Luka Kobalia
Founding Member

Luka Kobalia

Chief Production Officer · SmartSoft | Forbes 30U30

Don't waste time and energy overthinking scenarios that haven't happened yet.

About Luka Kobalia

For the past ten years, I have been working in product development, and over time, building meaningful products has truly become my biggest passion. Currently, as the Chief Production Officer at Smartsoft, I help drive the vision for solutions that reach over 100 million users globally.

The interview

In conversation with Luka Kobalia

What inspired you to co-found the Georgia-Uzbekistan Business Hub?

Throughout my career, I've always been driven by the desire to build things that connect people and create real value. I saw a huge, untapped opportunity to bridge the gap between Georgian and Uzbek markets, connecting visionary investors with emerging local potential. It’s all about creating a reliable space where mutual growth and fresh opportunities can naturally thrive.

Why do you believe there is such strong potential between Georgia and Uzbekistan?

Both countries are experiencing rapid economic growth and share a strong appetite for innovation, yet they offer completely different market advantages. Uzbekistan brings immense scale and capital, while Georgia offers a dynamic, strategic gateway with a fast-paced business environment. When you combine these distinct strengths, you create a perfect ecosystem for cross-border investments and shared success.

From your experience, what is the biggest challenge companies face when entering a new market?

The most common mistake is assuming that what made you successful in your local market will automatically work on a global scale. Every new environment has its own unique culture, rules, and behaviors that demand genuine understanding, not just a copy-paste strategy. It requires unlearning your past successes and being humble enough to adapt your product to the new reality.

What is the mission of the Georgia-Uzbekistan Business Hub, and what impact do you hope it will have?

Our mission is to seamlessly connect capital with opportunity by building a reliable bridge for investors moving between Georgia and Uzbekistan. We want to eliminate the friction of entering a new market so businesses can focus on execution rather than red tape. Ultimately, I hope we become the catalyst for a new wave of long-term, high-impact partnerships across the region.

What advice would you give to a business considering expansion into Uzbekistan or Georgia?

Don't waste time and energy overthinking scenarios that haven't happened yet. Instead, focus on executing well and learning directly from the new market. Build strong local relationships, because trying to control everything on your own from a distance usually stifles growth. Trust the process, empower the right local partners, and focus entirely on delivering a great product or service.

What does success for GU Business Hub look like in the next five years?

In five years, I want us to look back and see a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem of cross-border investments that simply didn't exist before we started. Success means we are the undeniable go-to platform for any business or investor looking to bridge these two countries. More importantly, it means we’ve helped numerous companies scale beyond their borders and achieve tangible global success.

One sentence to describe your vision for the future of Georgia-Uzbekistan business cooperation.

A seamless, high-trust economic partnership where bold ideas and smart investments flow freely between the two nations, unlocking massive global growth for both.

In five years, I want us to look back and see a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem of cross-border investments that simply didn't exist before we started.

Success means we are the undeniable go-to platform for any business or investor looking to bridge these two countries. More importantly, it means we’ve helped numerous companies scale beyond their borders and achieve tangible global success.

Luka KobaliaFounding Member