A clean planet begins with an idea
The Green Youth Cup environmental startup program concluded with a final competition in which 16 selected teams presented their innovations to investors and experts. The proposed solutions included waste-recycling technologies, air-purification systems, alternative materials, and digital tools designed to promote environmental responsibility.
The U-Enter Innovation Center and Intro Group implement the program in collaboration with Virtual Accelerate, with support from the governments of Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
This year, the Green Youth Cup final took place at the CAEx Exhibition Center, which is currently hosting the InnoWeek International Week of Innovative Ideas.
The journey to the final began on October 7. During the application period, organizers received 118 submissions, and 55 startup teams advanced to the next stage after the initial selection. Throughout October, participants attended training sessions at U-Enter, including ten sessions led by international trainers and two practical business tours.
During the final presentations, each team had the opportunity not only to introduce its idea but also to demonstrate how it works. Following the competition, the creators of the three best projects earned the opportunity to attend Web Summit Qatar, scheduled to take place in Doha from January 31 to February 3, 2027.
One project that drew particular attention was CoffeeCycle, which focuses on producing organic fertilizers from used coffee grounds. Team representative Diyora Khasanova explained that the project offers a practical approach to building a circular economy by turning what would otherwise be discarded as waste into a valuable agricultural resource.
The fertilizer contains not only coffee grounds but also other organic ingredients. The team continues to refine its formula in collaboration with young specialists, including biotechnology experts. Two other finalist projects focused on another pressing environmental challenge – air quality.
However, it was not only the leading projects that proved noteworthy. All 16 finalists demonstrated a wide range of approaches to address environmental challenges.
Nazokat Usmanova, UzA
