Russian start-ups enter the global market through Ireland. Interim results of the acceleration program
The two-week stage of the acceleration program from the Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan and Pulsar Venture Capital is over. 12 start-ups were selected from 444 applicants from Russia and the CIS, who applied for participation in the acceleration program and the Russian Venture Forum.
After the first stage of acceleration, which took place in Russia (Tatarstan), start-ups continued the program in Dublin with the support of the state agency Enterprise Ireland. Dublin Business Innovation Center Halo Business Angels Network and Guinness Enterprise Center (GEC) also participated as partners in the Dublin program. The latter is recognized by UBI Global as the world's best business accelerator 2015-2016. Mentors group was formed with participation of partners, taking into account the experience and competence of each person, the program of the event was developed and implemented. The program consisted of three modules and target groups: investment search, sales and preparation for sales in Europe, obtaining expert advice on finalizing business strategies and products. In addition, there was the course to develop presentations with the participation of international mentors and individual meetings of entrepreneurs with potential investors, clients and partners. Demo Day closed the program, at which participants presented projects to business angels and representatives of venture funds.
"The Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan initiated this acceleration program. Based on many years of experience, we have identified obstacles that prevent young innovative companies from developing." Pulsar Venture Capital is carrying out an acceleration program based on nearly ten years of experience. This is the most useful program for start-ups, since it helps to solve most of the problems that innovative companies face. This acceleration program is designed for 5 years and Pulsar Venture Capital is holding it for the second time. I believe that our acceleration program will significantly affect the startups market, and we will see results very soon, "said Aynur Aydeldinov, director of the Investment and Venture Fund of Tatarstan.
For two weeks, startups communicated a lot with mentors and experts from Ireland and a number of European countries. They were finalizing their prototypes and business models, developing a strategy for entering foreign markets. Among the participants of the program there are teams working on the creation of new instruments, 3D-modeling, agrotechnologies, innovative materials and new generation information systems.
“Thanks to a trip to Ireland, we managed to look at the behavior of our potential customers in Europe and study their needs. After the meetings, we gathered meaningful feedback. It was very useful meeting with representatives of Google. We have many competitors in Europe, after the program in Dublin there were ideas how to fight with competitors. Thanks to the organizers of the accelerator for their help and support. I am confident that we will be able to use our knowledge and contacts for the development of our company ", - Fayem Ahmetzyanov, the CEO of REG.FM comments on the program.
Another participant Marat Dusayev, the founder of the project Agro.ai, shares his impressions about the program: "It was an intense program; during the acceleration we received proposals from investors for $ 1 million. Of course, we are satisfied with the acceleration and glad that Pulsar VC is now our investor. It opens up opportunities for us to enter the international market. "
The International Acceleration program from Pulsar VC is designed to help Russian innovative teams enter the international market, to offer customers unique solutions and technologies. Companies in the sphere of IT, new instrumentation systems, industrial technologies and new materials were identified as priorities of the Acceleration program. In 2017, 444 applications were submitted for participation in the competition from different countries like Russia, CIS countries, Eastern Europe, and far abroad, including the USA, Ireland, Finland and Israel.