• TBC Business Supports the 2024 National Agricultural Olympiad in Georgia

With support from TBC Business, Georgia will host the fourth annual National Agricultural Olympiad, the region’s only competition dedicated to agricultural knowledge and expertise. Launched in 2021, this unique event is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, with the concept developed by the Agriculture Development Association. The Olympiad is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).

Registration for the Olympiad is now open and will continue until November 10 on the official website, www.agroolimpiada.ge. The competition includes three stages: registration, online testing, and in-person exams.

Participants from various backgrounds are encouraged to join, including agricultural specialists, farmers, students, and schoolchildren. The Olympiad covers topics such as agronomy, food technology, forestry, wine technology, agricultural mechanization, veterinary science, and environmental protection.

The primary goals of the Olympiad are to assess participants’ knowledge, recognize outstanding achievements, and award various prizes. This event also aims to raise awareness of agricultural fields among young people, promote agricultural education, and support non-formal learning in agriculture.

• Exploring Collective Production: “An Atlas of Commoning” Exhibition at TBC Concept Space

The TBC Concept multifunctional space is showcasing the exhibition „An Atlas of Commoning: Places of Collective Production“, organized by the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) in collaboration with ARCH+ magazine. Presented as part of the Tbilisi Architecture Biennale, this exhibition runs until November 15.

In today’s digital age, social media and similar platforms monetize social connections, turning words like “community,” “sharing,” and “we” into hollow terms that often lack solidarity or a progressive vision. Instead, they foster a form of “platform capitalism.” This shift in economic patterns is reflected in global political changes, where traditional ideas of identity, belonging, and exclusion intersect with issues of discrimination, redefining public spaces as either open or exclusionary.

 

This project centers on urban public property, urging audiences to view “the commons” not merely as shared resources, but as a set of practices dedicated to the collective creation and management of both tangible and intangible assets. Here, “commoning” becomes an active verb, representing a process that navigates differences and conflicts among individuals, communities, and society at large. It reflects a spatial organization encompassing production, reproduction, ownership, and resource access.

The exhibition promotes networks of solidarity and reimagines individual and collective rights, posing critical questions about current social and political frameworks and envisioning new models of collective, inclusive governance.

Curatorial Team:

An-Lin Ngo, Mirko Gatti, Christian Hiller, Max Kaldenhoff, Christine Ruby (ARCH+); Elke aus dem Moore (ifa); Stefan Gruber (CMU).

Research Partners:

School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Pittsburgh, Urban Transformation Institute (RCI) led by Prof. Stefan Gruber, and Technische Universität Berlin’s Institute of Architecture led by Prof. Rainer Hell.

Curators for the Tbilisi Edition:

Stefan Gruber (CMU), Tinatin Gurgenidze (TAB), Mariam Shergelashvili.

For more information, visit the official website. The exhibition is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 20:00, with free admission.

Location: TBC Concept multifunctional space, Marjanishvili 7, Tbilisi.

• US Elections and Lari – Insights from TBC Capital’s Chief Economist

Today’s US elections are a major topic of global discussion, with key implications for international markets. From a macroeconomic perspective, a Trump victory is generally expected to bolster the dollar, driven by anticipated protectionist policies and a potential rise in fiscal deficits that may lead to higher interest rates. Such factors tend to strengthen the currency. On the other hand, if there is a de-escalation of international conflicts, the dollar’s role as the primary reserve and safe-haven currency could lessen, potentially weakening it. In the medium term, substantial public debt in the US may similarly exert downward pressure on the dollar.

Pre-election polls have already impacted the dollar’s exchange rate, with markets currently in a wait-and-see mode. Notably, in Georgia, businesses and individuals bought significant amounts of foreign currency leading up to the election, reflecting a cautious sentiment. Should these sentiments shift post-election, it could add upward pressure on the GEL. According to TBC Capital’s observations, no substantial foreign currency purchases have occurred recently, suggesting that devaluation expectations have softened, and market sentiment has become more neutral.

Quantitatively, TBC Capital assesses that Georgia’s foreign currency reserves—while not equivalent to the SEB’s international reserves—are more substantial than several hundred million USD and EUR. These reserves play a critical role in the current economic environment.

Regarding the US election, it is important to note that a strengthening dollar typically poses challenges for the GEL. Lower oil prices, while beneficial for reducing import costs in Georgia, may also affect income from Georgia’s oil-dependent economic partners, impacting exports, tourism, remittances, and investments. De-escalating conflicts are undoubtedly positive, but factors like migration and a potentially stronger euro—historically beneficial for Georgia—are also significant.

For a detailed analysis, see the full TBC Capital report at the provided link.( ყოველკვირეული განახლება მთავარი ეკონომისტისგან | TBC Capital)

• Implant Studio: Borjomi’s High-Tech Dental Clinic Supported by TBC Business

A modern dental clinic, Implant Studio, located on Meskheti Street in Borjomi, stands as a leader in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region’s dental care. With five years of service, Implant Studio offers a full suite of dental services, including child and adult therapy, implantation, orthodontics, prosthetics, and surgery, provided by a team of 10 skilled local and visiting specialists.

The clinic’s distinguishing features go beyond its comprehensive services and advanced equipment. Utilizing an AI-based platform, Implant Studio enables initial digital consultations and highly accurate diagnoses. This cutting-edge approach has helped the clinic stay at the forefront of modern dental care in the region.

The vision for Implant Studio dates back to the 1990s when the clinic’s owner, Vladimir (Viko) Bajiashvili, first pursued a career in dentistry. After years of experience, Viko decided to work independently, and in 2007, he returned to Borjomi to open a private dental practice, gaining the trust of local patients. In 2019, he expanded this vision into a full-service clinic, achieving the necessary renovations and equipment with TBC’s support.

“With a business loan from TBC, I renovated the clinic and invested in modern equipment. TBC leasing enabled me to acquire a 3D computed tomography machine—one of the few available in Georgia. This technology has completely digitized our initial consultations. When a patient has a CT scan, the data is fed into a specialized program that generates a 3D analysis, detailing issues, recommendations, and assigning tasks to specific specialists—all in Georgian. It ensures fast, error-free diagnostics,” says Viko.

Viko also adopted Diagnocat.com, an AI-driven diagnostic platform, which he translated into Georgian and implemented in his clinic. Now a representative for Diagnocat in Georgia, he supports others interested in implementing this pioneering technology.

• TBC Tech Team Explores AI and API Innovations at Apigee Summit 2024 in Paris

At Google’s invitation, members of TBC’s Open API technology team participated in the Apigee Summit 2024, held in Paris under the theme “No AI Without APIs.” The summit gathered leaders, developers, and analysts from diverse industries worldwide to discuss the crucial role of APIs in creating intelligent, scalable, and secure AI solutions.

The event proved to be engaging and informative for the TBC Tech team members. “The experience we gained at the summit was highly progressive for us as a team and for TBC as a whole,” said Irakli Bakuradze, a TBC Tech team member. “With the insights and new product knowledge, we’ll be able to enhance our team’s creativity and improve the user-friendliness of our products.”

Tech team member Elene Chotalashvili also shared her perspective, stating, “The understanding I gained about the scope of API products is invaluable. The summit highlighted the vast potential of APIs and how we can leverage them to our advantage.”

During the summit, TBC Tech team members networked with prominent figures in the tech industry, fostering new professional connections. Now back in Georgia, they are eager to apply the knowledge and experience gained in Paris to their work at TBC.

Supporting employees’ professional growth is more than an organizational strategy for TBC—it’s a commitment to innovation. TBC’s focus on skill development has established it as one of the leading employers in the country, known for its dedication to empowering employees.

• TBC’s 2025 Internship Program Attracts Over 1,020 Aspiring Young Professionals

The annual TBC internship program continues to draw immense interest, with more than 1,020 students and recent graduates applying for positions across TBC’s diverse sectors. This year, over 700 candidates successfully passed the first selection stage, which involved rigorous testing, and the multi-stage selection process is ongoing. The top finalists will be offered paid internship positions beginning in 2025.

 

The program offers young professionals a unique opportunity to integrate into TBC’s team for six to twelve months, engaging in real-world project management and independently leading initiatives. Interns will learn directly from industry leaders, gaining valuable skills and insights that will support their professional growth and prepare them for future roles, either at TBC or with other Georgian or international firms.

The internship encompasses various fields, allowing participants to focus on areas such as:

– Finance

– Business

– Macro-financial analysis

– Brand experience and marketing

– Data analysis

– Legal affairs

– Human capital management

– Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues

Makuna Tavberidze, Head of Brand Experience and Marketing at TBC, remarked on the program’s impact: “Our greatest obstacles are often our own limitations. Breaking through them is essential for success, and that’s one of the most valuable things you learn at TBC. This culture makes TBC an invaluable starting point for a young career.”

The TBC internship program is tailored for individuals who are unafraid of challenges, ready to embrace the new, and motivated by curiosity and determination.

• TBC Campus – a new educational platform for students

In order to increase access to education, TBC has established a new educational platform for students, TBC Campus, where more than 6,000 students have expressed their desire to study.

TBC Campus is a business oriented, fully funded, online training course designed for 18-24 year olds living in any region of Georgia.

In the first stream of the campus, 6037 students from all over Georgia were registered. Finally, after a two-stage competition, 310 students were selected.

During three months, the TBC team and other specialists in the field will teach the students completely free of charge: the basics of technological project management, data analysis, graphic design, UI/UX design, entrepreneurship and business planning, advertising content creation, digital marketing and search engine optimization – SEO.

The courses taken at the TBC campus will provide students with basic knowledge for further professional development. Collab is a partner of TBC campus business courses.

• Agile Guild Meetings Foster Knowledge Sharing and Process Transparency at TBC

As a leading technology company, TBC places great emphasis on supporting agile practices. This commitment is evident in its regular Agile Guild meetings, designed to nurture a strong Agile culture, promote knowledge sharing, and ensure process transparency within the organization.

Recognized as one of the top tech employers, TBC is dedicated to fostering the professional development of its employees. To support this, Agile Guild sessions are held monthly in a hybrid format, with topics tailored to address current challenges and relevant trends.

“At Agile Guild meetings, we discuss both successful and unsuccessful real-world examples, along with the latest developments and changes within the agile framework,” says Keta Tsomaia, Agile Coach at TBC. “Colleagues directly involved in process improvement share the benefits and challenges of transformation.”

Agile Guild participants engage in discussions aligned with their interests, driving high and growing attendance among TBC team members. Feedback collected at the end of each session informs the planning of future topics, ensuring that the meetings stay relevant and impactful.

In the latest Agile Guild meeting, participants reviewed updates to the Legion’s operational methodology, known as the Chapter Framework. This new approach aims to enhance process transparency and address team questions, furthering TBC’s commitment to continuous improvement and openness.