Startup Community in Russia and Ukraine
SC
Russian Government and Private organizations that support Tech Entrepreneurship
Although the Russian government support of the startup ecosystem and young companies keeps being far away from the ideal as well as the entrepreneurial culture itself is on the early stage of development, there are different funds and incentives that change things very rapidly. The Skolkovo Foundation probably is the most funded in the world technological center for the development and commercialisation of advanced technologies. There are a lot of positive changes going on in Russia now that hopefully will bring economic changes very soon.
Type: Government Seed Fund.
About: Invests in early stage tech startups.
Key Facts: Invests along with the Angel investors, organizes educational events for the Moscow tech community.
Location: Moscow
Type: Russian Sillicon Valley
About: High technology business area being built at Skolkovo near Moscow. Non-profit scientific and technological centre for the development and commercialisation of advanced technologies. Financed by the Russian government and private capital. Skolkovo includes five "clusters" specializing in different areas. These include IT, Energy, Nuclear Technologies, Biomedicine and Space Technologies. Startups can become residents and get the full support as in incubator. Partnership with Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, IBM, MIT and others.
Key Facts: 300 companies have received the status of Skolkovo resident.$97M given to startups in grants. Combined revenue of Skolkovo residents is $13M. Russian government has committed to spend $1B on Skolkovo development.
The strategic goal of Skolkovo is to “concentrate international intellectual capital” and encourage Russia’s best minds not to leave the country in search of better prospects abroad.
Location: Moscow
Moscow Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship
Type: Government Department
About: Supports Entrepreneurship and Science development.
Key Facts: Provides subsidies to the early stage startups up to $16K.
Location: Moscow
Type: Government incubator supported by the Russian President.
About: Education, mentorship, workspace.
Key Facts: Founded in 2010.
Location: Moscow
Type: Video tv channel, seed fund venture capital and incubator in the same time.
About: Each startup has 2 minutes to pitch its idea to the famous investor or angel in the elevator (lift). One on one. How it works - Youtube video
Key Facts: Organized 20 events all around the world (Moscow, NYC, Helsinki, Ukraine, Singapore) - Le Web, TechCrunch, Web 2.0, DLD, Plane 500startups, StartupSauna, IDCEE. Has its own iLiftTv iPhone app, organizers of the iLIftTV Battles Club and iLIftTV Coffee Break.
Location: Moscow
