Meet Furkat Kasimov, Angel Investor and TechRound AI35 Judge…

Tell us about yourself

 

Greetings everyone. My name is Furkat Kasimov. It’s a genuine honour to serve as a judge for the 2025 TechRound AITech35. I’d like to share a bit about my background and why I’m excited to help identify this year’s most promising ventures.

My journey in machine learning began in 2017 when my company started to use TensorFlow to create predictive models and optimize lead distribution. We experienced significant growth, navigating the complexities of scaling machine learning solutions.

Following that experience, we started to build applications that incorporate AI as part of decision-making for various aspects of the business, from fraud detection to lead distribution. We scaled the company significantly, always driven by a philosophy of creating tangible value through intelligent systems – value for our clients, their customers, our team, and the broader ecosystem. This was part of my Win, Win, Win, Win business philosophy. 

More recently, I’ve focused on building large-scale AI Agentic systems.

As an angel investor, I’ve been fortunate to back several AI-focused companies that have shown remarkable growth.

I’m looking forward to learning about your company. I’m here to evaluate and to spot the next groundbreaking innovation in artificial intelligence.

 

What excites you the most about AI at the moment?

 

What’s incredibly exciting right now is the sheer pace and breadth of innovation in AI. We’re moving beyond theoretical possibilities into real-world applications that fundamentally change how industries operate and live our lives.

The rapid advancements in areas like large language models, generative AI, and reinforcement learning are opening up capabilities we could only dream of a few years ago. Furthermore, the increasing accessibility of powerful AI tools is democratizing innovation, allowing smaller teams and even individuals to build truly impactful solutions. The potential for AI to tackle complex global challenges is immense and deeply motivating.

 

 

How do you think AI is going to change over the next 5 years?

 

Over the next five years, I expect AI to become even more deeply integrated into the fabric of our digital and physical worlds. We’ll see a shift from standalone AI features to AI being a core, often invisible, component of most software, hardware, and services.

Expect significant leaps in multimodal AI (understanding and generating content across text, images, audio, etc.) and more sophisticated AI agents capable of complex reasoning and task execution.

There will be a greater focus on efficiency, reliability, and trustworthiness, moving beyond just model accuracy to ensure AI systems are robust, fair, explainable, and secure. Human-AI collaboration will become much more refined across various professions.

 

What are you looking for from AI Tech entrants?

 

While a compelling vision is important, I’m looking for tangible evidence. Show me traction – demonstrate that your AI solution solves a real problem effectively. I want to see a deep understanding of your target domain and clarity on why AI is the right approach, not just technology for its own sake.

Be prepared to discuss your financial performance, AI limitations, and how you validate your technology’s effectiveness in a real-world context. Explain your path to scalability, both technically (handling more data/users) and commercially. Know your metrics – not just accuracy, but also the business value your AI delivers. The future is built on intelligent systems that work reliably and responsibly.

 

Any final piece of advice on how to stand out from the crowd?

 

A polished presentation is necessary, but it won’t be enough. What truly sets entrants apart is a clear articulation of their unique technological innovation or novel application of existing AI. Show me what makes your approach distinct – is it a breakthrough algorithm, a unique dataset, a superior architecture, or a particularly insightful application?

Be ready to discuss scalability challenges, potential hurdles (including regulatory and computational costs), and your long-term vision. A working demo or prototype that showcases the AI’s capabilities is far more impactful than slides alone. Ultimately, demonstrate not just technical brilliance, but also a practical understanding of how to build a sustainable and responsible business around your AI innovation. Execution and thoughtful application are key.