Adrien Henni

UK online retailer ASOS comes to Russia as cross border sales doubled in a year

January 11, 2013 January 11, 2013

ASOS.com, a major British online fashion retailer, is now planning to launch local operations in Russia. The site’s press service confirmed the news to East-West Digital News, but denied a rumor that it was also considering an acquisition. ASOS is among the most popular sites selling to Russian shoppers from abroad. As EWDN’s recent report …

UK online retailer ASOS comes to Russia as cross border sales doubled in a year Read More

Vkontakte.ru ownership saga: Usmanov now plans to increase Mail.ru Group’s stake

December 28, 2012 December 28, 2012

A mere two weeks after an executive of his management company stated the opposite in an exchange with Bloomberg, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, the main shareholder of the Mail.ru Group, said he was willing to increase his group’s stake in Vkontakte.ru, Russia’s leading social network also known as VK.com. “If there is a reasonable market …

Vkontakte.ru ownership saga: Usmanov now plans to increase Mail.ru Group’s stake Read More

Skolkovo under fire; government innovation policies may be reshaped

December 27, 2012 December 27, 2012

Skolkovo, the state-sponsored giant tech hub nearing completion on the outskirts of Moscow, has come under sharp criticism over the last several months, suggesting that government policies in support of innovation in the country could be reviewed. Among the first signs of resistance to Skolkovo’s recent development were remarks made this past October by Deputy …

Skolkovo under fire; government innovation policies may be reshaped Read More

Mebelrama.ru attracts $10 million from Rocket Internet as competition tightens

December 14, 2012 December 14, 2012

Last October Germany’s giant startup incubator Rocket Internet invested $10 million in its portfolio company Mebelrama.ru, a Russian online furniture retailer. The transaction was revealed only this past Friday by Mebelrama co-founder Manuella Stoll in an interview with Russian business daily Kommersant. The investment will help Mebelrama enlarge its assortment, move to a new warehouse, …

Mebelrama.ru attracts $10 million from Rocket Internet as competition tightens Read More

Swiss fund to invest €100 million in Russian ecommerce infrastructure and services

December 14, 2012 December 14, 2012

Swiss private equity fund Pluribus Optimum announced last week its plan to invest €100 million in e-commerce projects in Russia and neighboring countries by the end of 2015. The fund will focus on improving processing, document flow, billing organization, and payment acceptance in online stores, as well as 3PL logistics. “We have identified e-commerce as …

Swiss fund to invest €100 million in Russian ecommerce infrastructure and services Read More

Fastlane secures $13 million from Kazakhstani investor; celebrates first exits while conceding failures

December 12, 2012 December 12, 2012

Fastlane Ventures, one of the most active investors on the Russian Internet scene, has secured $13 million from Kenges Rakishev, a prominent businessman from Kazakhstan. Rakishev will be joining Fastlane Ventures’ board of directors, along with existing strategic investors VTB Capital, Direct Group, and e.ventures. Rakishev already serves as chairman of the boards of directors …

Fastlane secures $13 million from Kazakhstani investor; celebrates first exits while conceding failures Read More

How to invest in Russian startups: An investor’s guide

December 10, 2012 December 10, 2012

This article is published in partnership with Russia Beyond The Headlines, an international source of political, business and cultural news and analysis. As a new generation of startup entrepreneurs is emerging in Russia, the local startup scene tends to look more and more like its American, European and Asian counterparts. The stereotype of innovative Russian boffins …

How to invest in Russian startups: An investor’s guide Read More

Megafon raises $1.7 billion on London and Moscow stock exchanges amid mixed growth perspectives

November 30, 2012 November 30, 2012

This week, Megafon raised $1.7 billion by trading approximately 15% of its shares on the London and Moscow stock exchanges simultaneously. Although the order book for the IPO was oversubscribed, the Russian telecom operator priced each share at $20, at the bottom of the $20-$25 range, placing the company’s total valuation at $11.1 billion. Putting …

Megafon raises $1.7 billion on London and Moscow stock exchanges amid mixed growth perspectives Read More

Eighteen Russian and Western business angels invest $700,000 in innovative online printing technology

November 28, 2012 November 28, 2012

Printio.ru, a Moscow-based startup offering personalized printing services, has just raised $700,000 from a total of 18 Russian and Western business angels. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but Printio’s co-founder Aleksandr Shamis told East-West Digital News that the founders got a “good valuation” and have kept a controlling stake. Launched officially …

Eighteen Russian and Western business angels invest $700,000 in innovative online printing technology Read More

New seed fund helps startups “change the way cars are sold and serviced”

November 23, 2012 November 23, 2012

While venture funds are springing up in Moscow, one small fund in particular should not go unnoticed. Established just two months ago, Cloud4Auto focuses specifically on automotive technologies – a unique case in the world, the Chairman of the fund’s Supervisory Board, Innokenty Belotsky, told East West Digital News. “Cars are a very important part …

New seed fund helps startups “change the way cars are sold and serviced” Read More

Kiev’s IDCEE attracts investors from USA to India; Russian startups win top prizes

October 30, 2012 October 30, 2012

Once again this year, the annual IDCEE conference held in Kiev on October 18th and 19th attracted an impressive array of Internet oriented investors, startup entrepreneurs, and professionals of all kinds from far beyond Ukraine and the neighboring countries (see videos). A rare phenomenon in such events, investors – coming from all parts of Europe …

Kiev’s IDCEE attracts investors from USA to India; Russian startups win top prizes Read More

Intel Capital and Runa Capital invest $4 million in personal service aggregator Eruditor

October 25, 2012 October 25, 2012

Looking for a fitness instructor, plumber, or hairdresser? Need an appointment with a doctor or want to hire a performer? You will probably find the professional or small business you need using one of the eight service marketplaces of Eruditor, a startup that claims to have served 300,000 users since its launch in 2007. “Eruditor’s …

Intel Capital and Runa Capital invest $4 million in personal service aggregator Eruditor Read More

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