 2025 Keynote
Sequoia Capital partners outline why AI represents a market opportunity at least 10x larger than cloud computing, where startups should focus to win, and how the rise of AI agents will create an entirely new economic paradigm. Founders need to adopt a “stochasticmindset” and “go at maximum velocity. All of the time.”
Listen:
AI Revenue-Model Transformation, Building an AI Moat, and the Arrival of Agents
In this episode, Medha Agarwal of Defy joins Nick to discuss how AI is reshaping revenue models in vertical software, building defensible moats, and driving the rise of agent-based systems. They cover challenges and opportunities inniche markets, strategies for market differentiation, founder- investor dynamics, seed investing trends, talent sourcing, and the broader impact of AI on the future of work.
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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