The startup zypl.ai raised US$3 million, becoming the first project in Central Asia to receive an investment from Prosus Ventures, the world’s largest technology investor.

The news was shared by the company’s founder, Azizjon Azimi, on his Instagram page.  In this funding round, Prosus Ventures became the lead investor, contributing US$2.5 million at a company valuation of US$35 million, and also purchased secondary shares worth US$1.4 million. The total investment amounted to US$3 million.

The Dutch fund Prosus – a venture arm of the international holding Naspers – is known for its successful investments.  In 2001, it invested US$32 million in Tencent, whose value is now estimated at US$150 billion.  In the CIS, Prosus previously owned shares in companies like Avito, Mail.ru, and VK, and currently has over 80 startups in its portfolio, 10 of which have become unicorns.

In addition to Prosus Ventures, the round also saw participation from Battery Road, the venture holding of Chairman of the Board David Halpert, whose portfolio includes five unicorn companies, as well as Astana Hub Ventures.

“Our journey has set a precedent for the entire region, and we are just gaining momentum,” said Azizjon Azimi.

The startup specializes in the development of synthetic artificial intelligence models, with its zGAN technology leading the way in the AI architecture revolution.  Azimi emphasized that synthetic models represent both the present and the future of the AI industry.

The company’s Vice President for Strategy, Mihir Modi, responded to the questions notes that from the very beginning of their interaction with the Prosus team, they showed interest in understanding what zypl.ai offers to its clients.  According to him, they were able to see firsthand the value of the company's technologies and solutions for Central Asia.

After conducting a technical audit, Prosus confirmed the advantages of the zGAN technology and the Lucid platform, which are the core of the business.

The company’s success in both Central Asia and internationally reportedly became a key factor for Prosus in deciding to invest in the startup.

Mihir Modi explains that the investment from Prosus is not just capital, but also a strategic advantage for zypl.ai, as Prosus's presence among the investors provides significant value.

Prosus owns shares in over 80 startups, 10 of which have become unicorns, and has extensive experience in scaling technological businesses.  This provides access to a powerful network of partners, industry leaders, as well as expertise and opportunities for partnerships.

These investments open new prospects for entering global markets and foster synergies with other participants in the Prosus ecosystem.

Azizjon Azimi, on his Instagram page, emphasized that synthetic models are not just a trend, but the future of the artificial intelligence industry.  Unlike traditional AI systems that are trained on real data, synthetic models like zypl.ai’s zGAN can generate new data.  This allows AI to be trained in conditions where real data is limited or difficult to access.

This is especially important in situations where data may be confidential or hard to collect.

Mihir Modi further explained to Asia-Plus the additional importance of synthetic models for the future of AI.

“They help solve one of the main problems of AI – the ability to handle unexpected situations, so-called 'black swans,” he says.  “These are rare but significant events, such as financial crises or new types of cyberattacks, that typical AI systems, trained only on historical data, may not predict or be prepared for.”

Synthetic models can create rare and unusual scenarios, allowing AI to be more flexible and ready for unpredictable challenges.

Thus, according to the expert, the zGAN technology is not just an innovation, but strategically important for the development of AI in the future.

The zypl.ai startup was founded in 2021 by Azizjon Azimi, a graduate of Stanford and Harvard Universities.  Currently, zypl.ai is based at the AI & Web3 campus of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and has offices in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, with a total staff of over 50 employees.  Initially, the startup developed its AI solutions in the Tajik market, where zypl.ai still collaborates with several leading financial institutions in the country.