BAKU, June 20, 2025. The winners of the prestigious 2025 Baku ID Nexus Awards were announced today at the closing ceremony of the Baku Investment Day (Baku ID) Summit, one of the region’s largest innovation summits, which has gathered over 10,000 participants to date.
The Nexus Awards recognize exceptional contributions to the technological ecosystem of Central Eurasia, honoring both individual leadership and startup excellence.
The "Innovation Bridge" Award
The ceremony’s top distinction, the 2025 Baku ID Nexus Award for “Building the U.S.–Azerbaijan Innovation Bridge,” was presented to Ulvi Rashid, Founder and Financial and Investment Director of the US-based Traction Fund. The selection committee honored Mr. Rashid for his "critical role in establishing investment corridors between Silicon Valley and the Caspian region" and his work in scaling enterprise solutions across borders. Rashid, a key figure in the US-Eurasia venture space, accepted the award in person during the summit.
Category Winners
In addition to the ecosystem leadership honor, the committee announced the winners of the competitive startup categories, selected from hundreds of applicants for their technological breakthroughs and market potential. The 2025 winners represent a diverse geography of innovation:
● AI Startup of the Year: TASS Vision (Uzbekistan) Recognized for using AI to turn CCTV footage into real-time retail insights. Founded in 2021, the company helps stores track customer behavior and boost operational performance.
● FinTech Startup of the Year: Xpence (UAE) Honored for simplifying team spending with trackable virtual cards. Xpence enables real-time visibility and control, supporting smarter financial management for scaling businesses.
● GreenTech Startup of the Year: SnackPack (Azerbaijan) Recognized for connecting venues with surplus meals to people seeking affordable food. Their mission makes sustainability simple and reduces waste across the supply chain.
● HRTech of the Year: Helio AI (Georgia) Honored for automating recruitment processes. Helio.ai streamlines job posting, resume screening, and performance tracking, allowing teams to hire top talent efficiently.
● Startup Community of the Year: ArdVenture (Türkiye) Recognized as a tech hub shaping the future through innovation. ARDVENTURE supports founders with funding, workspaces, mentorship, and expert networks.
● Impact Startup of the Year: Level Zero Health Awarded for pioneering wearable tech with a breakthrough in hormone monitoring, offering unmatched accuracy and detail in tracking hormonal changes.
A Milestone for the Region
Rahim Bayramli, CEO of SABAH.HUB and organizer of Baku ID noted that this year's recipients represent the "highest standard of innovation and cross-border collaboration".
"The Nexus Awards do not just celebrate success; they define the direction of our ecosystem," Bayramli said. "From Ulvi Rashid’s work bridging our region with the US, to the operational excellence of startups like TASS Vision and Xpence, we are seeing the region emerge as a true innovation hub."
The event was attended by international investors, government officials, and representatives from global tech leaders, including Scale AI and 500 Global.