The “OIC Culture Festival: Baku Creative Week – 2025” (OIC 2025) is a major international platform that brings together the culture, creative economy, and innovation sectors of the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the festival aims to expand intercultural cooperation, strengthen the regional creative industries ecosystem, and develop new initiatives aligned with global trends.
The program includes exhibitions, panel discussions, innovation presentations, creative hub activities, and special sessions involving participants from various countries around the world.
Throughout Baku Creative Week, the city hosted events across multiple directions. Presentations by local and international experts, panel discussions on the development prospects of creative industries, startup presentations, and special sessions on CulTech (technology in culture) formed the main dynamic of the festival.
Workshops, digital and applied art exhibitions, technology demonstrations, and performances held during the week not only revitalized the creative environment but also created new bridges for collaboration among youth, creative communities, investors, and government representatives.
Within Creative Week, CulTech held panel discussions on the role of cultural innovations, digitalization, and the development of the regional creative ecosystem, alongside the “Demo Day.”
CulTech is a strategic platform operating at the intersection of culture and technology, aimed at bringing the country’s creative youth to the global stage. The program provides startups and creative teams with mentoring, investment connections, PR support, brand positioning, and business development opportunities.
The main goal of CulTech is to accelerate the development of innovative business models, ensure local ideas meet international standards, and strengthen Azerbaijan’s creative ecosystem at a regional level.
Demo Day – A Showcase of New Ideas
On December 9, the 4th cohort of the CulTech Incubation Program successfully held its Demo Day at the Baku Congress Center. Participants presented their projects to investors, mentors, creative industry leaders, and international representatives. The event served as a gateway for new collaborations and highlighted the region’s innovation potential.
Key showcased projects included:
Bir-Yer.az – A map-based search and AI recommendation system that offers users location options in a single click based on budget, time, and preferences.
BrandedBy – A SaaS solution creating legally safe content for brands using licensed AI avatars and voice technologies within seconds, automating influencer marketing through text-to-video generation and API integration.
Casting.az – A professional talent database for actors, directors, and producers that accelerates finding suitable candidates through advanced filters.
Luhive – An all-in-one platform for communities, managing events, announcements, members, and content from a single panel, optimized with AI assistance and analytics.
Lilitopia – An educational content ecosystem for children under 8, culturally adapted and scalable globally, spanning mobile apps, YouTube series, books, and games.
Kendeget – A platform enabling rural residents and small businesses to reach a wider audience and offering travelers authentic cultural experiences.
Demo Day marks only the beginning for the CulTech program. New investment opportunities, international partnerships, and market access for startups are already taking shape.
SUP VC and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan aim to expand the CulTech Incubation Program, create new cohorts, and strengthen global cooperation mechanisms in creative sectors. The ultimate goal is to position Azerbaijan as the leading CulTech hub in the region and provide a sustainable innovation environment for future generations.
