Starting April 1, 2021, tech device manufacturers will be required to pre-install Russian-made, government-approved applications and software onto new devices sold on Russian soil. Dubbed “anti-Apple law,” this legislation was adopted in late 2019 as part of the Putin administration’s “sovereign Internet” strategy. While the law did not specify what devices new electronic devices are …
Alfa-Bank is in the process of acquiring Netmonet, a startup that uses QR codes to automate tips in restaurants, cafés and beauty salons. In an agreement signed last month, the Russian lender is committed to acquire the company fully for an undisclosed amount. Forbes Russia has estimated Netmonet’s valuation at approximately $4 million — a sizeable amount …
Russian tip automation startup acquired by major bank 18 months after launch Read More
Softline Venture Partners, the venture arm of Russian software giant Softline, has invested in T-1 Group, a provider of B2B and B2C telematics solutions and navigation technologies. No details of the transaction were disclosed. “The acquisition of a stake in T-1 Group is an investment in the rapid growth of the transport telematics market, which is simply …
Tinkoff, the Russian digital banking leader, has integrated its AI-powered voice assistant ‘Oleg’ into Clubhouse — claiming to be the first one in the world to do so. The capabilities of the voice assistant as a “a full-fledged Clubhouse user” are described as follows: ‘Oleg’ can use its text-to-speech and speech-to-text capabilities (Tinkoff VoiceKit) in real time to “help …
Tinkoff launches AI-powered voice assistant on Clubhouse Read More
Earlier this month Mail.ru Group and AliExpress Russia achieved yet another step in their e-commerce integration plans with the launch of Multimarket. This single interface allows merchants to manage their sales simultaneously via the AliExpress Russia site and Mail.Ru’s properties — including social networks VK and Odnoklassniki, and classifieds platform Youla. Registered merchants can place …
In late February Wildberries, the number one Russian e-commerce company, launched in three new EU countries: France, Italy and Spain — just weeks after its debut on German soil. Through localized web and mobile interfaces (France, Italy, Spain), online shoppers from these three countries can access more than four million products from some 40,000 brands — from …
Russian e-commerce leader Wildberries launches in France, Italy and Spain Read More
The Russian Internet and telecom regulator Rokomnadzor announced today first steps to disrupt Twitter’s speed within the country for failing to remove banned content. These measures are said to affect “100% of cellphones and 50% of personal computers” in the country. “Starting March 10, 2021, centralized response measures have been taken against Twitter to protect Russian citizens and force the [social …
Russia restrains Twitter’s speed and sues other social media over illegal content Read More
An investment fund controlled by Alexey Nechaev, the founder of Russian direct sales leader Faberlic, has acquired Sports.ru with affiliated blogging and marketing assets. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. Sports.ru is a leading Russian-language sports media and community platform. Founded by a journalist in 1998, the platform was sold in 2006 to Herman …
Russian direct sales giant Faberlic acquires Sports.ru to develop vertical communities Read More
Today, MTS is happy to announce the launch of Russia’s first multi-location pilot 5G network for end consumers. The new network covers 14 highly-trafficked public spaces in Moscow and will provide 5G connectivity at speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps to invited subscribers with compatible 5G smartphones. The limited launch is yet another milestone toward …
MTS launches Russia’s first pilot 5G network for consumers Read More
A bevy of prominent business angels have backed Voices, a Russian-founded micropodcasting startup based in California. Two million US dollars were contributed by Signal founder Moxie Marlinspike, Tinder founder Justin Mateen, Shutterstock founder John Oringer, eBay founder Peter Thiel, MSQRD co-founders Sergey Gonchar, Evgeny Negen and Andrey Yanchurevich, alongside a few others. Voices co-founder Alexey …
Algorithmics (Algoritmika in Russia), a leading Russian online school of programming, has attracted $10 million in equity funding. Two major funds have backed the startup: Winter Capital and the Russian Chinese Technology Investment Fund. A previous investment came in 2019, when Mail.ru Group acquired a minority stake in the startup. Founded in 2016, Algorithmics offers …
Russian online programming school attracts $10 million to pursue global expansion Read More
Trendy social media app Clubhouse is seeing an extraordinary surge of interest among Russians as it launched last week in the country. The social network saw the audience for its audio-chat service increase 20-fold as big brands and top managers from major companies signed up. The former head of Russia’s financial regulators even appealed for Central Bank Governor …
