​​​Expat Business & SME Exchange

​At Expat Connect, you don’t simply attend an event you join a carefully curated community of founders, professionals, investors, and business leaders shaping the future of Central Asia.

​Each session combines meaningful networking with practical conversations led by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.

​Our focus is simple: connect ambitious people, exchange ideas, and leave with insights and relationships that create long-term value.

​​​​​​​Why Attend?

• ​Discover business opportunities and emerging trends across Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

• ​Meet founders, executives, investors, and professionals in a relaxed, high-quality networking environment.

• ​Gain practical insights from entrepreneurs building companies and communities in the region.

• ​Build meaningful relationships that extend well beyond the event.

​​​​​​​Featured Speakers

11:15 AM — Dilmurod Khodiev
Founder of C-Space Coworkings & Angel Investor

​Dilmurod is the founder of C-Space, one of Uzbekistan’s leading coworking networks, managing over 40,000 square meters across 14 locations in Tashkent and Fergana.

​With an MSc in Marketing Strategy and Innovation, Dilmurod began his entrepreneurial journey by launching several startups that didn’t succeed before founding C-Space in 2018.

​Beyond building C-Space, he is an active angel investor with a portfolio of more than 20 startups and serves as the local partner of MOST Ventures in Uzbekistan.

​In 2024, he founded CS Angels Club to bring together investors and support Uzbekistan’s growing startup ecosystem. He also taught marketing at Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) from 2017 to 2022.

​His session will explore why angel investing matters, what makes someone a successful angel investor, and how to identify promising startups while avoiding common investment mistakes.

​He will also introduce C-Space Angels Club and announce CS Angel School, an initiative focused on developing the next generation of angel investors.

​He will cover:

• ​Why invest in startups, and what makes angel investing different from traditional investments

• ​Who can become an angel investor, and what separates successful investors from beginners

• ​How to evaluate startups, founders, and business models before investing

• ​Common red flags investors should watch for when selecting startups

• ​The vision behind C-Space Angels Club and the launch of CS Angel School
  
  11:45 AM — Natalia Novikova
  From Global Brands to International Projects: Building Business Across Borders

​Natalia Novikova is an entrepreneur and international business development professional with over 20 years of experience in market entry, strategic partnerships, and cross-border business.

​From 2006 to 2017, she was the Founder and CEO of Kei-Ei Consulting, which became Russia’s leading consulting firm for Japanese businesses and one of the country’s top five recruitment agencies.

​During this period, she helped major international brands, including UNIQLO, Toyota, Yamaha, Johnson & Johnson, GSK, Auchan, Mars, and BORK, establish and expand their operations in Russia.

​Over the past decade, Natalia has developed projects across North America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, gaining extensive experience in international markets.

​Today, she leads Solum LLC’s international initiatives, connecting American technology companies with opportunities in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, while advising businesses on market entry and strategic partnerships.

​Her session will explore what it takes to build businesses across borders, why people matter more than processes, and how entrepreneurs can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

​Drawing on two decades of experience, Natalia will share practical lessons on building teams, entering new markets, and creating partnerships that drive long-term success.

​She will cover:

• ​Why people matter more than processes and how strong teams overcome business challenges

• ​How to identify opportunities, enter new markets, and adapt to local realities

• ​How entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty and make decisions without a clear roadmap

• ​Why trust, shared interests, and the right partnerships are essential for business growth

• ​How connecting independent experts can create opportunities that none could achieve alone