UpStartConf to pool Runet projects, ideas, experts and capital
On 20-22 April, the RIF+KIB 2011 event will host UpStartConf, a conference on startups, investment and the role of internet industry in the Russian innovation-driven economy.
The conference is organized by the FastLaneVentures company and the Internet v Tsifrakh (Internet in Figures) magazine with support from the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC) and with the involvement of the Moscow International Currency Exchange [Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange or MICEX?], Rossiyskaya Venchurnaya Kompaniya [Russian Venture Company], DataInsight, as well as the projects Nachinai! [Go, Go, Go!], SturtUpPoint and GreenfieldProject. For three days the Lesniye Dali [Forest Vista] holiday hotel will host discussions of all aspects of startup development on the Runet: search for and development of promising ideas, recruitment of investors, and key criteria for the development of successful projects. For a whole day UpStartConf will focus on the development of projects from scratch – confirmed attendees will be in a position to bring their idea to the table and see it transformed into a business project in the space of a day, so that they can then pitch their project to investors and partners. UpStartConf is both a serious discussion and an interesting game all rolled into one. The event caters to all internet industry players from old hands and investors to first-time entrepreneurs.
According to Tatyana Tsvetkova, business development director at FastLaneVentures, FastLaneVentures is currently the only venture company in Russia not only to make its own funds available for the implementation of promising ideas but also to orchestrate the entire process of project launch from scratch. “Being both investors and entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand how important it is for both parties to find common ground. And we are willing to share our expertise with all those who see the internet as a vehicle to implement their business ideas,” she emphasized.
“Today the Runet has quite a few projects with startup activity, but they are confined to pre-sale packaging of ideas and projects. Our job was to set up a platform where you can not only pitch your project to an investor or put together a team and partners for your venture, but receive background information about the market. Young internet entrepreneurs often fail to fully appreciate their place in the market and in the economy. Other important consideration is a chance to pick the brains of the authors of successful projects, now past the startup stage. The first UpStartConf is rolled out under the umbrella of a major conference in the Russian internet industry, but we intend to develop this format further down the road,” said Dmitry Chistov, chief editor of the Internet in Figures magazine. The organizers invite all to take part in UpStartConf.
In order to take part in a business game, develop an idea and pitch a project to potential investors, fill in an application form on the conference website at http://2011.rif.ru/startup/.
Participant background: FastLaneVentures is a venture company of a novel type, geared to develop innovative Web-based companies. For more details about the company, visit http://fastlaneventures.ru/ or contact Lada Shcherbakova, PR director, at +7 495 221-33-51 orlada@fastlanevuntures.ru. We will also be happy to see you on our social network pages:facebook.com/FastLaneVentures,twitter.com/FastLaneV
Internet in Figures is an industry periodical devoted to the analysis of the World Wide Web and its Russian segment. The magazine publishes the most relevant and interesting reviews, surveys of audiences and internet-business segments, editorials and opinion pieces, and expert comments. Focal points: internet audience and its interests, children and teenagers on the Web, history and future of the Net, e-commerce and online payments, media and context advertising, social media and promotion in them, search and solutions, internet security and access routes, investment and startups, domains and hosting, industry events and much more.
Magazine website: http://in-numbers.ru/