Xsolla and SABAH.HUB Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Strengthen Azerbaijan’s Innovation Ecosystem

The collaboration accelerates educational initiatives, talent development, and startup growth through the Xsolla-Ministry/IDDA partnership

BAKU, Azerbaijan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, today announced the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SABAH.HUB, an Azerbaijan-based innovation and investment platform headquartered in Baku. The signing ceremony, which took place on July 1, 2026, marks a pivotal milestone in the Xsolla-Ministry/IDDA partnership, fulfilling a key requirement for collaborating with local organizations in 2026.

The partnership is designed to support educational initiatives, talent development, career opportunities, entrepreneurship, startup growth, and international partnerships. As part of the collaboration, Xsolla and SABAH.HUB will work together to provide students, entrepreneurs, investors, and global technology leaders with direct exposure to current industry practices and commercial opportunities in the global games market.

As part of the collaboration, Xsolla will support a range of community-focused activities, including educational gaming programs, workshops, seminars, conferences, bootcamps, hackathons, and networking events. The partnership is designed to strengthen Azerbaijan's digital talent pipeline, accelerate innovation in the video game ecosystem, and foster closer collaboration between students, entrepreneurs, technology professionals, educational institutions and industry leaders. Together, these efforts aim to position Azerbaijan as a regional hub for video game development, technology, and innovation.

Key initiatives under this strategic partnership and MOU will include:

• Baku ID (Baku Investment Day): Azerbaijan's innovation event, expected in fall 2026, serves as a Regional Nexus bridging startups, investors, and ecosystem players across Emerging Europe, Türkiye, MENA, and Central Asia to drive the ecosystem forward.
• SABAH.city: An upcoming 20-hectare technology park and innovation cluster will be created serving as the new epicenter of Azerbaijan's innovation ecosystem.
• University & Talent Network: Access to a nationwide network of universities and students, helping develop the next generation of technology and game industry professionals.

“Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the most exciting video game development ecosystems in the region, backed by a young, tech-savvy population, growing government support for digital innovation, and a strategic location bridging Europe and Asia,” said Anatoly Strutinsky, Regional SVP of Government & Industry Relations at Xsolla. "We see enormous potential here, not only to develop games, but to create an ecosystem that enables talent, startups, and technology companies to build products, partnerships, and innovations for the global market in Azerbaijan. This partnership with SABAH.HUB is about investing in the future.”

“This partnership is more than a collaboration, it’s a shared commitment to accelerating innovation, creating meaningful opportunities, and strengthening our ecosystem,” said Rahim Bayramli, CEO of SABAH.HUB. “By working with Xsolla, we can empower local talent and position Azerbaijan as a thriving hub for innovation and sustainable economic development.”

For more information about the Memorandum of Understanding between Xsolla and SABAH.HUB, visit: https://xsolla.pro/SABAHHUB

About SABAH.HUB

SABAH.HUB is an innovation hub dedicated to fostering economic growth and strengthening Azerbaijan's innovation ecosystem. The organization operates a robust network of programs, including SABAH.academy, SABAH.lab, SABAH.fund, SABAH.angels, SABAH.studio, SABAH.city, SABAH.school, and Peerstack. Its mission is to support startups across diverse industries while serving as a primary hub for venture funding and talent cultivation.

About Xsolla

Xsolla is a global commerce company that builds and provides all the things developers need to launch, grow, and monetize video games. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the company supports studios of every size, from indie to AAA, with solutions across direct-to-consumer commerce, intelligent payments, entertainment-based IP, and player engagement products. Xsolla helps developers fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games at scale. Trusted by more than 60% of the top 100 highest-grossing games, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record across 200+ geographies with access to over 1,000+ local payment methods worldwide. Grounded in a deep belief in the future of gaming, Xsolla is resolute in bringing opportunities together and unlocking growth for creators everywhere.

For more information, visit xsolla.com