Uzbekistan's Digital Powerhouse Uzum Secures $70 Million, Reaches $1.5 Billion Valuation
August 5, 2025, 9:38 pm
Uzum, Uzbekistan's premier digital ecosystem, secured nearly $70 million in new equity financing. Tencent and VR Capital led the round. This boosts Uzum's valuation to $1.5 billion. The capital fuels expansion across its rapidly growing fintech and e-commerce segments. Uzum aims to deepen digital banking, expand credit offerings, and integrate advanced AI. This landmark investment accelerates Uzbekistan's digital transformation.
Uzum, a leading digital ecosystem in Uzbekistan, recently announced a significant equity financing round. The company secured nearly $70 million. This investment pushes Uzum's post-money valuation to approximately $1.5 billion. Global powerhouses Tencent and VR Capital spearheaded this funding. FinSight Ventures, an existing investor, also participated. This capital infusion marks a pivotal moment for digital transformation in Central Asia.
The funding underscores Uzum's rapid ascent. It highlights the vast potential within Uzbekistan's burgeoning digital economy. Proceeds target ambitious expansion plans. Uzum will accelerate its proprietary fintech infrastructure buildout. It will broaden its product suite. The company seeks to cement leadership across key digital verticals. Its goal is capturing the full potential of Uzbekistan's expanding digital landscape.
Uzum operates a comprehensive digital platform. It spans multiple vital sectors. These include e-commerce, express delivery, banking, and fintech. Its offerings cater to both consumers and businesses. Uzum Market serves as the nation's largest online marketplace. It provides a wide product range and boasts one-day delivery across the country. Uzum Tezkor leads in express delivery services from restaurants and stores.
Fintech forms a core pillar of Uzum’s ecosystem. Uzum Bank is the nation's fastest-growing digital bank. It has achieved remarkable milestones. Since August 2024, Uzum issued over 2 million co-branded Visa debit cards. These cards feature pre-approved credit limits. This innovative product marks a first for Uzbekistan. It introduces embedded credit tied to a debit instrument.
Uzum’s consumer credit business also thrives. Its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) offering leads the market. This segment tripled its total financed volume in the first half of 2025. Such growth highlights strong consumer adoption. It underscores the unmet demand for digital financial services in Uzbekistan. The new capital will drive the rollout of more digital lending and deposit products. It will expand the successful Visa debit card program. Furthermore, Uzum plans to scale its financial infrastructure. Artificial intelligence will increasingly embed across credit scoring, fraud prevention, and personalized user experiences.
The e-commerce segment showcases equally impressive growth. Uzum Market and Uzum Tezkor power this growth. Gross merchandise value (GMV) increased by approximately 1.5 times year-over-year in the first half of 2025. Uzum stands unique. It remains the only vertically integrated platform in Uzbekistan. It seamlessly combines commerce and financial services at a national scale. This integration strategy enhances user retention. It improves unit economics.
Uzum’s ecosystem reaches a significant portion of the Uzbek population. More than 17 million people use Uzum services monthly. This represents over half of Uzbekistan's total population. This widespread adoption solidifies Uzum’s market dominance. It provides a robust foundation for future growth and diversification. The company also includes Kapitalbank, Uzbekistan’s largest privately owned bank. Uzum Nasiya offers online unsecured lending. Uzum Business provides an app for commercial customers. This diverse portfolio strengthens its market position.
Uzbekistan provides fertile ground for digital innovation. It is Central Asia's most populous nation. It ranks as the second-largest economy by nominal GDP in the region. The country undergoes a profound digital and financial transformation. Favorable demographics underpin this shift. Nearly 60% of its 37 million citizens are under 30. This young population drives rising consumer demand. The nation also boasts strong GDP growth, projected at 6.5% in 2024.
Despite rapidly expanding internet access, Uzbekistan remains significantly underbanked. Over 40% of adults lack formal financial services. Digital lending and card issuance are still nascent. This creates immense opportunity for fintech disruption. Embedded finance models, integrated with commerce, hold particular promise. Uzum perfectly leverages this market gap.
The e-commerce sector in Uzbekistan is poised for explosive growth. KPMG projects a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 40-47%. This could push the market to $2.2 billion by 2027. This makes it the fastest-growing digital consumer market in Central Asia. Strong government backing further fuels this expansion. The government supports financial inclusion. It invests in digital infrastructure. Favorable regulatory reforms are also in place. Uzbekistan has become a launchpad for scalable digital finance and technology-driven platforms.
Uzum's compliance with international standards adds another layer of confidence for global investors. The company adheres to AML/FATFA proceedings. It observes international sanctions regimes. This ensures robust governance and operational integrity.
The investment by Tencent, a global internet and technology leader, signals strong confidence. VR Capital, with over $8 billion in assets under management, also brings significant financial expertise. Their involvement validates Uzum's proven business model. It acknowledges its first-mover advantage in a structurally underserved market. FinSight Ventures, an early supporter, continues to back Uzum’s vision. They see immense untapped potential for layering new services onto Uzum’s platform.
This strategic capital infusion empowers Uzum. It will deepen its fintech offerings. It expands its leadership in digital banking and lending. Uzum is not merely a company. It is a catalyst. It reshapes how people shop, pay, and manage money across Uzbekistan. The investment reinforces its commitment to integrating financial services directly within the country's largest e-commerce infrastructure. Uzum's success story continues. It exemplifies the vibrant digital potential emerging from Central Asia. Its trajectory positions it as a key player in the global digital economy. This funding round marks a new chapter of accelerated growth and innovation for Uzum.
Uzum, a leading digital ecosystem in Uzbekistan, recently announced a significant equity financing round. The company secured nearly $70 million. This investment pushes Uzum's post-money valuation to approximately $1.5 billion. Global powerhouses Tencent and VR Capital spearheaded this funding. FinSight Ventures, an existing investor, also participated. This capital infusion marks a pivotal moment for digital transformation in Central Asia.
The funding underscores Uzum's rapid ascent. It highlights the vast potential within Uzbekistan's burgeoning digital economy. Proceeds target ambitious expansion plans. Uzum will accelerate its proprietary fintech infrastructure buildout. It will broaden its product suite. The company seeks to cement leadership across key digital verticals. Its goal is capturing the full potential of Uzbekistan's expanding digital landscape.
Uzum operates a comprehensive digital platform. It spans multiple vital sectors. These include e-commerce, express delivery, banking, and fintech. Its offerings cater to both consumers and businesses. Uzum Market serves as the nation's largest online marketplace. It provides a wide product range and boasts one-day delivery across the country. Uzum Tezkor leads in express delivery services from restaurants and stores.
Fintech forms a core pillar of Uzum’s ecosystem. Uzum Bank is the nation's fastest-growing digital bank. It has achieved remarkable milestones. Since August 2024, Uzum issued over 2 million co-branded Visa debit cards. These cards feature pre-approved credit limits. This innovative product marks a first for Uzbekistan. It introduces embedded credit tied to a debit instrument.
Uzum’s consumer credit business also thrives. Its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) offering leads the market. This segment tripled its total financed volume in the first half of 2025. Such growth highlights strong consumer adoption. It underscores the unmet demand for digital financial services in Uzbekistan. The new capital will drive the rollout of more digital lending and deposit products. It will expand the successful Visa debit card program. Furthermore, Uzum plans to scale its financial infrastructure. Artificial intelligence will increasingly embed across credit scoring, fraud prevention, and personalized user experiences.
The e-commerce segment showcases equally impressive growth. Uzum Market and Uzum Tezkor power this growth. Gross merchandise value (GMV) increased by approximately 1.5 times year-over-year in the first half of 2025. Uzum stands unique. It remains the only vertically integrated platform in Uzbekistan. It seamlessly combines commerce and financial services at a national scale. This integration strategy enhances user retention. It improves unit economics.
Uzum’s ecosystem reaches a significant portion of the Uzbek population. More than 17 million people use Uzum services monthly. This represents over half of Uzbekistan's total population. This widespread adoption solidifies Uzum’s market dominance. It provides a robust foundation for future growth and diversification. The company also includes Kapitalbank, Uzbekistan’s largest privately owned bank. Uzum Nasiya offers online unsecured lending. Uzum Business provides an app for commercial customers. This diverse portfolio strengthens its market position.
Uzbekistan provides fertile ground for digital innovation. It is Central Asia's most populous nation. It ranks as the second-largest economy by nominal GDP in the region. The country undergoes a profound digital and financial transformation. Favorable demographics underpin this shift. Nearly 60% of its 37 million citizens are under 30. This young population drives rising consumer demand. The nation also boasts strong GDP growth, projected at 6.5% in 2024.
Despite rapidly expanding internet access, Uzbekistan remains significantly underbanked. Over 40% of adults lack formal financial services. Digital lending and card issuance are still nascent. This creates immense opportunity for fintech disruption. Embedded finance models, integrated with commerce, hold particular promise. Uzum perfectly leverages this market gap.
The e-commerce sector in Uzbekistan is poised for explosive growth. KPMG projects a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 40-47%. This could push the market to $2.2 billion by 2027. This makes it the fastest-growing digital consumer market in Central Asia. Strong government backing further fuels this expansion. The government supports financial inclusion. It invests in digital infrastructure. Favorable regulatory reforms are also in place. Uzbekistan has become a launchpad for scalable digital finance and technology-driven platforms.
Uzum's compliance with international standards adds another layer of confidence for global investors. The company adheres to AML/FATFA proceedings. It observes international sanctions regimes. This ensures robust governance and operational integrity.
The investment by Tencent, a global internet and technology leader, signals strong confidence. VR Capital, with over $8 billion in assets under management, also brings significant financial expertise. Their involvement validates Uzum's proven business model. It acknowledges its first-mover advantage in a structurally underserved market. FinSight Ventures, an early supporter, continues to back Uzum’s vision. They see immense untapped potential for layering new services onto Uzum’s platform.
This strategic capital infusion empowers Uzum. It will deepen its fintech offerings. It expands its leadership in digital banking and lending. Uzum is not merely a company. It is a catalyst. It reshapes how people shop, pay, and manage money across Uzbekistan. The investment reinforces its commitment to integrating financial services directly within the country's largest e-commerce infrastructure. Uzum's success story continues. It exemplifies the vibrant digital potential emerging from Central Asia. Its trajectory positions it as a key player in the global digital economy. This funding round marks a new chapter of accelerated growth and innovation for Uzum.