DestraLegal, a Moscow-based startup that develops an online service for solving legal problems, raised $1 million in the second round led by investor Max Gutbrod as well as managers of Russian companies Bonum Capital and EXBiCO Group. DestraLegal plans to use these funds to increase brand awareness and expand the range of cases covered.

 
 The service offers users a selection of legal protection options to solve the problem, providing the necessary documents. If it is possible, the service sends the documents for the client and helps in negotiations with the defendant.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daniel.feldman.773" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniel Feldman</a>, the founder of <a href="https://destralegal.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DestraLegal</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/max.gutbrod.7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Max Gutbrod</a>, angel investor

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/destra/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Destra</a>

<hr />
 
 The DestraLegal startup was launched in 2019. In 2020, it raised $300,000 in the first round from four investors, with one of them being Max Gutbrod, a private investor and a former partner of Baker McKenzie.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/legaltech-startap-destralegal-poluchil-1-mln-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RB.ru

Moscow-based LegalTech Startup DestraLegal Raises $1 Million 

<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=MegaFon" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MegaFon</a>, Russia’s second largest telecom operator, has released <a href="https://moscow.megafon.ru/download/~msk/~moscow/CORP/Q2_2021/MF_Press-Release_Q2_2021_ENG.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">financial results</a> for the second quarter of 2021. Its revenue increased 7% year-on-year to $1.13 billion (84.1 billion rubles), while the company's net profit tripled, reaching $167 million (12.7 billion rubles).

 
 The revenue growth is an indicator of continued recovery from the negative impact of the pandemic, the company explains. Key growth drivers included revenue from data services, content services, and digital services, with strong demand for analytical services using big data and innovative solutions for remote work.

 
 The three-fold increase in profits was due to “effective cost management, deleveraging and successful hedging of our FX positions,” the operator said in a statement. The company’s net debt decreased by $59 million (4.4 billion rubles) quarter-on-quarter to $4 billion (301.9 billion rubles).

 
 Other key results include the growth of customer base by 2.1%, compared to the second quarter of 2020, to 72 million. The total number of base stations exceeded 199,600 items, with the advanced 4G/LTE segment showing a 17.5% growth year-on-year.

<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/53988b64-1c1a-5646-9288-ba16d01ba0cf.png">
</div>
 
 MegaFon
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/megafon-otchitalsia-o-roste-vyruchki-na-7-za-vtoroi-kvartal-2021-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Megafon

MegaFon Reports Strong Second Quarter Results

Representatives of Rostelecom, MegaFon, Yandex, Mail.ru Group, IIDF, the Big Data Association, the platform for lending to corporate clients Finfactory and Skolkovo's Competence Center have put forward a number of proposals that should be included in the roadmap for regulating digital platforms and ecosystems.

 
 The discussion took place within a round table on ecosystem regulation in the ANO Data Economy, which will provide the document jointly with the Ministry of Economic Development in October 2021, and then present it to the Ministry of Digital Economy and the government.

 
 Skolkovo's <a href="https://sk.ru/legal/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Competence Center</a> suggested a measure enabling users to turn off personalized ads and mark native ads separately. Advertising market players, present at the discussion of the initiatives, considered this measure excessive, according to Forbes. Another proposal from the Center is to partly compensate ecosystems for the costs in the implementation of "priority investment projects", as well as subsidize interest rates on loans for those site owners who carry out joint projects with the state.

 
 In turn, Rostelecom proposed to develop a number of measures to enhance the security of personal data in ecosystems, including protection from hacker attacks. According to the company representative, it is necessary to establish what data each service developer for an ecosystem protects.

 
 MegaFon proposed to improve the regulation of copyright and related rights for the further development of ecosystems and digital technologies in general. The operator also insists on the need for a set of tax incentives in the development of digital services and ecosystems.

 
 Finfactory believes that ecosystems should be able to refuse a user to delete his personal data if the latter has an outstanding loan from the bank of this ecosystem.

 
 The roadmap for ecosystem regulation <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ministry-of-economic-development-presented-the-concept-of-ecosystem-regulation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was presented</a> in June 2021 by the Ministry of Economic Development. In mid-August 2021, The Federal Antimonopoly Service’s (FAS) Expert Council <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-regulator-proposes-antimonopoly-principals-for-digital-platforms/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">developed</a> five principles for the operation of digital platforms, including their reasonable openness, ensuring the independence of platform users, and others.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/predstaviteli-otrasli-nazvali-riad-predlozhenii-dlia-dorozhnoi-karty-po-regulirovaniiu-tsifrovykh-platform-i-ekosistem/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Forbes

Market Players Speak on the Upcoming Roadmap for Digital Platforms and Ecosystems Regulation

Moscow-based Avant Space startup will receive a grant of $40,530 (3 million rubles) to develop a mobile app for recognizing encoded images (similar to QR codes) from the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), a non-commercial state body.

 
 Avant Space will equip several dozen satellites with arrays of lasers, which will create glowing logos of advertising customers in the twilight and night sky. Lasers will turn on when satellites pass over major cities. The app will allow users to read an encoded message containing a link to a promotion or a promotional code.

 
 Launching satellites into orbit for projecting images will cost $20-30 million (1.4-2.2 billion rubles). The cost of displaying over 10 megacities of the planet will be about $140,000 (10.3 million rubles).

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005029988267" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexander Malinin</a>, the Technical Director of <a href="https://www.avantspace.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Avant Space</a>

<hr />
 
 Previously, SpaceX and Canadian startup Geometric Energy Corporation <a href="https://www.ixbt.com/news/2021/08/13/ilon-mask-zapustit-pervyj-kosmicheskij-bilbord.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> plans to launch a satellite to broadcast advertisements from space. They plan to transmit information using a screen placed on a satellite’s board.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/startap-avant-space-sozdast-prilozhenie-dlya-rasshifrovki-reklamy-iz-kosmosa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Vedomosti

Avant Space to Launch a Solution for Advertising from Satellites 

Developers from Infotecs together with the <a href="https://quantum.msu.ru/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MSU Quantum Technology Cente</a><a href="https://quantum.msu.ru/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">r</a> completed the first stage of creating the University Quantum Network (UQN), which is based on the quantum cryptographic system for generating and distributing ViPNet QSS keys. The network is designed to transfer files, exchange audio messages, and conduct video conferencing.

 
 The creators position their invention as a network for research institutes, educational institutions, vendors, where they can test quantum secure communications, as well as gain access to a software platform for developers of quantum algorithms. New members can be connected to UQN, which will allow the use of quantum key distribution technologies to the fullest in the future. Vendors will launch the network later this year.

 
 The creation of the UQU started in December 2020. At the moment, the network unites the following locations in Moscow: the vendors’ office in Otradnoye, the Moscow State University campus on Leninskiye Gory, the Center for Quantum Technologies and MSU building on Mokhovaya str., where 5 quantum and 20 telephones are installed. The total length of the protected line is 30 km.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/infoteks-i-tsentr-kvantovykh-tekhnologii-mgu-zavershili-pervyi-etap-sozdaniia-universitetskoi-kvantovoi-seti/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ComNews

Quantum Network for Moscow University to be Launched in 2021

NtechLab's facial recognition system FindFace Multi is installed at 30 Indian railway stations, with a total of 470 cameras using intelligent video analytics.

 
 The system is capable of simultaneously recognizing up to 50 people in the frame on busy sections of railways. Authorities plan to use it to manage passenger traffic, count passengers, search for criminals and search for missing people.

 
 The system allows recognizing faces in the video stream within three seconds, comparing the results with databases of wanted persons, and if a match is found, send an alert to law enforcement officers.

 
 In the future, Indian officials plan to extend the technology to the entire country's railway network.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/findface-multi/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FindFace Multi </a>

<hr />
 
 Plans to launch a Russian face recognition system in India <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ntechlab-face-recognition-technology-will-be-used-in-the-indian-railway-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">were announced</a> at the end of June 2021, with plans to install NtechLab’s solution at 30 other railway stations in India, including the station in Mumbai, one of the most populated cities in the world.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1785/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

Russian Facial Recognition System Launched on Indian Railways

Moscow-based microelectronics company Sitronics (part of <a href="https://sistema.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AFK Sistema</a> holding) acquired 71.06% <a href="https://sputnix.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sputnix</a>, a manufacturer of satellite technologies and components for small spacecraft, for an undisclosed fee.

 
 The main purpose of the acquisition is to launch digital services and products based on space data from LEO satellites, Sitronics said. This primarily concerns automatic and identification systems in shipping and civil aviation.

 
 The company also does not exclude the possible use of data obtained from satellites for geoanalytics. In addition to increasing the level of its own developments, the company plans to reduce the share of dependence on foreign suppliers of space data.

<hr />
 
 Product Cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/its-sitroniks/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sitronics</a>

<hr />
 
 Skolkovo-based manufacturer Sputnix was founded in 2011 by <a href="https://www.scanex.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Scanex</a>, a satellite monitoring company engaged in the direct reception of data from ERS satellites via its own network of stations. Sputnix’ 2020 revenue <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/business/786390" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was estimated </a>at $1.45 million (108 million rubles), with the company’s net profit being $580,930 (42.9 million rubles).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sitroniks-priobrela-71-proizvoditelia-mikro-i-nanosputnikov-sputniks/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

CNews

Sitronics Buys Micro and Nanosatellites Manufacturer Sputnix

A unified service platform for science, which will provide access to the profiles of researchers, as well as facilitate interaction with the real economy, will be launched in Russia, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. The creation of such a platform is part of the strategy for the digital development of domestic science and higher education. 

 
 According to the <a href="https://ict.moscow/static/520035c9-fbfb-5b5f-91a3-a772f2d1b631.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">document</a>, by 2030, within the framework of the platform, the government will create a single ecosystem of services and services for joint research, which will provide access to international databases and support measures. The Ministry of Education and Science will be in charge of creating the system.

 
 “Portfolio” service and collective interaction in scientific projects are expected to be implemented later this year. By 2024 datasets of marked-up documents "State Dissernet", "Relevance of Research" will be launched.

 
 On December 25, President Vladimir Putin <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/vladimir-putin-signed-a-decree-on-holding-a-year-of-science-and-technology-in-russia-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">signed </a>a decree on holding the Year of Science and Technology in Russia in 2021. The government program for the development of domestic science and technologies, which started this year, was estimated at around $13.5 billion (1 trillion rubles), according to Chernyshenko.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/dmitrij-chernyshenko-v-rossii-sozdadut-edinuyu-cifrovuyu-platformu-dlya-nauki/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

The Russian Government

Russia to Create a Unified Digital Platform for Science

The General Radio Frequency Centre (GRFC), a Russian regulatory body (part of Roskomnadzor), has announced a <a href="https://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/documents.html?regNumber=32110582751" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">procurement auction</a> for the development of Unified Register of Internet Advertising.

 
 The system will take into account contracts for advertising activities on the internet, which are concluded by advertisers, advertising agencies, and distributors (the Internet sites on which ads are placed). The system will also store this data and, if necessary, provide it to the federal authorities. Market participants will be able to enter data into the database both independently and with the help of advertising data operators.

 
 The system will presumably allow online sites to control views within advertising campaigns, while advertisers will have information on the costs of distributing such content on each site on the Internet. Moreover, the system will make relations between advertisers and advertising agencies more transparent and will level the competition between Russian and foreign electronic ad platforms.

 
 The pilot launch of the registry is expected later this year.

 
 Plans to create the system were announced at the beginning of 2021. In May, the State Duma proposed to amend the law "On Advertising", and in July, Russian President <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/vladimir-putin-signed-a-decree-on-holding-a-year-of-science-and-technology-in-russia-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">signed</a> the bill “On Amendments to the Federal Law On Advertising”, which implies the creation of the unified register.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/struktura-roskomnadzora-sozdast-sistemu-ucheta-reklamy-v-runete/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

Regulator to Launch a Register of Advertising on the Russian Internet

Russian telecom giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=MTS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS </a>has chosen projects from MTS StartUp Hub incubator for integration into the infrastructure of the company's retail network. Among them are the solutions by Moscow startups, a platform for the provision of devices for rent by subscription Arenter as well as a contactless payment service Briskly.

 
 MTS will spend up to $6,755 (500 thousand rubles) on the pilot implementation of each solution, with projects being tested in MTS showrooms and online store by the end of the year. The decision for scaling might come after the pilot testing.

 
 Overall, the incubator has received 154 applications from international teams for its “Innovations in Retail” track. Other participants include an online platform for second-hand devices <a href="https://greatsteve.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Greatsteve </a>as well as a platform for automation and control in sales planning in stores <a href="https://heado.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heado</a>.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/arenter/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Arenter</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/briskly-1/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Briskly</a>

<hr />
 
 MTS StartUp Hub is an innovation and investment center for MTS, which consists of a corporate accelerator, a 5G Center, an MTS venture fund, a division for fast launch of pilots, and foreign representative offices.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-aprobiruet-v-roznichnoi-torgovle-resheniya-moskovskih-startapov-arenter-i-briskly/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS StartUp Hub

MTS to Test Retail Solutions by Moscow Startups Arenter and Briskly 

The Moscow Department of Transport announced plans to launch a pilot project to use the Troika virtual card (Moscow transport payment service) with Samsung Pay. The project will be the next stage in the development of contactless payments in the Moscow public transport system.

 
 According to the head of the department, Maxim Liksutov, 60 million passengers used the contactless payment service in Moscow public transport in the first seven months of 2021. The department hopes that Troika, as well as the FacePay function, will become widely used.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/troika/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troika</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Face Pay</a>

<hr />
 
 In December 2020, Moscow Metro, together with VTB, Google, Samsung, and Mastercard, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-launched-a-service-for-instant-fare-payment-in-partnership-with-vtb-google-and-mastercard/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">implemented </a>a new service for instant fare payments. Face Pay system <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/facepay-fare-payment-system-will-be-introduced-by-the-end-of-2021-in-the-moscow-metro/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">will be launched</a> at all Moscow metro stations by the end of 2021.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-zapustiat-pilotnyi-proekt-po-ispolzovaniiu-virtualnoi-karty-troika-v-samsung-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">(Original in Russian)</a>

Moscow Department of Transport

Moscow Integrates Samsung Pay with Troika Virtual Fare Card

In 2022, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR) plans to launch transfers to other countries through Faster Payments System (FPS), a service that allows individuals to make instant (24/7) interbank transfers to themselves or other persons using a mobile phone number.

 
 The measure can be implemented both in cooperation with similar foreign systems, and through cooperation with individual banks abroad. According to the CBR, banks will be able to provide customers with additional services for these transactions.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/faster-payment-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Faster Payments System</a>

<hr />
 
 The Faster Payments System, launched in 2019, was jointly developed by the Bank of Russia and the <a href="https://nspk.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">National Payment Card System</a>. As of <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/finances/15/02/2021/602a8cb49a7947cec280c3c3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">February 2021</a>, more than 16 million people were the system’s active users.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tsb-planiruet-zapusk-perevodov-v-drugie-strany-cherez-spb-v-2022-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

VC.ru

Bank of Russia to Launch Solution for International Money Transfer

Russian government has approved a <a href="http://static.government.ru/media/files/bW9wGZ2rDs3BkeZHf7ZsaxnlbJzQbJJt.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">roadmap </a>for the development of production and use of electric road transport through 2030, which is expected to become a driver of end-to-end technologies in Russia.

 
 The roadmap involves the development of a production base, building up technological competencies, introducing new products to the market, and creating an engineering and transport infrastructure. With its implementation, related end-to-end technologies and technological solutions based on them will also be developed. That includes AI, the IoT, big data systems, digital engineering, and digital twins.

 
 Among other improvements, the roadmap implicates vehicle control and driver assistance systems, sensors and robotics components, components for a smart car, integration of an electric vehicle with user devices, quantum technologies and cybersecurity of a car and IT infrastructure, big data and wireless technologies and other technologies and areas.

 
 Earlier in August, the Ministry of Transport <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-transport-introduces-a-draft-transport-strategy-of-russia-through-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">introduced </a>a draft transport strategy of Russia through 2030, which revealed the prospects for biometrics and driverless vehicles in Russian transport system.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/utverzhdennaya-koncepciya-razvitiya-elektrotransporta-v-rossii-stanet-drajverom-razvitiya-skvoznyh-tekhnologij/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Government Presents a Roadmap for the Development of Electric Transport and End-to-End Technologies

Moscow-based neobank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Tinkoff_Bank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tinkoff Bank</a> intends to open a digital bank in the Philippines as part of the company's strategy to enter the Asian financial market.

 
 The share capital of the digital subsidiary will amount to 2 billion Philippine pesos ($40 million). It will consist of 20 million ordinary shares with a par value of 100 Philippine pesos each. The initial fully paid-up capital of the subsidiary will reach 1 billion Philippine pesos.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tinkoff-bank/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tinkoff Bank</a>

<hr />
 
 Tinkoff bank is the biggest digital bank in Russia with more 13 million customers. The plans to enter the international markets of TCS Group, which includes Tinkoff Bank, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/russia-tcs-idUSL8N2L91M4" target="_blank">were announced</a> in March 2021.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tinkoff-reshil-otkryt-tsifrovoi-bank-na-filippinakh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Tinkoff to Open a Digital Bank in the Philippines

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation plans to introduce mandatory labeling of the electronic component base as well as components for manufacturers and importers. This is the first step to introduce a recycling fee for certain types of products.

 
 By the end of this year, the government will determine the range of electronic components to be labeled. At the same time, testing of the control system for the turnover of radio-electronic products will be carried out. The labeling experiment itself is scheduled for 2022, while the first results are expected in the beginning of 2023. The operator of the new information system will be Advanced Technologies Development Center.

 
 Moreover, domestic manufacturers, whose equipment is enlisted in the register of the ministry, will presumably be set to get compensation for the fee.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-minpromtorge-zadumalis-o-markirovke-mikroelektroniki-s-2022-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Mandatory Labeling of Microelectronics to be Instroduced in Russia from 2022

State-owned company Russian Railways is testing a new car parking payment system at the Leningradsky railway station that independently calculates the time a car is in the parking lot and reads the amount at the established rate.

 
 The terminals located at the entrance and exit are equipped with Fast Track technology and allow visitors to pay for parking in a contactless way. To do this, you need to bring the payment device to the terminal twice, at the entrance and exit. At the same time, the possibility of paying with a parking ticket remains. Based on the results of the pilot project, the system can be applied to other stations in Russia.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/fasttrack/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FastTrack</a>

<hr />
 
 Earlier July, it was reported that a new device <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-razrabotali-ustroistvo-dlia-avtomaticheskoi-oplaty-parkovki/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was developed</a> in Moscow that allows paying for parking without using a smartphone or parking meters.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rzd-testiruet-novyi-servis-oplaty-avtomobilnoi-parkovki-s-pomoshchiu-tekhnologii-fast-track/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RUBEZH

Russian Railways Tests Fast Track Technology for Parking Payment

Russian tech giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a> will acquire 100% of the online platform CM.Expert, which allows dealers to automate the management of secondhand car warehouses using data mining.

 
 CM.Expert will remain an independent company and will continue to develop independently. Yandex does not intend to influence the operational decisions and the work of the company.

 
 Due to implementation of Yandex’ technologies, including the use of machine learning, CM.Expert's demand analysis is expected to become more efficient, allowing dealers to receive a more accurate forecast of sale prices.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/cm-expert/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CM.Expert</a>

<hr />
 
 More than 1000 dealerships throughout Russia use CM.Expert products, according to Yandex. The platform manages more than $540 million (40 billion rubles) of capital invested in used cars, valuating more than 140,000 cars per month.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-vykupit-onlain-platformu-dlia-avtodilerov-cmexpert/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Yandex to Buy an Online Platform for Car Dealers CM.Expert

Budu, a Moscow-based HR tech startup, has launched a new service Hunty, which allows users to recommend their familiar specialists for open vacancies in large companies.

 
 In return for cooperation, the service offers a reward in case the specialist has passed a 90-day probation period. Otherwise, the startup returns the full amount to the employer or finds a new candidate.

 
 The founder of the service, Anton Fateev, positions Hunty as a replacement for recruiting agencies. The main difference between the service and recruiting agencies, in his opinion, is “warmer” recommendations.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anton.fateev.5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Anton Fateev</a>, the founder of Hunty

 
 

 
 

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/budu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Budu</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/hunty/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hunty</a>

<hr />
 
 Budu was launched in January 2020 and is now valued at $4 million. Earlier, the company <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/hr-startap-budu-napravit-1-mln-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>that it would raise $1 million from Setters communications agency by the end of 2021 for marketing purposes.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/moskovskii-hr-tech-startap-budu-zapustil-servis-rekomendatsii-spetsialistov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

HR Tech Budu Launches a Service of Expert Recommendations

TMK group, one of the world’s largest producers of tubular products for the oil and gas industry, plans to implement solutions from 14 Moscow-based tech startups.

 
 The enlisted solutions include projects for monitoring work processes, the quality of raw materials and finished products. Among them, TML announced AURORAi, a service for high-precision non-contact measurements of an object; PIME, a platform for interacting with a personal information and control field; Neuroscanner, a system for automatic decoding of hidden defects using AI methods; Monitoring Predictive, a system for monitoring operating modes and predictive diagnostics; Navigine, an indoor navigation platform.

 
 VR/AR developments for training and informing employees have also come to the attention of the company representatives. For example, ARPort SafetyVR platform for manufacturing skills and work safety training, Varwin solution for creating, editing and distributing AR/VR content and applications.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/aurorai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AURORAi</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/pime/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">PIME</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/neuroscanner-1/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Neuroscanner</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/monitoring-predictive/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Monitoring Predictive</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/navigine/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Navigine</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/arport-safetyvr/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ARPort SafetyVR</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/varwin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Varwin</a>

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 The startups were selected by the company following the PipeIndustryTech track of the Moscow Accelerator program. The track was launched in March 2021 in cooperation with <a href="https://innoagency.ru/en.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Moscow Innovation Agency</a>. More than 320 Moscow high-tech companies applied for participation.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/proekty-moskovskikh-startapov-vnedriat-na-predpriiatiiakh-tmk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

14 Moscow-based Startups Enlisted in Manufacturing Industry

Kismet Capital Group, a Moscow-based private equity company, has sent an offer to Veon Ltd. to buy its cell towers in Russia, where Beeline’s, a Veon’s subsidiary and Russia’s second-largest telecom operator, equipment is currently located. The terms of the offer were not disclosed yet.

 
 According to analysts from AC&M Consulting, at the beginning of 2021, the National Tower Company, which owns the Veon’s antenna mast structures, had about 15 thousand towers. Earlier, in the course of Veon’s negotiations with another potential buyer, the deal value was estimated at $810-945 million.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-tavrin-651313211/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivan Tavrin</a>, the CEO of <a href="https://kismetcg.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kismet Capital Group</a>

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 Kismet is run by Ivan Tavrin, former CEO of Megafon, Russia’s third-largest telecom operator. In February 2021, Tavrin <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-18/ex-megafon-chief-raises-450-million-for-two-europe-tech-spacs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">raised</a> $450 million for two SPACs targeting acquisitions in the European tech industry, Kismet Acquisition One and Kismet Acquisition Two.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/kismet-khochet-priobresti-vyshki-veon/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kismet Wants to Buy 15 Thousand Towers From Veon

Rostec, a Russian state-owned tech giant, has established Spektr, a new company, on the basis of which it plans to create a national vendor of telecommunication solutions for 4G, 5G, and next generations communication standards.

 
 For this, a cooperation of Russian manufacturers of equipment for communication networks will deployed around the new company.

 
 Pavel Smirnov, the former head of the Scientific Research Institute Masshtab, will become the general director of Spektr. The board of directors of the company will be headed by the director for special assignments of Rostec Vasily Brovko.

 
 According to Russian telecom operator MegaFon, the new company will have to not only create competitive equipment for 5G by 2023, but also prepare the infrastructure to provide 4G federal highways and sparsely populated areas. MTS stated that they are open to mutually beneficial cooperation with all equipment manufacturers. Beeline and Tele2 declined to comment.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mstb.smirnov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pavel Smirnov</a>, the CEO of Spektr

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ru.sreda" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vasily Brovko</a>, Director for Special Assignments of <a href="https://rostec.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rostec</a>

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 In November 2020, the Russian government <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/5g-networks-in-russia-will-be-built-using-only-domestic-equipment/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that fifth-generation networks using only domestic telecom equipment. Operators <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telecoms-in-russia-get-10-year-lte-license-renewal-with-new-requirements/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">will have to use it</a> starting from 2023 to roll out 4G.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostekh-uchredil-budushchego-natsionalnogo-vendora-oborudovaniia-dlia-setei-sviazi-4g-5g-i-6g-1/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rostec Creates a New Enterprise for 4G, 5G and 6G Solutions 

<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=MTS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS</a>, a Russian telecom giant, <a href="https://ict.moscow/static/26da8203-a475-5d14-b445-be0fb9431a56.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">plans</a> to restructure the company, with its tower and digital assets separating into separate legal entities.

 
 According to the company’s CEO Vyacheslav Nikolaev, such a decision will make the assets more approachable for investors and increase the efficiency of the management structure.

 
 One of the companies will be called MTS WEB Services, the company specified. It will include the existing divisions of the MTS’ cloud and network infrastructure as well as data centers. This subsidiary will also receive radio subsystems, a transport-switching network, fixed-line resources, and more. The staff will be 9.5 thousand people. MTS will remain the holder of the licenses for the use of frequencies.

 
 MTS expects the allocation of assets to be completed by early 2022, provided that the decision is approved at the meeting of shareholders.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/viacheslav-nikolaev-86762810/detail/background-image/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vyacheslav Nikolaev</a>, the President & the CEO of <a href="http://ir.mts.ru/home/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS</a> 

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 On August 2, Russian regulator <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telecoms-in-russia-get-10-year-lte-license-renewal-with-new-requirements/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">prolonged</a> the current permits to use the frequencies or LTE networks for another 10 years term, provided that operators will install only Russian-made equipment in LTE networks. MTS expressed its willingness to purchase the competitive Russian equipment with the required characteristics, quality, and prices.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-sdelaet-otdelnymi-iurlitsami-bashennye-i-tsifrovye-aktivy-kompanii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS to Make its Tower and Digital Assets Separate Legal Entities

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 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/d5aef5c2-eec1-5cf5-bdf6-10b71a6b9e2a.png">
</div>
 
 Photo Credit: Yandex
 

 
 A total of 50 Yandex.Rovers, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a>’ line of delivery robots, have been launched at the Ohio State University campus in cooperation with American food delivery service Grubhub. The robots will deliver food to more than 60 thousand customers from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Students can request robots to deliver food to every residence hall on campus as well as Thompson Library and Bricker Hall.

 
 Self-driving units move along sidewalks and pedestrian zones at a speed of 5-8 km/h (3-5 mi/h). Starting from the fall semester of 2021, Yandex and Grubhub plan to bring the robots to around 250 American campuses.

 
 “We’re excited to bring this cutting-edge and efficient delivery experience to students at The Ohio State University,” Brian Madigan, the Vice President of Corporate and Campus Partners at Grubhub, said. “OSU and Grubhub have worked together for years to offer students a variety of ways to enjoy the food they love on campus. Now we’re building on our efforts to enhance the dining experience through Yandex’s rover technology for quicker and easier deliveries.”

 
 Yandex.Rover robots have been functioning in Russian cities since last year. Around 100 units make several hundred deliveries a day.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/tigrankhudaverdyan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tigran Khudaverdyan</a>, the Deputy CEO of <a href="https://yandex.com/company/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a>

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmadigan/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brian Madigan</a>, the VP & GM of Corporate and Campus Clients at <a href="https://www.grubhub.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Grubhub</a>

 
 Product card

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/iandeks-rover/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">Yandex.Rover</a>

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 In July 2021, Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-grubhub-launching-food-delivery-bots-on-250-u-s-college-campuses/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the plans to launch food delivery robots in US colleges as part of Grubhub’s campus delivery program during the 2021 fall semester.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-zapustil-rovery-na-territorii-pervogo-kampusa-v-ssha/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Yandex

Yandex and Grubhub Launch Food Delivery Robots at the Ohio University Campus

Skyeng, one of the leading Russian edtech companies, is buying Kodium, an online programming school for children. The deal is scheduled to close in the near future, its terms were not disclosed yet.

 
 Following the closing of the deal, the school's training courses will be adapted to the Skysmart interactive educational platform for children and adolescents (part of Skyeng ecosystem). This unit will be headed by Maxim Vasiliev, CEO of Kodium.

 
 The practices of key international players show a global trend towards industry consolidation and Russia is not an exception, Alexander Laryanovsky, the Managing Partner of Skysmart, said. Kodium is able to create the best product on a global scale, being one of the fastest growing online programming schools on Russia as well, he adds.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maaaxv" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Maxim Vasiliev</a>, the CEO of Kodium

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laryanovskiy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aleksander Laryanovsky</a>, the Managing Partner of <a href="https://skyengschool.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skyeng</a>

 
 Product cards 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/kodium/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kodium</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skyeng/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skyeng</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skysmart/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skysmart</a>

<hr />
 
 Online school Kodium was founded by entrepreneur Maxim Vasiliev in 2019. The school teaches programming to children from 6 to 15 years old. The company cooperates with 180 teachers from different countries. Skyeng is ranked number 13 in Forbes' <a href="https://www.forbes.ru/biznes-photogallery/393345-20-samyh-dorogih-kompaniy-runeta-reyting-forbes" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">top 20 most valued Russian internet companies</a> in 2020, with its valuation estimated at $130 million.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/skyeng-pokupaet-onlain-shkolu-programmirovaniia-kodium/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

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