Girls In Tech

The original article was posted in Venture Village. Russia is now the largest internet market in Europe, with more than 55 million online users. Russian internet market leaders, Yandex and London-listed Mail.ru Group, both reported a year-over-year revenue growth of 50% for the first quarter of 2012.

The Russian market is growing at a supersonic rate and provides excellent exit opportunites for investors in Russian online ventures to create a brand-new breed of Russian internet entrepreneur.

So who are the trailblazers in the new web frontier to watch? Yankov Sadchikov, Russian startup blogger at Quintura.com, talks us through the hottest Russian entrepreneurs to watch right now…

Oskar Hartmann, founder and CEO, KupiVIP.ru

After launching online shopping club KupiVIP.ru in fall 2008, the Russian-German Oskar Hartmann added an eCommerce platform for the Russian retailers and launched online fashion store ShopTime.

In Russian online shopping, KupiVIP is growing – it racked up $200 million revenues last year. In 2010, Hartmann partnered with the French businessman Pascal Clément to set up a Moscow-based internet business incubator, Fast Lane Ventures that has already started eighteen internet businesses to date, of which two were already exited.

Marina Kolesnik, founder and CEO, Oktogo.ru

Following a consulting career at McKinsey and management role at DataArt where she headed complex software development projects, Marina Kolesnik has leveraged her Harvard MBA to launch her own online venture Oktogo.ru two years ago. Since then, Marina raised $15 million in venture capital from European and Russian investors to make Oktogo.ru, Russia’s leading online hotel booking and travel site or “Booking.com of Russia”.

Pavel Cherkashin, co-founder, Krible and Kuznech

Having been Russian manager for Adobe and Siebel as well as Microsoft Russia’s general manager of consumer and online businesses, Pavel Cherkashin made a number of angel investments in online businesses in Russia. He now works for his investee companies: online customer support service Krible and image search Kuznech as well as helps other investees: online video site Tvigle.ru and mobile advertising network AdWired.

Alisa Chumachenko, founder and CEO, Game Insight

In online gaming, marketing is key. The former head of marketing at Astrum Online that was merged into Mail.ru Group in 2008, Chumachenko started her own  social game publisher and developer Game Insight in late 2009. In 2011, she moved into mobile gaming to make Game Insight one of the leading gaming companies on Android.

Albert Popkov, founder, Sravni.ru

Popkov capitalised on the social networking boom in Russia. Back in 2006, he launched the social network company Odnoklassniki.ru. He then raised funding from DST and sold to it later. Odnoklassniki, which is part of Mail.ru Group, has some 25 million monthly users. In 2009, Albert launched consumer banking comparison site Sravni.ru, which is now the leader in its category.

Yulia Mitrovich, Entrepreneur in Residence, Svyaznoy Group

A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Mitrovich was a McKinsey consultant before going to Web Media Group in Moscow to head its online video site Zoomby.ru.

In 2012 Mitrovich joined Svyaznoy Group, the leading mobile phone retailer in Russia, as Entrepreneur in Residence. No surprise, Svyaznoy founder Maxim Nogotkov was named Russia’s Entrepreneur of The Year 2010 by Ernst & Young.

Igor Matsanyuk, founder, IMI.VC

If the internet incubators are the new black, then mobile-focused business accelerators are the new, new black. Entrepreneur-turned-VC Matsanyuk has made a fortune by cashing out shares in Mail.ru Group during its IPO in late 2010.

One year before, he merged his online gaming company Astrum Online Entertainment into Mail.ru. Igor currently seeds mobile startups viaFarminers business incubator and own investment company IMI.VC.

Elena Masolova, co-founder and CEO, Pixonic

The Higher School of Economics graduate, Masolova co-founded the AddVenture seed-stage fund in Moscow in 2008 and was a founding member of coupon site Darberry, which became Groupon Russia. She currently heads social gaming company Pixonic, a portfolio company of AddVenture. She also eager to make angel investments in online startups and lead them later.

Anna Znamenskaya, founder, Workingmama

Following a ten-year executive career including CEO of Digital Access (online video portal ivi.ru), Rambler‘s commercial director and B2B Media CEO, Znamenskaya has ventured into entrepreneurship with her own online project for mothers, Workingmama.ru in late 2011. She is also receiving Master in Digital Marketing from Instituto de Empresa in Madrid this year.

Olga Steidl, partner, dots’n‘spaces

The St Petersburg State University graduate Steidl has headed marketing at mobile software maker SPB Software before it was acquired by Yandex last November. After a short stint withYandex, she has settled in Zurich to help mobile startups via dots’n’spaces and organize mobile industry events. Steidl is also startup CEO herself and mentor at Seedcamp where Yandex recently invested.

Springboard Enterprises is seeking women-led, investment-ready businesses in the media and technology industry to participate in Springboard: Media & Tech 2012 – part of Springboard’s 23rd forum program supporting and promoting women-led emerging growth companies seeking equity investments and/or strategic partnerships.

Springboard: Media & Tech 2012 program is a community-driven accelerator that gives participants access to unique opportunities for building relationships with industry experts, including targeted in-person and virtual coaching sessions, a one-day Bootcamp workshop in NYC, and a variety of presentation assessment sessions that will showcase selected companies to potential investors and strategic partners. Since 2000, Springboard has helped 480+ women-led companies raise $5.5B in equity financing and offered ongoing support to program participants through access to its vast network of industry experts, investors and seasoned entrepreneurs. This program is about building relationships, not just about raising capital.

Don’t miss the June 5th application deadline! Learn more or apply now at www.springboardenterprises.org/2012

Post this to your event calendar! Title: Springboard: Media & Tech 2012 Application Deadline Event Date: Application Deadline: Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 (11:59 PM) Cost: $100 application fee, $2,000 program fee Location: International Event Website: www.springboardenterprises.org/2012

Description: Springboard is recruiting for Springboard: Media & Tech 2012 – a community-driven accelerator designed to promote and support women-led, media and technology companies seeking equity investments or strategic partnerships. Companies that apply will undergo a rigorous screening process before being selected to participate in the forum program which includes a targeted, hands-on coaching process with industry experts and a day-long intensive Bootcamp workshop in NYC on July 26th. Participants gain unique exposure to Springboard’s nationwide network of VCs, angels, corporate investors, seasoned entrepreneurs and strategic partners through a variety of virtual and in-person events, and presentation assessment opportunities.

President and CEO Cheri Beranek was named a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2012 program in the Upper Midwest.  The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Beranek, who was selected from a strong pool of nominations by a panel of independent judges, has been widely recognized for her success in turning around the company. Her direction to rebrand Clearfield (formerly APA Cables and Networks) and re-establish shareholder confidence in the firm by establishing profitable revenue growth and generating the vision for the firm’s potential, is credited in large part with Clearfield ’s success.

Awards will be presented at a special gala on June 14, 2012 at the Marriott City Center hotel in Minneapolis . Now in its 26th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries throughout the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year Program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs , California , on November 17, 2012. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

About Clearfield, Inc.
Clearfield, Inc. sets the standard for fiber performance with FiberDeep, while lowering the cost of broadband deployment with the FieldSmart fiber management platform and the CraftSmart OSP enclosure system. FieldSmart is the only fiber management platform to be designed around a single architecture – the Clearview Cassette and xPAK— for the inside plant, outside plant and access network. Scaling from 1 to 1728 ports, FieldSmart supports a wide range of panel and cabinet configurations, densities, connectors and adapter options, and are offered alongside an assortment of passive optical components. CraftSmart is the industry’s only field enclosure system optimized for fiber deployment. FiberDeep is a new class of fiber patch cords that guarantees performance at .2dB insertion loss — fully half that of the industry standard. Clearfield is a public company traded on NASDAQ: CLFD.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^®
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

The international network that helps promote and empower women in tech entrepreneurship, Girls in Tech, has just announced that it will be launching in London in June.

Founded in San Francisco in 2007 by Adriana Gascoigne, the Girls in Tech network currently counts numerous international chapters around the globe – in countries like China, Greece, France, Singapore, Taiwan, the US and more – with over 8,500 members worldwide.

In partnership with Google and Criteo, the London launch of Girls in Tech will take place on June 1st at Google Campus with speakers from companies and organisations including :

• Reshma Sohoni, Seedcamp
• Olivia Solon, Wired.co.uk
• Deval Delivala, Uber
• Nathalie Gaveau, Shopcade
• Jude Ower, Playmob
• Colette Ballou, Ballou PR
• Bindi Karia, Microsoft Bizspark
• Judith Clegg, Glasshouse
• Cate Sevilla, Bitchbuzz
• Laura Citron, WPP
• Kathryn Parsons, Decoded
• Alexandra Chong, Luluvise
• Kristina Gibson, Eventbrite

The event in free to attend and open to both men and women alike. Space is limited and attendees are encouraged to share a bit about their backgrounds in order to confirm their spot.

In addition, Girls in Tech London will be announcing the top 100 women in tech in Europe at the event. The deadline for nominations is May 25th.

To sign-up to attend the event or to nominate someone for the GIT 100, please visit :

http://girlsintechuk.com/2012/05/13/launch-sign-ups/

Please note that Girls in Tech is not a radical feminist organisation. We host tech conferences but with primarily women speakers…for a change !

About Girls in Tech

Girls in Tech is an international network that seeks to promote and empower women in tech and entrepreneurship. Founded in 2007 in San Francisco by Adriana Gascoigne, the network counts numerous chapters around the globe – in countries like China, France, Greece, Singapore, Taiwan, the US and more – and over 8,500 members worldwide. The London Girls in Tech chapter will be run by Roxanne Varza, Ella Weston and Mihiri Bonney.

More information on Girls in Tech London can be found at : 

Girlsintechuk.com

@girlsintech_uk

Press Contact: Roxanne Varza roxanne@girlsintech.net

Girls In Tech is proud to partnered with GIRLS WHO ROCK this year. 100% of tickets are donated directly to girls’ sponsorships! GIRLS WHO ROCK production costs are funded by in-kind donors and Umojawa, an online community for social change and civic engagement.

GIRLS WHO ROCK was founded two years ago with She’s the First, a non-profit that sponsors girls’ education in developing world countries and shapes the next generation of global leaders in the United States. Since 2010, GIRLS WHO ROCK has raised $23,000 for 32 girls—and aims to double that this year!

The $50,000 they raise will transform 15 girls’ lives in India, which has been known as the most dangerous place to be born a girl. Fifty percent of girls don’t graduate. Because of you, girls at the Shanti Bhavan Children’s School will be able to pursue their education, break the cycle of poverty, and achieve their dreams.

The concert is produced by an all-volunteer team of women under the age of 30 – “DIY world change” by the Millennial generation.

GIRLS WHO ROCK makes a local impact, too! This year, they’re working with the Park Slope Rock School of Brooklyn, where a group of teen girls have formed their very own rock band to create and perform an original song, dedicated to their peers at Shanti Bhavan Children’s School.

So what are you waiting for? Join us and get your tickets now 

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New start-up site, mmMule.com, allows people to get anything they want from anywhere in the world by rewarding a traveller with an experience – like drinks in a cool local bar – for delivering it.

The idea was born from the experiences its founders, Avis, Andrew and Alan, all seasoned expats who often found themselves missing treats from back home “I always wanted things like Barry’s Tea” says Avis an Irish woman living in Sydney, “but I couldn’t get it shipped and I was tired of waiting for friends from Ireland to bring it for me.”

“We realised it was a common problem as we kept seeing posts on Facebook from friends of all different nationalities who wanted stuff – like food, cosmetics and electronics – that they couldn’t get shipped to where they lived” Avis continues.

To solve the delivery problem, the team drew upon their travel experiences. Having visited more than 65 countries between them, they knew that it was always hard arriving in a new city not knowing anyone. “We knew from our own travels that we always had the most fun when we had a local connection, that way you don’t feel like a tourist and you actually get to experience a place like the locals who live there.”

“We thought that if we could connect locals who wanted stuff with travellers who want more authentic experiences, we could solve a real problem for both, and that’s how mmMule was born”.

One of the biggest surprises for mmMule’s founders Andrew, Avis and Alan the response they got when they soft-launched the site. Without any press coverage and just a little social-media seeding, the idea quickly spread around the world.

“In our first 24 hours we had 1900 unique hits from 59 different countries, had 50 requests posted and even had our first Mule delivery accepted from the UK to Australia.” Avis says, “What’s even more fascinating is that our second delivery accepted was to Nigeria.”

Some of the more unusual requests and rewards on mmMule include one from Joe, who runs a surf camp in France. He wants English bacon delivered from the UK; in return he’s offering his Mule free accommodation and surf lessons. Then there’s Keeli from NYC, who wants a brightly coloured blanket from Guatemala; in return she is offering a few drinks at her favourite little bar. Also Steven in Kazakhstan wants good quality coffee beans so in return he’ll put his Mule up for a few nights. And Henni in Canada who wants ‘real’ toilet paper from Germany; in return she’ll show her Mule around Toronto.

mmMule also has a part of its site, AngelMule, dedicated to helping the less fortunate. By becoming an AngelMule travellers can now use part of their travels to deliver urgently needed supplies – like clothing, food, sporting goods or used electronics – to organizations in need.

How to become an “AngelMule”

AngelMule, which is a part of mmMule.com, now has active projects all over the world.

For instance, a community centre in Ecuador that needs a used computer is offering the option to participate in their programs teaching English – or take travellers on a river walk followed by some local specialty food to show their gratitude.

An iguana research station on an island in Honduras is requesting bed sheets. In return they are offering 2-3 weeks’ accommodation and an opportunity to assist in the iguana studies, environmental education and breeding program.

Just last week an AngelMule delivered two old film cameras from Sydney to a children’s home in New Delhi. The cameras are used to teach photography as part of a youth empowerment program the charity runs. In return she was rewarded with an intimate two hour walking tour of New Delhi given by ex-street children the home had rehabilitated. “It’s stories like these that make us feel so passionate about mmMule, we’re creating real connections between people and enabling them to see the world in a totally new way, all whilst making a difference.” Says Avis.

mmMule.com is not just in aid of not-for-profit organizations; it also allows regular people to get anything they want from anywhere in the world by rewarding a traveller for delivering it.

For more information contact:

Avis Mulhall, Co-founder  | avis@mmmule.com | @avismulhall | +61 450458230

GiftSimple features:

Girls in Tech is proud to have recently partnered with a new tech accelerator program, www.UnreasonableatSea.com.  The 100-day program for technology entrepreneurs will take place on a ship as it travels more than 25,000 nautical miles and circumnavigates the Southern Hemisphere (see the route).

 2-minute video that explains the program best – http://vimeo.com/40384173

As part of our partnership, we wanted to let you know that applications will be closing May 20th and if you are interested in applying you should do so today! They are selecting technology-based companies who are working to solve the greatest social and environmental challenges of this century.  If you are interested, or you can think of an entrepreneur who may be, make certain to check out all the details at www.unreasonableatsea.com.