Over 35 Diaspora Armenian Startups Arrive in Armenia: \"Neruzh 5.0\" Program Officially Kicks Off

On September 24, the “Neruzh 5.0” Diaspora Tech Startup Program officially began in Dilijan, welcoming over 35 Diaspora-Armenian startups to Armenia. These startups have gathered to present their innovative ideas, with the goal of developing them into sustainable businesses. This year marks the fifth iteration of the Program.

In his opening remarks, RA Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan congratulated the "Neruzh-ers," emphasizing the program’s crucial role in fostering connections with the Diaspora and harnessing global Armenian potential within Armenia. He noted that for many, participating in “Neruzh” will be a transformative experience, inspiring them to relocate to Armenia and contribute to the growth of the country's tech sector.

Minister Hayrapetyan also provided updates on Armenia’s recent technological developments, as well as the government’s upcoming goals and incentives to boost the high-tech industry. He stressed that the vision of turning Armenia into a technological hub is rooted in these initiatives.

Chief Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan also addressed the participants, emphasizing that the untapped potential of the Diaspora must not be wasted. He stated that the state is committed to creating mechanisms to channel this potential for the benefit of Armenia's economy, science, and overall welfare.

Next, RA Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Ruben Simonyan presented details of the six-day program, including its goals, agenda, and this year’s innovations. He highlighted the involvement of the renowned international accelerator “Plug and Play,” which will collaborate with the startups throughout the event and continue supporting the winning startups for a month afterward.

At the conclusion of the event, Alfredo Gomez Soria, a representative of “Plug and Play,” discussed the goals and activities of the accelerator, outlining the details of its program and mentorship opportunities.

The event was attended by prominent officials, including Advisor to the RA President and former Minister of High-Tech Industry Robert Khachatryan, Chairman of the Scientific Innovation and Education Fund, Chairman of "Aerodynamics" CJSC, former Minister of High-Tech Industry Hayk Chobanyan, MP Arman Yeghoyan, Governor of Tavush Marz Hayk Ghalumyan, Dilijan Mayor Davit Sargsyan, Yerevan State University Rector Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, and other officials and representatives of the tech community.

This year, the program received 64 applications from 20 countries, resulting in 28 startups from 16 countries participating, including Russia, Georgia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Greece, Latvia, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Sweden, the USA, Canada, and Argentina.

The goal of the "Neruzh 5.0" Diaspora Tech Startup Program is to drive Armenia's economic progress and strengthen the startup ecosystem through professional repatriation and the integration of pan-Armenian talent and expertise. Winning teams will receive grants in two categories: "Idea Phase" and "Growth Phase."