Adrien Henni

Adrien Henni is the founder of International Digital News, a tech news and research agency dedicated to the emerging tech scenes of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. With nearly 20 years of experience in the high-tech and venture businesses in France and Eastern Europe, he advises a variety of startups, investors and other organizations. He is a regular contributor to industry publications and speaks at conferences in Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, and America.

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Russian e-commerce in crisis: Molotok shuts down, Mamagazin suspends activities

February 16, 2016

Two notable Russian e-commerce sites are suspending their activities this summer, illustrating the crisis that has been affecting certain segments of this market since last year. While online auction and marketplace Molotok.ru, one of the country’s most established e-commerce sites, has announced it will shut down on August 20, Mamagazin.ru, a kids goods online store …

Russian e-commerce in crisis: Molotok shuts down, Mamagazin suspends activities Read More

Witch hunt in Russian high tech: Major university fires US executive, international cooperation under threat

February 16, 2016

Earlier this month US citizen Kendrick White, a prominent figure in the Russian tech and venture scene, got involuntarily involved in a witch hunt targeting foreign citizens whose presence in Russia is judged “undesirable” in some political and media circles. While civil high tech coooperation had thus far remained virtually unaffected by the international tensions, …

Witch hunt in Russian high tech: Major university fires US executive, international cooperation under threat Read More

JD.com launches Russian site as first step to global expansion

June 29, 2015

Last week JD.com, China’s largest online retailer, launched a Russian version of its platform with the stated goal of conquering a 20% share of the Russian e-commerce market. JD.com’s English version had already been accessible to Russian customers for two years, but with no marketing effort or adapted logistics to serve them. Just a fraction of …

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Booking.com confirms commitment to “important Russian market,” gets prepared to comply with personal data storage law

February 15, 2017

Earlier this month, Booking.com announced that it will comply with Russia’s new law on personal data storage. The global online travel operator will soon transfer all data from the country’s users to a local data center, Russian business daily Kommersant reported. The announcement came after a meeting between Steffen Mueller, Booking.com’s senior manager of infrastructure and …

Booking.com confirms commitment to “important Russian market,” gets prepared to comply with personal data storage law Read More

Luxury fashion site Aizel.ru to receive up to €25 million from Russian investors

June 10, 2015

Disconfirming the widespread view that the Russian e-commerce market has lost its appeal to venture investors, luxury fashion retailer Aizel.ru received a capital injection of €2.5 million earlier this year, the first tranche of an investment of up to €25 million over three years. The deal remained undisclosed until late May, when news of it …

Luxury fashion site Aizel.ru to receive up to €25 million from Russian investors Read More

Ahead of Apple: Russian-Canadian startup launches connected watch to measure and manage stress

May 18, 2015

Last month Darta Systems, a Russian-Canadian biomedical startup, launched the Emvio Watch, a gadget that “measures stress and makes everyday stress management easier ” In contrast to ordinary fitness bands, the device lets users know when they overreact to such negative situations as disagreements with people, waiting in line or bad news. According to its …

Ahead of Apple: Russian-Canadian startup launches connected watch to measure and manage stress Read More

Russia launches two major internationally-oriented tech funds

December 26, 2018

Two initiatives that confirm the Russian government’s commitment to support the country’s high-tech industries were announced this month. The first was the creation of a 5 billion ruble (approximately $100 million) tech fund by RVC, the state-owned fund of funds dedicated to innovation, in partnership with Da Vinci Capital Management, a major internationally-oriented Russian asset management company. Presented as …

Russia launches two major internationally-oriented tech funds Read More

Loyalty program, mobile payments, personal data storage: AliExpress to conquer Russian e-commerce on all fronts

February 15, 2017

Over the past few weeks, AliExpress has multiplied initiatives to strengthen its leadership on the Russian e-commerce scene. The Chinese giant has teamed up with Russian online bank Tinkoff Bank to launch a co-branded loyalty program. Associated with MasterCard credit and debit cards, this program is the first of its kind in the world, said …

Loyalty program, mobile payments, personal data storage: AliExpress to conquer Russian e-commerce on all fronts Read More

KupiVIP acquires footwear retailer Sapato.ru

February 25, 2016

KupiVIP, a major Russian online fashion group, announced today the acquisition of footwear retailer Sapato.ru and its 6-million client base from the Ozon group. “The acquisition will help KupiVIP strengthen its position by significantly expanding its client base and product assortment,” KupiVIP stated. The acquirer also expects to benefit from Sapato’s “deep expertise in international purchases in …

KupiVIP acquires footwear retailer Sapato.ru Read More

New York startup “opens the world of fragrance” – with a touch of Russian love

April 27, 2015

Perfume lovers now have an easy and affordable way to access a supply of over 350 top designer fragrances, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Hermes, Gucci and Marc Jacobs. By subscribing to Scentbird.com, they will receive a new fragrance each month “in a sleek and beautiful purse-sized spray,” the startup promises. Subscribers can choose their fragrance based on suggestions from Scentbird’s “TruScent Recommender,” which leverages a database …

New York startup “opens the world of fragrance” – with a touch of Russian love Read More

Net Element acquires PayOnline to “cover all methods of online and mobile payments in Russia”

February 25, 2016

Earlier this month Net Element, a NASDAQ-listed provider of mobile payment and value-added transactional service and solutions in Russia and in the United States, announced the acquisition of Russian Internet payment service provider (IPSP) PayOnline. The deal amounted to some $8 million, reported online tech portal CNews.ru, referring to SEC documents. The closing is still …

Net Element acquires PayOnline to “cover all methods of online and mobile payments in Russia” Read More

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