Preply, a platform to find foreign language tutors for home or Skype lessons, has just entered the Polish market with a localized version of its website. Launched in 2012 by Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukianov and Dmytro Voloshyn, the startup initially developed across the Ukrainian, Russian, Belarussian and Kazakhstani markets.
Startups dealing with computer graphics and so-called gamification will now be able to apply for Skolkovo grants and residency under new plans for 2015 published by the IT cluster. Graphics and gamification form one of three new technology foresights added to the cluster’s strategic development vision this year. The other two, robotics and mobile technology, …
Graphics and gamification enter Skolkovo IT cluster crosshairs for 2015 Read More »
A Russian web site that served as a support group for LGBT teenagers has been blacklisted by the authorities and will likely be blocked within the country, news reports said Monday. The site’s name Deti-404 (Children-404), after the online HTTP error message for “page not found,” may prove portentous if Russia’s Internet watchdog Roskomnadzor considers the site to be in violation of a federal law that regulates online …
Russia blacklists LGBT teen online support group Read More »
In late 2014 Okko (formerly Play), a leading player on the Russian VOD market, launched the country’s first Ultra HD 4K video service. The solution, developed in partnership with LG Electronics, was designed to meet the requirements of Hollywood studios for content protection, giving Okko the opportunity to work with original content filmed in 4K …
Okko launches first UHD movies on Russian VOD market Read More »
SDI Research, a Moscow-based “semantic data integrator,” will receive a $335,000 grant from Skolkovo for the development of a next-gen semantic master data management (MDM) system to store and sync data. A reported by the Skolkovo Foundation, the effort will require an estimated $670,000 overall. The developer is expected to raise the remaining 50% from other …
Next-gen data management system to emerge in Russia Read More »
The Russia’s government has signed an anti-crisis plan to restructure the economy in part through innovations, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told a meeting of regional officials on Wednesday. Russian news agency TASS reported that plan will require 1.375 trillion rubles (approximately $20 billion at the current exchange rate), including budget expenditures, state guarantees and …
Illustrating the relative resilience of the Russian e-commerce market amid the current economic turmoil, leading flash sales platform KupiVIP.ru reported a 44% revenue increase year-on-year in Q4 2014. The company attributes this growth to consumers switching from traditional and online retail to discount-based sites. Sales also grew due to the development of the site’s cross-border …
KupiVIP.ru close to break-even, reports 44% year-on-year sales growth in Q4 2014 Read More »
Moscow Seed Fund, the venture arm of the Moscow City authorities, is concluding its first three-year investment cycle. In partnership with Softline Venture Partners, the fund supports venture investors in financing small businesses in the science and technology sector. It backed startups Context Broker and AppStarter at the end of 2012 and early 2013 respectively. Both startups have …
Moscow Seed Fund concludes first investment cycle Read More »
The average American knows about Buzzfeed, Home Depot, and Vimeo; their sites are gaining about as much traffic in the US as Yandex.ru, which most Americans wouldn’t recognize. According to the most recent results from SimilarWeb, two major Russian websites Yandex and Vkontakte ranked in the top 100 US websites for 2014. Vkontakte, Russia’s leading social …
Anews, an international global news-reading service with a built-in behavioral advertising network, has received $2.7 million from TMT Investments, Run Capital, 101 Startup and several individual investors. As reported by Rusbase, TMT Investments and Run Capital each invested $1 million, in exchange for minority stakes in the company. “With its strong team, with a wealth …
News aggregator Anews raises $2.7 million for further international expansion Read More »