Russian Venture Company (RVC) and Moscow Innovation Development Centre (MIDC) have launched the first Russian accelerator-contest for innovative start-ups. On May 20, 2013, RVC CEO Igor Agamirzian and MIDC CEO Konstantin Fokin signed the Cooperation Agreement on a joint initiative.
In 2013, the first accelerator-contest will be a logical development of the “Business of Information Technologies” (BIT), which is held this year for the 10th time. Each year over 1000 applications are received to the BIT contest from innovative start-up teams from all over the country.
The acceleration stage will include 60-70 BIT semi-finalists teams – 2013. At the first stage (September, 2013), the project teams will be offered an online access to educational course on the technological entrepreneurship basics, after which the semi-finalists will be dispatched to Moscow on a two-week full-time acceleration program (October, 2013). The best accelerator graduates will present their projects at the International Forum “Open Innovation” in November, 2013.
The First National Accelerator Contest will be held on a unique Russian acceleration platform “APIMoscow” , which is also the base platform of Moscow Technology Incubation Program implemented by Moscow Innovation Development Centre with the support of Moscow City Government. The acceleration program is based on long-term experience of existing serial entrepreneurs, investors, Russian and international industry experts.
Adapted from Russian Venture Company
