Finance

Tiny, but growing: Russian VC market exceeded $1.2 billion in 2018

DSight, a database of deals dedicated to the Russian venture market, has just released the English version of its latest yearly report. This research includes contributions from EY, investor association NAIMA, CrunchBase and East-West Digital News. The market grew significantly last year, reaching $714.4 million, up 51.6% from 2017. If including Sberbank’s $500 million investment in …

Tiny, but growing: Russian VC market exceeded $1.2 billion in 2018 Read More

Russian-founded ride-hailing service raises $15 million, moves headquarters to London

Wheely, a Russian-founded luxury ride-hailing service, hase raised $15 million from a pool of investors that includes UK investment partnership Concentric and three Russian tech businessmen – Oleg Cheltsov, Dmitry Eremeev and Mikhail Sokolov.  Wheely allows customers to book chauffeur-driven journeys both on-demand and pre-booked through an app. Its service is available in six Russian …

Russian-founded ride-hailing service raises $15 million, moves headquarters to London Read More

Sberbank to acquire large stake in online media group Rambler

Sberbank, Russia’s state-controlled financial giant, is to acquire a 46.5% stake in Rambler Group, a major online media and entertainment group. The deal gives Sberbank equal stake to investment holding company A&NN, which is affiliated to Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut, while Era Capital owns the remaining 7%. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, …

Sberbank to acquire large stake in online media group Rambler Read More

Russian startup invests $6 million to “merge phones with computers” in corporate offices

The founders of GetMobit, a Russian startup that has developed a multi-purpose docking station, intend to invest nearly $6 million to develop their business.  The GetMobit device, dubbed ‘GM-Box,’ is designed as an all-in-one substitute to such standard office devices as telephones, computers, web camera, sound devices, and other gadgets. Company employees using it are …

Russian startup invests $6 million to “merge phones with computers” in corporate offices Read More

Steel magnate Alexey Mordashov buys a Moscow startup that helps people adopt healthier lifestyle

Severgroup, a group of companies controlled by steel magnate Alexey Mordashov, has acquired GetLean, a Moscow-based startup providing courses for healthier food and lifestyle. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Founded by Yulia Gurbanova in 2016, the young company has a team of 10 people, including three full-time employees.  Its “science-based” 12-week …

Steel magnate Alexey Mordashov buys a Moscow startup that helps people adopt healthier lifestyle Read More

International investors to meet startups from Southeast Europe in Bucharest and Sofia (May 28-29)

International investors active in Southeast Europe (SEE) will have an opportunity to meet top tech companies from the region through the South East Europe Tech Tour 2019 (SEETT), which will take place this year in Bucharest (May 28) and Sofia (May 29).  The main goal of SEETT 2019 – organized by Tech Tour with support from international VC fund Almaz …

International investors to meet startups from Southeast Europe in Bucharest and Sofia (May 28-29) Read More

MTS launches corporate fund to invest $15 million in startups

MTS, one of Russia’s main mobile operators, has launched a corporate venture fund targeting startups across Russia and neighboring countries. The fund expects to invest around 1 billion rubles (approximately $15 million at the current exchange rate) in early-stage startups over the next two years. Last year the corporation launched an in-house accelerator, MTS StartUp Hub, …

MTS launches corporate fund to invest $15 million in startups Read More

Russian and Japanese tech players and investors create business association 

Last week Russian venture fund Pulsar VC, Russian-Japanese consulting agency SAMI and Japanese firm Skylight Consulting launched the Japanese-Russian Tech Companies and Investors Association to promote cooperation among entrepreneurs and investors from the two countries.  The partnership agreement was signed on April 11 at the Russian Venture Forum in Kazan, 800 km east of Moscow, in the presence of …

Russian and Japanese tech players and investors create business association  Read More

Sberbank, Gazprombank and Digital Horizon aim to create “global leader” in biometrics

Sberbank, the state-controlled financial giant, intends to acquire a 51% stake in Speech Technology Center (STC) from Gazprombank, a financial arm of the Russian gas company.  Digital Horizon, a VC and business incubation firm with offices in Moscow and Tel Aviv, has also agreed to acquire a minority stake in STC.  After deal completion in …

Sberbank, Gazprombank and Digital Horizon aim to create “global leader” in biometrics Read More

Backed by Western investors, a Russian car repair platform “temporarily suspends” activity

CarFix, an online-to-offline auto repair and maintenance platform, has announced the “temporary suspension” of its activity.  “The car service digital revolution is postponed,” the company’s website says, while promising that the service “will soon come back with a first-class product.” Launched in 2016, the platform initially raised €1 million from Oskar Hartmann, a young German entrepreneur who …

Backed by Western investors, a Russian car repair platform “temporarily suspends” activity Read More

Marketing solution startup secures $8 million from US and Russian investors

Improvado.io, a US-based marketing solution provider with Russian roots, has secured $5 million from several investors including two Russian funds: Impulse VC, which is reportedly affiliated to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, and Cabra VC.  According to the business daily Vedomosti, which reported the news earlier this week, this capital injection comes as the second part …

Marketing solution startup secures $8 million from US and Russian investors Read More

Tech Investment in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: March 2019

Crunchbase and East-West Digital News are teaming up to cover key tech and venture trends from Russia and neighboring countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Since January 2019, EWDN chief editor Adrien Henni has offered a monthly column to highlight the most notable industry facts and trends as well as promising tech innovations from …

Tech Investment in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: March 2019 Read More

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