Coaching Russian Entrepreneurs
| IPI partnered with the Russian Venture Capital Association to organize and present the annual Russian Venture Fair. In its first five years, the event was responsible for $65 million in financing for promising Russian technology start-ups. The Venture Fair was the successful culmination of several years of discussions and planning with both public and private sector organizations. The US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) sponsored IPI, charged to provide training for budding Russian entrepreneurs in making financial pitches, writing business plans, and understanding Western markets. The Russian Venture Fair has grown to become the premier annual Russian venture capital event, bringing together about 700 delegates – managers of major investment institutions, representatives of venture capital and private equity funds, banks, consulting firms, business-angels, owners and managers of innovative high-tech small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), journalists, politicians, and other key participants of this business segment in Russia, Europe, and the United States. The 12th annual Russian Venture Fair was held November 2011 in St. Petersburg. |
