On October 31, 2026, Baku hosted Demo Day—the final stage of the global innovation initiative “Startup School 4: Five Continents – 500 Startups,” organized by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication’s “Enterprise Azerbaijan” portal.
Sea-news.az reports that organized at the “Sabah.City” innovation hub within the framework of “TEI Forum 2026,” the event was attended by a delegation from the Azerbaijan State Maritime Academy (ASMA) alongside representatives of student startup teams participating in the global program.
Spanning five continents, the program brought together 233 selected startup teams from various countries for a three-month training and mentorship track led by international experts. At the conclusion of the training phase, 70 startup teams advanced to the finals, earning the opportunity to pitch their innovative concepts and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to investors, entrepreneurs, and key ecosystem stakeholders.
Four innovative projects authored by five ASMA students successfully cleared the selection phase of “Startup School 4” and participated in the international training modules.
Throughout the initiative, ASMA students gained knowledge and practical skills in developing innovative concepts, formulating business models, applying digital technologies, commercializing projects, building investment readiness, and expanding startups into international markets.
The participation of Academy students in such global platforms fosters their innovative thinking, technological entrepreneurship, and project management skills while strengthening the broader startup and innovation ecosystem at ASMA.
