Start for startups

A large-scale technological ecosystem for teams, developers and entrepreneurs of the region is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Effective and Competitive Economy” on behalf of Governor Veniamin Kondratiev.

- Support for innovative projects plays an important role in the development of business in the region: startups not only grow into separate independent companies, but also integrate into the existing business environment by automating processes and offering new solutions. All this affects the economy of individual industries, industries and the economy of the region as a whole. Over the five years of the history of the project "Funnel of Innovative Startups" its participants were more than 11 thousand residents of Kuban. More than one thousand projects were presented, for the implementation of which almost 500 million rubles of grant funds were attracted, and their total revenue exceeded 296 million rubles, said Vice Governor Alexander Ruppel.

He noted that thanks to the project, technology teams have already been formed and developed, business entrepreneurs have scaled up.

- The created ecosystem of the project - hackathons, training events and conferences - allows innovators of the region to painlessly go the whole way of implementing the development and launching the product to the market. It is important for us that participants test ideas in practice and find opportunities for growth. In the sixth season, we will continue to help teams move towards the commercialization of developments, the deputy head of the region added.

Participation in all events of Innovative Startup Funnels is free. The first stage of the new season of the project will be the acceleration program. Together with experts, the teams will finalize the created products, test hypotheses, create business models for entering the market. The accelerator starts on October 23. Applications are accepted at: https://iqarium.ru/accelerator.

- The second stage during the season will include hackathons for young IT professionals and meetings with the founders of successful technology companies. Networking sessions will be organized to strengthen the community of innovators. The School of Tracker of Innovative Projects will also continue its work, where experienced entrepreneurs and startup founders master the acceleration methodology. The most successful students will have the opportunity to implement the knowledge gained in our acceleration programs as speakers. At the final stage, we will traditionally hold the PRO.TECH technology conference. In 2027, it will be held in an expanded format, added Yulia Prikhodko, head of the department of business development and foreign economic activity of the region.

The regional project “Funnel of Innovative Startups” has been implemented since 2021. It is held by the Kuban Innovation Development Fund with the support of the regional department of business development and foreign economic activity. The partner-operator of the events is Innocub LLC. Over the past five years, 36 hackathons and more than 300 training events have been held. A number of teams reached the federal level, winning national innovation competitions.