AI-generated editorial illustration; not a documentary photograph.
Cerberus, WeGlobal AI and LOOQ took the top three places at the Central Eurasia regional final of Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026. The startups will represent the region in Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco from October 13 to 15.
Three Different AI Markets
Uzbekistan-based Cerberus placed first with an AI cybersecurity agent designed to find vulnerabilities in corporate IT systems. The company argues that security products built heavily around general-purpose language models can hallucinate, creating additional risks when those systems receive access to business infrastructure.
Second-place WeGlobal AI, from Kazakhstan, provides schools with AI tools for monitoring student mental health and offering career guidance. Japan-based LOOQ finished third with camera hardware and an “attention API” intended to measure whether people look at billboards and other outdoor advertising.
AI Dominates the Field
The three winners emerged from 22 finalists selected from 726 applications across 39 countries. Organizers said applications increased by nearly 50% from the competition’s 2025 debut, which attracted 485 startups from 27 countries.
AI products accounted for 84% of this year’s applications. The finalists pitched before 47 jurors from eight countries, alongside AI-Dana, an AI judging system participating as an independent juror for the second year.
Investment and API Credits
The winners will divide a $100,000 investment pool funded by Astana Hub Ventures, IT Park Ventures and Silkroad Innovation Hub. Cerberus is allocated $50,000, WeGlobal AI $30,000 and LOOQ $20,000. These are equity investments on standard market terms, rather than no-strings-attached prize money; the source does not disclose valuations or ownership percentages.
OpenAI separately provided API credits to the 22 finalists.
Source: Central Eurasia names its 2026 Road to Battlefield winners: Cerberus, WeGlobal AI, and LOOQ
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