After partnering with Facebook and Google, Russian startup VisionLabs raises $5.5 million from Sistema’s corporate fund

April 14, 2017

VisionLabs, a Russian startup specializing in facial recognition, data analysis and robotics, announced today that it has secured 350 million rubles ($5.5 million at the current exchange rate) from Sistema Venture Capital. The fund received a 25% stake, valuing the startup at 1.4 billion rubles ($21.5 million). Founded in 2012, VisionLabs has developed a software package, named ‘Luna,’ …

After partnering with Facebook and Google, Russian startup VisionLabs raises $5.5 million from Sistema’s corporate fund Read More

Putin signs ‘Big Brother law,’ asks government to “minimize implementation risks”

February 28, 2017

Today Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the controversial “anti-terrorist” legislation adopted by the lower and upper houses of parliament in late June, despite the flurry of criticism coming from opposition-mided circles and the serious concerns expressed by Russian telecom and Internet companies. As reported earlier by East-West Digital News, the new legislation — which Edward Snowden has called …

Putin signs ‘Big Brother law,’ asks government to “minimize implementation risks” Read More

fibrum vr headset

Russian virtual reality platform Fibrum to measure itself against Google’s Daydream

July 2, 2016

Next month Russian startup Fibrum, a developer of virtual reality headsets and applications, will launch a VR platform to bring together gamers, as well as game and VR headset developers from different countries. The platform will be made available in English and Russian. Users will be able to download applications for their VR headsets directly from the Fibrum Platform. They …

Russian virtual reality platform Fibrum to measure itself against Google’s Daydream Read More

Russian startup Blackmoon launches online lending platform in the U.S.

July 5, 2016

A Russian startup is launching in the U.S. this week to target the lucrative online lending market. Blackmoon launched initially in Russia last June, and has since rolled out into Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, and Finland. Today, it opens its New York office and will begin the process of integrating with lenders in the …

Russian startup Blackmoon launches online lending platform in the U.S. Read More

Russian parliament passes “Big Brother law,” Internet and telecom industry expects hard times

February 20, 2017

In late June, the Russian parliament approved controversial amendments to Russia’s anti-terrorist legislation. Drafted by lawmakers Irina Yarovaya and Viktor Ozerov, the new legislation may have deep consequences for people living and using digital networks in Russia. The amendments are yet to be signed by President Putin [which he did on July 7 update]. A substantial part of the …

Russian parliament passes “Big Brother law,” Internet and telecom industry expects hard times Read More

Yandex browser integrates content discovery feed, supports new ad-blocking extensions

July 2, 2016

Last month Yandex announced two enhancements to its in-house browser. The first one is the integration of Zen, a personalized content recommendation technology developed by the Russian search giant, into the browser. This AI-based recommendation technology uses Yandex’s considerable global web index to pick stories, images, videos and other content for each individual user. Presented as a content …

Yandex browser integrates content discovery feed, supports new ad-blocking extensions Read More

Rostec to export Russian tech products worldwide with state support

July 3, 2016

RT-Business Development, a subsidiary of the government-backed tech corporation Rostec, is launching a new company dedicated to the advancement of Russian digital products on the international market. Aiming to virtually cover the whole world except Western countries, Rosinformexport will operate in a variety of markets – from Eastern Europe, to the Middle-East, South and South-East …

Rostec to export Russian tech products worldwide with state support Read More

unmanned car

Unmanned cars could become new instrument for crime, fears Russian police

April 14, 2017

Russian law-enforcement officers fear that unmanned cars may be used as instruments of crime in the near future. “In 20 years, conventional cars will be replaced by autonomous vehicles just like they once replaced horses,” said Alexander Bykov, chief of the State Road Safety Inspectorate’s Road Patrol Service department. “However, no one has studied the potential future dangers.” …

Unmanned cars could become new instrument for crime, fears Russian police Read More

Russian smart ring overreaches crowdfunding target on Kickstarter

July 1, 2016

On June 21, Ekaterina Romanovskaya — one of the two founders of Russia’s most popular satirical Twitter account, KermlinRussia — launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for her new project, Nimb. The product is a “smart ring” designed to help users inform family and friends quickly when they find themselves in danger. With almost 1,500 backers, …

Russian smart ring overreaches crowdfunding target on Kickstarter Read More

Why the Prisma app could become a global hit

October 3, 2016

As reported earlier this week by East-West Digital News, a quirky mobile photo app named ‘Prisma’ has been leading Apple’s App Store ranking in Russia and several neighboring countries since June 20 — just ten days after launch. Among its millions of users are a bevy of Russian celebrities, from Russian Prime Minister DMitry Medvedev, to supermodels Irina Shayk …

Why the Prisma app could become a global hit Read More

Mitsui chefmarket

Mitsui invests in Russian food delivery startup Chefmarket

June 30, 2016

Earlier this month Moscow-based food delivery startup Chefmarket.ru secured $1.3 million in a funding round led by Mitsui with participation from existing investors, including QIWI co-founder Andrey Romanenko and Russian venture fund AddVenture. The startup aims to reach a $100 million revenue target in 2018. Chefmarket offers home delivery of food products based on recipes from renowned …

Mitsui invests in Russian food delivery startup Chefmarket Read More

Russian parliament approves ‘Google Tax’ for foreign app stores

January 30, 2017

Russia’s Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, has approved a law requiring foreign companies to pay value added tax (VAT) of 18 percent on online content, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday. The bill, nicknamed the “Google tax law”, will also require companies who distribute or sell online applications, games, music, or other content …

Russian parliament approves ‘Google Tax’ for foreign app stores Read More

Scroll to Top

This site is under maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience.

This site is under maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience.