The meeting took place at the Government House of Tatarstan under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Alexey Pesoshin. Participants included the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rifkat Minnikhanov, and Acting Director of the Department for the Development of Technological Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Stanislav Zharkov. Damir Galiev, CEO of the Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan, presented a report on the preparation and organization of the Forum.

The 19th Russian Venture Forum will take place in the city of Kazan from April 9 to 11, 2025. The meeting discussed key aspects of the event, which promises to be the largest in its history:

New Format for the Forum

• April 9: The opening day in Special Economic Zone Innopolis. This event will bring together key players in Russia's venture market, providing an immersive experience of Tatarstan's innovation and venture ecosystem, particularly the Innopolis Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The program will include panel discussions, visionary lectures, and targeted B2B meetings in a speed-dating format, as well as a pitch show featuring leading residents and startups of the SEZ.
• April 10–11: The main program will take place at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center, featuring congress activities, an exhibition area, plenary sessions, and startup pitch sessions.

Forum Objectives

The Forum aims to enhance support mechanisms for technological entrepreneurship and venture investment across all stages and to foster new partnerships among startups, investors, and corporations.

This year, special attention will be given to attracting international participants. Invitations have been sent to major venture funds from regions including the CIS, Asia, and GCC countries.

Key Directions

The Forum will comprise congress and exhibition parts, divided into three main tracks:

1. Venture Investments and Technological Entrepreneurship:

• Exit strategies for late-stage companies on pre-IPO markets.
• Structuring funds and deals.
• International collaboration.

1. Markets:

• Exploring promising niches for investment and technological business development.

1. Ecosystem:

• Support for early-stage startups.
• Development of university-level technological entrepreneurship.

Additional Activities

• Finals of the "Venture Games" Nationwide Competition with a prize pool of 15 million rubles.
• The "Evening RVF" event will include an awards ceremony for leaders in the Russian venture investment industry, with winners chosen through expert and public voting. The awards are co-organized by the Moscow Innovation Cluster.

Close collaboration with the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan was highlighted during the meeting, including the publication of a collection of scientific articles from Forum participants. All interested parties are welcome to submit articles for review.

Expanded Exhibition Area in 2025

• 150 startups from the acceleration program (compared to 50 in 2024).
• 36 startups on a paid basis (compared to 15 in 2024).
• 22 partner booths (compared to 4 in 2024).
• A networking area covering 378 sq. m.
• Two pitch halls with a combined area of 576 sq. m.

A career fair for students and young professionals will also be organized, featuring opportunities to connect with tech companies, attend interviews, and participate in educational lectures.

Startup Acceleration Program

The Forum will continue its tradition of selecting startups for an acceleration program, offering expert support, refinement opportunities, and potential investment. The 2025 accelerator will be operated by the Technological Park IDEA.

Startups with market-ready solutions or active sales will be eligible for participation. Expert review will focus on industries such as robotics, microelectronics, chemistry of natural raw materials, AI technologies, energy-saving solutions, and innovations for agriculture and food production.

Expected results of the selection:

• More than 20 investments in startups.
• Over 20 startups participating in corporate pilot programs.
• Formation of a community including startups, innovation leaders, and experts.
• Creation of an online showcase for startups who took part in the Forum.

Official Opening

The Forum's grand opening on April 10, 2025, will feature the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Valery Falkov, and Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. The plenary session will include three sections:

1. Trends in Science and Technology Development (featuring a visionary speaker).
2. Expert Discussions:

• Technological entrepreneurship.
• Support for late-stage startups.

1. Success Story (presentation by a successful startup).

Forum Partners

• Title Partner: JSC "Bars Group."
• Business Program Partner: PJSC "Tatneft."
• Online Partner: PJSC "Tattelecom."
• Main Partner of the Acceleration Program: ROSNANO Group.
• JSC "Rosselkhozbank."
• Moscow Innovation Cluster Fund.

A comprehensive guide for participants, featuring recommended accommodations and leisure options, is under development. The Russian Venture Forum is the largest event dedicated to investment in technological entrepreneurship, serving as a platform for ideas, resources, and technologies shaping the trajectory of Russia's innovation economy.

Registration for participants will be available on the Russian Venture Forum website: https://russianventureforum.ru/.