Year of Innovations: Highlights from Georgian Startup Scene 2018
We want to look back at 2018, which was a productive and successful year for the Georgian startup scene in diverse directions. And here’s our list of the top highlights of the year to prove it:
Georgian Board Games Company Wazzup on Kickstarter
Georgian board games company The GGM – BOARD GAMES was founded by “Agrarian University” students Mikhail Cholokava, Guram Gelkhauri, and Givi Dolidze. As they say, after the technological boom, people have more desire to communicate and now It’s time for board games. Only 2 games are available currently. One of these is already listed on the international platform Kickstarter, where users can pre-order it. The number of games are to increase and they are going to cooperate with both Georgian and international companies.
Shelf Receives $1m Investment from Silicon Valley
The first Georgian Blockchain startup won the best-real world blockchain application award and a $1 million investment from Silicon Valley at the Frontier Innovation Awards.
Shelf is a solution that offers the most efficient price-discovery mechanism through auctioning that has ever existed in the e-commerce world. It solves the liquidity problems for the asset class: (vehicles, foreclosure, repossessed items, commodities and collectibles). Trillions of dollars are traded in an open manner through online marketplaces.
“Our strategy as a blockchain startup is to focus directly on the market and our customers, and be one of the first solutions to show the real adoption of distributed technologies,” says Lasha Antadze.
Tech Startup STYX Wins Seedstars Tbilisi
STYX a tech company from Georgia won Seedstars startup competition on May 29. Ten best startups from Tbilisi were invited to pitch in front of an investment panel and compete to be crowned the most promising seed-stage startup of Seedstars Tbilisi 2018 in Tech Park.
STYX is a tech-enabled logistic company that instantly connects shippers with carriers via mobile app and SAAS platform.
“We found the way that help carriers grow their businesses on their own terms. Shippers do not get inflated prices and can track their freight 24/7”.
Former Head of Technopark Established Startup Fund in Switzerland
Former head of the Technopark Giorgi Zviadadze founded the Startup Angels Club in Switzerland.
“Startup Angels” is a club in Switzerland with the main goal of financing startups. “Why Switzerland? Unfortunately, in Georgia, there is no legislation on capital markets, it’s very difficult to fund startup.
Whatever type of investment we have, it’s hard for us to find the right form with the help of lawyers. So we decided to establish a club in Switzerland. Zurich has one of the best corporate laws, the whole world knows this and very large holdings and head offices are registered in Switzerland. We earned some capital and financed the first project.
Harry Potter Accessories in Georgia Became an Exclusive Partner of Bioworld
The company “Harry Potter Accessories in Georgia” became an exclusive partner of one of the biggest international corporations and pop culture.
“Harry Potter’s Accessories” aims at making Potterheads’ dreams come true. Giorgi Gikorashvili founded his business at the age of 14 and manages it successfully until today. Accessories were available for purchase only through Facebook page in the beginning, which is now stocked on online market too.
BioWorld is one of those international corporations that have the right to produce accessories and other items with pop culture icons.
First Ever 3D Printed Qvevri – Improved Structure with Traditional Elements Created
David Mizandari, Creative Director of Bank of Georgia Nika Gujejiani and photographer Giorgi Mamasakhlisi found out technology to build 3D Qvevri. They met ceramics specialist and 3D print specialist in the Netherlands, cooperating with him and Gita, creating Qvevri prototype.
‘’Qvevri should be available for everyone who wants to produce wine that way. Our segment is people who make 500 liters to 1 ton wine a year. We want buying it to be as simple as any product. Besides, we will give instructions to our customers, how to install it correctly,’’-says David.
Stories of Professional Failure at Events Series ‘Fuckup Nights’ Launched
Fuckup Nights is a global movement and event series that shares stories of professional failure. Each month, in events across the globe, attendees get three to four people to get up in front of a room full of strangers to share their own professional fuckup. The stories of the business that crashes and burns, the partnership deal that goes sour, the product that has to be recalled, we tell them all. Started in Mexico in 2012, today Fuckup Nights happen in more than 80 countries and more than 250 cities. Now Tbilisi is one of them started from April 13th, 2018. Events usually take place at Fabrika, and Techno Park, co-organized by Tbilisi Startup Bureau, Impact Hub Tbilisi, Fabrika Hostel and Fabrika • ფაბრიკა
‘’Learning from your mistakes makes you smart, but learning from others’ mistakes makes you genius.’’
Georgian Student Developed Application for Virtual Integration with Masterpieces of Art
As part of cooperation between Business and Technology University and Georgian National Museum, “Areal”, a Georgian first-grade students of the University has developed a startup application for virtual integration with masterpieces of art.
At this stage, the application has integrated text and audio information about 50 works of Niko Pirosmanashvili, David Kakabadze and Lado Gudiashvili, which are exposed at Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery of Georgian National Museum.
Pankisi Camping- The First Georgian Girl Started Business in Pankisi
Mano is the first Georgian girl to dare and start business in Pankisi with her friend. They created hiking-adventure camp- Pankisi Camping.
”Pankisi is not dangerous”-this is the message they want to spread boldly in tourism direction.
Pankisi Camping offers its guests overnight at cozy and chill area of forest, traditional Georgian and Qistian dishes, tours in Pankisi mountains, Tusheti, Khevsureti and Pshavi. Also horse rental/tours, mountain bikes and hiking inventory rental. professional, certified hiking guide services and wild nature photography tours.