Published on: 2026-08-27
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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Applications are now open for the updated program “Venture Academy”. In the new batch, an enhanced practical module has been prepared for participants, aimed at developing the professional competencies of business angels and novice investors who are interested in acquiring skills in venture investing and project analysis. The organizer is Moscow Innovation Cluster, and a strategic partner — Moscow Venture Fund, who is responsible for the program’s methodological foundation and involves leading market practitioners as experts.
Since 2021, 12 cohorts of the “Venture Academy” have already taken place in the capital. Last time, the organizers received more than 260 applications, and 100 novice investors and analysts completed the practical part of the course. At the final stage, participants joined the investment committee, where they evaluated technology startups using real examples and also participated in a syndicated deal. As a result of the program, its active graduates invested more than 3.6 million rubles in various projects.
A particular value of the “Venture Academy” is the opportunity to become part of a professional community and meet people who shape the modern technological ecosystem of Russia: company founders, developers, experts, and investors.
In the 13th cohort of the program, the practical component was strengthened. Participants will analyze real startups, assess their investment potential, and apply the acquired knowledge when selecting the most promising projects. Special attention will be given to the mechanics of syndicated deals and the application of key venture investing tools.
The founder of the IT company “Noosoft” and a graduate of the 12th cohort of the “Venture Academy,” Vitaly Lazhintsev, who is now starting his journey as an investor, shared his impressions. Having experience in the technology business, Vitaly decided to reach a new level — to engage in venture investments.
The participant emphasized that the “Venture Academy” is not perceived as a formal educational course. The program allows you to gain new knowledge and practical skills, expand professional connections, and work with market representatives. Even listeners with specialized education and impressive experience note that the project opens new horizons for them and helps them get acquainted with experts in the venture industry.
Vitaliy also highlighted the convenient and well-organized format, including the accessibility of online training and class recordings, presentation materials, as well as the opportunity to directly ask questions to the speakers and receive expert consultations. Among the key advantages of the program, he noted the professional atmosphere and the practical focus of the training.
Margarita Pirinen, the creator of the BIOS health management system, also talked about how the “Venture Academy” helps to look at business and investments in a new way. For her, participating in the program was especially interesting due to the combination of several roles — entrepreneur, strategic consultant, and founder of a tech startup. The academy allowed her to complement this experience and study the logic of the venture market from the inside.
As the founder of the company, Margarita found it important to understand which indicators and factors shape the company’s investment attractiveness and which decisions matter for further capital raising. According to her, this approach allows for a broader assessment of one’s own management decisions — not only from the perspective of current growth, but also in the context of long-term capitalization.
Separately, Margarita highlighted the practical format of the program: working with real startups, independently analyzing projects, and going through the investment cycle—from the initial evaluation of pitches to discussing potential deals. This experience helps to better understand the mechanism of venture investing, to more accurately build a dialogue with investors, and to see the company simultaneously as a business that needs to be developed and as an asset whose value is formed through strategic decisions.
You can apply to participate in the program on the platform i.moscow.
The “Venture Academy. Regions” program is being scaled nationwide and moved to a year-round format
Moscow Venture Fund combines expertise and best practices of the venture market to create effective tools for supporting technology businesses. It accompanies entrepreneurs at all stages of development — from project launch to going public, and also provides financial support. Currently, three main programs are available — concessional targeted loans for project development, scaling, and IPO preparation. During its operation, the fund has supported more than 200 companies with a total of 2.5 billion rubles and helped attract over six billion rubles in investments.
Moscow Innovation Cluster contributes to creating conditions for the implementation of priority areas of scientific and technological development in the capital — the development and introduction of modern technologies, ensuring scientific, technical, and production cooperation, as well as effective interaction among all participants in the city’s innovation ecosystem. It includes organizations from 87 regions of Russia. Developers and representatives of high-tech businesses have access to more than 50 digital services and offerings of the capital. You can familiarize yourself with the technological requests of customers and offer your solution on the platform i.moscow.
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