"When you're introducing digital services to people who've never used them before, you have to rethink everything," explains Takhmina Ishmatova, who leads RIM, a legal tech startup in Dushanbe. Her team is reimagining how people interact with legal services, creating systems that work for everyone from experienced lawyers to first-time users.

The transformation is visible in the numbers. Digital payment instruments have grown from 1.6 million in 2016 to 6.2 million by mid-2023, while transaction volumes have increased more than fivefold. The country’s first comprehensive e-commerce law, passed in December 2022, has created a framework for digital business that's accelerating innovation across sectors.

"We're focusing on building essential digital infrastructure that connects people to basic services," says Farrukh Umarov, founder of re-skill.io, an education technology platform. His company exemplifies the pragmatic approach of local entrepreneurs: developing solutions that work with intermittent connections and designing interfaces accessible to first-time digital service users.

This digital transformation reaches far beyond individual companies. Avval marketplace is revolutionizing retail by connecting local businesses with customers online. Livo is making healthcare services more accessible through digital scheduling. These changes represent fundamental shifts in how services operate throughout the country.

The entrepreneurial momentum extends into ecommerce solutions as well. Wyzo is building an all-in-one platform that helps local businesses establish and scale their online presence. 'In markets like Tajikistan, businesses need more than just fancy features - they need reliable fundamentals that work consistently,' explains Rasul Safarovich, Wyzo's CEO. 'We're focused on creating stable, accessible tools that help merchants succeed online, even with infrastructure challenges.'

Government initiatives like the "Concept for Digital Economy" support this transformation, bolstered by international organizations. With President Rahmon's declaration of 2025 as the year of digital and innovation, there's renewed focus on technological advancement. The country's digital payment market is projected to grow by over 25% annually through 2028, indicating widespread adoption of digital services across sectors.

For local entrepreneurs, success extends beyond traditional metrics. "Every solution we build has to consider varying levels of digital literacy and different types of internet access," explains Jahongir Jalolov, founder of Livo. "We're building digital infrastructure that people can rely on."

As Tajikistan builds its digital foundations, its experience offers valuable lessons for other emerging markets. These entrepreneurs demonstrate that starting with basics enables the creation of smarter, more inclusive technology - infrastructure that truly serves everyone in the digital economy.

This article is part of "Beyond the Valley", an editorial series exploring how founders in emerging Europe and Central Asia are building crucial technology their regions need. From modernizing Soviet-era infrastructure to creating digital services from scratch, we'll show you how local entrepreneurs are solving fundamental challenges. Published monthly by Seedstars, supported by EBRD Star Ventures.