    <p>
    MTS, Russia’s largest mobile operator, has bought out 70% of the authorized capital of <a href="https://sistema-capital.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sistema Capital</a> management company LLC, one of the largest management companies in Russia in terms of collective investments, for $48.1 million (3.5 billion rubles).
</p>
    <p>
    Two divisions, Sistema Finance and Sistema Telecom (controlled by AFK Sistema), signed binding agreements for the sale of their shares to Mobile TeleSystems B.V. (a subsidiary of MTS).
</p>
    <p>
    As a result of the deal, the share of MTS in the authorized capital of Sistema Capital Management Company will increase from 30% to 100%. Through the transaction, the company plans to increase its market position in digital investment services, <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4988122" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Ilya Filatov, Vice President for Financial Services of MTS.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-dovela-svoiu-doliu-v-uk-sistema-kapital-do-100/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Sistema Public Joint Stock Financial Corporation

MTS Buys Out Sistema Capital Management Company 

    <p>
    A Service for taxi drivers Muver, which collects orders from taxi aggregators and delivery services in one application, raised $1.2 million for development in the US market.
</p>
    <p>
    The lead investor was the Russian venture capital fund Xploration Capital, the investment fund Baring Vostok, the Rapid Ladder Capital fund, the investment company A.Partners and the syndicate of investors of the Angelsdeck club also participated in the deal. The value of Muver was estimated at $8 million. Investors will receive 15% of its shares.
</p>
    <p>
    According to the company, Muver's revenue reached $100,000 in 2020, while the number of paying users exceeded 1,500.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/muver/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Muver</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stanislav.levykin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Stanislav Levykin</a>, CEO of Gig Partners
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    Muver app was launched in 2018 by a Moscow company Smart City Technology. Two years later, Muver left the domestic market and began developing in the United States. The legal entity Gig Partners is engaged in the further development of the service.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/agregator-dlya-taksistov-muver-privlek-1-2-mln-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Forbes

Aggregator for Taxi Drivers Muver Raises $1.2 Million for Development

    <p>
    Moscow-based international cybersecurity services provider <a href="https://softline.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Softline</a> has acquired the licensing business of Squalio, an international data processing technology company. This business line accounted for 98% of the company's total revenue in 2020.
</p>
    <p>
    The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sandis Kolomenskis will remain the CEO of Squalio. He will continue to run the licensing business with the support of Softline. The structure of other Squalio businesses will not change.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Softline" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Softline</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    The deal is consistent with plans for further expansion of the company in Europe, Softline said. Over the past year, the company has increased the share of its international business to 45%.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/softline-kupila-litsenzionnyi-biznes-squalio/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russia)</a>
</p>

ComNews

Softline Buys Squalio's Licensing Business

    <p>
    Veon holding (the parent company of Russian telecom operator Beeline) announced the sale of its cellular towers in Russia to the Service-Telecom group of companies for $965 million (70.65 billion rubles).
</p>
    <p>
    The deal will include the National Tower Company, owned by Veon, and about 15.4 thousand antenna mast structures. According to the press service of Beeline, the deal requires approval from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), while its closure is scheduled on the fourth quarter of 2021.
</p>
    <p>
    After the deal is concluded, the operator will lease the towers from Service-Telecom. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the first lease period will be 8 years. The terms of the deal also contain Beeline's obligations to order the construction of an additional 5,000 towers according to the build-to-suit model through 2029 inclusive.
</p>
    <p>
    In total, Veon owns 50 thousand towers, <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/business/06/09/2021/6135ae549a79470403de2b04" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to RBC. The reason for the sale of the infrastructure is to optimize the use of the towers, since the issue of coverage throughout the Russian Federation has been resolved, accorging to experts. After the sale is completed, equipment from several companies, including competing companies, may appear on the towers.
</p>
    <p>
    In August 2021, Kismet Capital Group, a Moscow-based private equity company, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/kismet-wants-to-buy-15-thousand-towers-from-veon/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">has sent </a>an offer to Veon Ltd. to buy its cell towers in Russia.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/veon-obiavil-o-prodazhe-bashennykh-aktivov-v-rossii-servis-telekom-za-70-mlrd-rublei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

Beeline

Veon Sells Tower Assets in Russia to Service-Telecom for $1 Billion

    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Russian telecom operator Beeline has purchased 67% of the advertising and technological platform OTM, according to <a href="https://www.veon.com/investors/reports-results/reports-results/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">information </a>from Veon (Beeline's head company). The deal was valued at $16 million, making the entire company's valuation around $24 million.
</p>
    <p>
    The operator will use OTM to collect large amounts of customer data through the tools of the advertising platform. In particular, OTM allows carrying out programmatic purchases of advertising on mobile devices and stationary computers. To target ads, the platform uses big data tools collected from various sources.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/otm/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">OTM</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    In March, it was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/beeline-plans-to-acquire-otm-advertising-and-technology-platform/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that Beeline was planning to buy more than 51% of the platform. In June, the operator <a href="https://vc.ru/marketing/259268-vladelec-bilayna-kupil-kontrol-v-platforme-dlya-zakupok-internet-reklamy-otm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">bought </a>the platform, but then the company did not disclose the share and amount of the transaction.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilajn-kupil-67-reklamnoj-platformy-otm-za-16-mln/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

Beeline Buys a 67% Stake of the Ads Platform OTM for $16 Million

    <p>
    Telecom holding <a href="https://ertelecom.ru/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ER-Telecom</a> has closed the deal for the acquisition of the IoT company <a href="https://lar.tech/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lartech</a>. According to the holding's press service, on the basis of the new asset, Innovation Centers will be created in a number of technology parks.
</p>
    <p>
    The deal will help ER-Telecom to strengthen its position in the IoT market; some of Lartech's solutions for the power industry have already been included in the company's product portfolio. In the future, it is planned to jointly develop new IoT products for other industries.
</p>
    <p>
    Established in 2001, ER-Telecom is one of the leading Russian telecom companies, providing services of broadband Internet access, telephony, digital TV, access to Wi-Fi, VPN, LoRaWAN networks, video surveillance and integrated solutions based on technologies of the industrial Internet of things (IoT).
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/er-telekom-zaiavil-o-zavershenii-sdelki-po-pokupke-lartekh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

ER-Telecom

ER-Telecom buys IoT Startup Lartech

    <p>
    VTB, one of the leading Russian banks, is in the process of purchasing the PAYMO processing company, with the deal amounting to $13.7 million (1 billion rubles).
</p>
    <p>
    According to experts, the deal will be beneficial for VTB, since PAYMO offers a convenient platform for accepting payments. It will also allow VTB to update the processing center and attract new customers from the field of online sales in various fields.
</p>
    <p>
    VTB itself did not comment on the deal, but noted that they pay increased attention to the development of digital products and services. According to SPARK, the full owner of the company is Luxembourg-based PAYMO Investments SA. It cooperates with over 100 utility providers, conducting up to 30 thousand transactions daily.
</p>
    <p>
    Last year, VTB <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4888707" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">acquired </a>software from the processing company OpenWay, to which a significant part of the bank's operations was eventually transferred. In addition, VTB owns holdings in the processing company MultiCarta.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/vtb-planiruet-priobresti-processingovuyu-kompaniyu-paymo/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

Kommersant

VTB to Acquire Processing Company PAYMO

    <p>
    Media holding RBC is planning to sell the Digital Infrastructure for Business segment, which is based on the hosting provider Ru-center. Preliminary agreement on the sale has already been signed, but the name of the buyer has not been disclosed yet. The amount of the transaction will be approved by September 20 this year.
</p>
    <p>
    It also clarifies that the sale plan was approved back in April. At the same time, the search for a potential buyer began.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ru-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ru-Center</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    RBC's business consists of two segments, "Media/Information and Services" and "Digital Infrastructure". At the end of last year, the main revenue from the media segment to 3.1 billion rubles, the share of "Digital Infrastructure" accounted for 2.64 billion rubles.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rbk-prodast-podrazdelenie-ru-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

RBC to Sell its Digital Infrastructure Division

    <p>
    Russian tech giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a> will buy out 100% of Uber's shares in Yandex.Eats, Yandex.Lavka, and Yandex.Delivery, as well as in the business of self-driving vehicles (passenger cars and Yandex.Rovers), by the end of the year. The deal is estimated at $1 billion.
</p>
    <p>
    Yandex will also acquire 4.5% interest in the newly restructured MLU joint venture, which will focus on mobility businesses (ride-hailing and car-sharing), giving Yandex a 71% ownership in the venture. Within two years, Yandex plans to buy out the remaining 29% of Uber’s interest at the price of $2 billion if exercised in September 2023.
</p>
    <p>
    In addition, Yandex will get an extension of the current license for the exclusive right to use the Uber brand in Russia and certain other countries until August 2030.
</p>
    <p>
    The deal marks the company’s plans to bring all its e-commerce businesses together, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daniil.shyleiko/posts/5113811611966694" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Daniil Shuleyko, the Head of E-Commerce and Ridetech Business Group of Yandex.
</p>
    <p>
    “<i>The consolidation of these businesses puts us in a great position to further increase strategic management flexibility, while creating new substantial growth potential for our businesses and cross-platform consumer benefits over the years to come, allowing us to unlock new sources of value for our shareholders</i>,”  the Deputy CEO of Yandex Tigran Khudaverdyan said in a statement.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigrankhudaverdyan/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tigran Khudaverdyan</a>, Deputy CEO of Yandex <br><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniil-syleiko-b183b254/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniil Shuleyko</a>, Head of E-Commerce and Ridetech group of Yandex
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-eats/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Eats</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-lavka/" target="_blank">Yandex.Lavka</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Delivery</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    In 2017, Yandex.Taxi and Uber <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-yandex-jointventure/uber-yandex-complete-ride-services-merger-idUSKBN1FR2IR" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">signed an agreement</a> to merge their businesses and operations in Russia as well as in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, completing the merger in February 2018. Yandex invested $100 million, while Uber contributed $225 million in the new structure.
</p>
    <div>
        <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/daniil.shyleiko/posts/5113811611966694">
            <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
                 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/80ff5985-fd97-51c3-91c7-bb60861b817d.png">
        </a>
    </div>
    <p class="grayText">
        On the right: company structure before the deal. On the left: company structure after the deal. Courtesy of Yandex.
    </p>

    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-polnostiu-priobretet-doli-uber-v-iandeks-ede-lavke-dostavke-i-bespilotnikakh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Yandex

Yandex to Acquire Uber’s Interest in FoodTech, Delivery and Self-Driving Businesses

    <p>
    The global crowdsourced delivery service Dostavista with Russian roots has raised $35 million, changing its international brand to Borzo.
</p>
    <p>
    The Funding round C was led by Flashpoint, AddVenture, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), as well as VNV Global (Sweden) and the Mubadala (UAE), with terms of the deal undisclosed. Using the raised funds, the company plans to strengthen its international position under the new brand and develop new products.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-alexandrovski-ab37551/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Alexandrovsk</a>i and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitry-n-zubkov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dmitry Zubkov</a>, the founders of <a href="https://borzodelivery.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dostavista (Borzo)</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/dostavista/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dostavista</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    Borzo (formerly Dostavista) was founded in Moscow in 2012 by entrepreneurs Mike Alexandrovski and Dmitry Zubkov. According to the company’s <a href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/dostavista" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">profile</a> on Crunchbase, it currently operates in 10 countries under the brand Borzo with headquarter in Amsterdam. Its Russian service retained the brand name Dostavista.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/platforma-borzo-razvivaiushchaia-servis-dostavista-privlekla-35-mln/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

RB.ru

Delivery Service Dostavista Raises $35 Million, Rebrands to Borzo

    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product Cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/its-sitroniks/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sitronics</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    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).
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sitroniks-priobrela-71-proizvoditelia-mikro-i-nanosputnikov-sputniks/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

CNews

Sitronics Buys Micro and Nanosatellites Manufacturer Sputnix

    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/cm-expert/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CM.Expert</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-vykupit-onlain-platformu-dlia-avtodilerov-cmexpert/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

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

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

Vedomosti

Kismet Wants to Buy 15 Thousand Towers From Veon

    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    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.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maaaxv" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Maxim Vasiliev</a>, the CEO of Kodium
</p>
    <p>
    <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>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards </b>
</p>
    <p>
    <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>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    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.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/skyeng-pokupaet-onlain-shkolu-programmirovaniia-kodium/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

rusven

Skyeng to Buy Kodium Online Programming School

    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Sberbank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sberbank</a> announced the closure of the deal to acquire 100% of Jivosite Inc, the Moscow-based JivoChat customer service platform developer that operates in Moscow and in Washington, DC.
</p>
    <p>
    The founders of the platform, Timur Valishev and Nikolai Ivannikov, will continue to work in the company as the CEO and CTO, respectively. The deal was made for an undisclosed fee, which could have amounted to $20-27 million (1.5-2 billion rubles), according to Kommersant newspaper’s previous <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4848235" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">estimates</a>.
</p>
    <p>
    Sberbank notes that Jivo has already entered the company's ecosystem: entrepreneurs have received a service for communicating with their audience. The plans include even deeper integration and further development of the Jivo service.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/timur.valishev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Timur Valishev</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-ivannikov-37048979/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nikolai Ivannikov</a>, the founders of <a href="https://www.jivochat.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JivoChat</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    JivoChat is an all-in-one business messenger that combines several custumer support channels including live chat, phone, email, and social media. Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/jivo-a-customer-communication-platform-will-be-included-in-the-sberbank-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the plans to buy Jivosite in June 2021.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sberbank-zakryl-sdelku-po-pokupke-prilozheniia-dlia-biznes-kommunikatsii-jivo/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

Sberbank

Sberbank Buys Customer Service Platform Jivo

    <p>
    The ticketing service operator<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/kassir-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Kassir.ru</a> has acquired 60% of the <a href="https://business.radario.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Radario</a> platform for an undisclosed fee and plans to buy out the remaining share within three years.
</p>
    <p>
    According to Denis Kuskov, the CEO of Telecom Daily, Radario occupied 3-4% share of the market, or $4-5.4 million (300-400 million rubles). The last major deals in the market took place in 2018, when telecoms operator MTS bought 100% of Ticketland for $43.3 million (3.19 billion rubles) and 78.2% Ponominalu.ru for $4.3 million (321 million rubles), becoming one of the market leaders. Kassir.ru’s deal reflects the company’s willingness to sidestep MTS, Kuskov said.
</p>
    <p>
    According to forecasts of Evgeny Finkelstein, the CEO of Kassir.ru, the deal will increase the company’s sales by 30–35%, considering that Kassir.ru’s pre-crisis turnover was around $176.6 million (13 billion rubles). Finkelstein estimates the entire market for ticket sales to theaters and concerts at $1 billion (80 billion rubles). Thus, as a result of the takeover, the market share of Kassir.ru will grow from 16% to 22.5%.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with </b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004623333645" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Evgeny Finkelstein</a>, CEO of <a href="https://www.kassir.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kassir.ru</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denis.kuskov.9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Denis Kuskov</a>, CEO of <a href="https://telecomdaily.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Telecom Daily</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    In July 2021, Kassir.ru bought back its share from TCS Group (the parent company of Tinkoff Bank), which acquired its stake in Kassir.ru in 2018.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/kassir-ru-kupil-60-platformy-dlia-prodazhi-biletov-radario/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Kassir.ru Buys 60% of Ticketing Platform Radario

    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Moscow-based AI startup <a href="https://zebrains.ru/contact-us" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ZeBrains </a>has raised $1 million in an investment round led by Ruslan Fazlyev, the founder of SaaS developer Ecwid, and Sergey Bulaev, the founder of media platform Lifehacker.
</p>
    <p>
    The project’s valuation was estimated at $8 million. ZeBrains intends to use the raised funds to increase the staff of specialists, as well as research and development in the field of artificial intelligence.
</p>
    <p>
    “I am very optimistic about this deal and am glad that I am joining the business and joining the board of directors of the company”, Ruslan Fazlyev told TAdviser.
</p>
    <p>
    According to him, the market has a huge demand for and, at the same time, a significant shortage of talent in the field of AI and mobile apps development. ZeBrains is a company that, in such conditions, builds up talent and makes it available to the market, he added.
</p>
    <p>
    
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aznakai" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ruslan Fazlyev</a> (Ecwid) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sergey.bulaev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sergey Bulaev</a> (Lifehacker)
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    ZeBrains is part of the <a href="https://itech-group.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ITECH.group</a> headed by entrepreneur <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexander.shcherbina" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexander Shcherbina</a>, who owns a 54.9% stake in it, while the company's CEO <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/ramil-zayneev-86a55289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ramil Zayneev</a> has 25.1% and American investment companies GL Brothers and Votnet have 5% each. The overall staff includes 180 people as of August 2021.
</p>

TAdviser

AI Startup ZeBrains Raises $1Million

    <p>
    <i>The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories</i>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    MARKET IN BRIEF
</h2>

<div>
    <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
         src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/052cdeff-c2a9-553a-bd6b-7a66d50ab589.png">
</div>
    <p class="grayText">
        <i>Source:&nbsp;Wikipedia</i>
    </p>

    <p>
    <br>
</p>
<ul>
    <li>Morgan Stanley <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/morgan-stanley-values-yandexs-driverless-company-at-7-billion-1/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Values</a> Yandex's Driverless Company at $7 Billion</li>
    <li>Cognitive Pilot <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cognitive-pilot-brings-agricultural-drones-to-the-us-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brings</a> Agricultural Drones to the US Market </li>
    <li>ExoAtlet <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cognitive-pilot-brings-agricultural-drones-to-the-us-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gets</a> FDA Approval To Sell Medical Exoskeletons in the US </li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>Moscow Metro <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-introduces-face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Introduces</a> Face Pay</li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>New Service for OTT Platforms <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/new-service-for-ott-platform-launched-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Launched</a> in Moscow</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    
</p>
<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
            <p><b>GOV AGENDA</b></p>
            <p>Russia to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-to-increase-the-export-of-cloud-gaming-55-times-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Increase</a> the Export of Cloud Gaming 55 times by 2030</p>
            <p>Russian Officials <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-officials-defined-ai-projects-for-government-support-program/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Defined</a> AI Projects for Government Support Program</p>
            <p>Telecoms in Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telecoms-in-russia-get-10-year-lte-license-renewal-with-new-requirements/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Get</a> 10-year LTE License Renewal with New Requirements</p>
    </div>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" target="_blank"><b>More news →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
    <li>Startup Evidently AI <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-startup-evidently-ai-raises-125-000-from-the-us-venture-fund-y-combinator/" target="_blank">Raises</a> $125,000 from the US Venture Fund Y Combinator </li>
    <li>Edtech Novakid <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/edtech-startup-novakid-raises-35-ml-to-enter-asian-markets/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises</a> $35 ml to Enter Asian Markets</li>
    <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-plans-to-purchase-foodtech-bartello/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans</a> to Purchase FoodTech Bartello </li>
</ul>

<hr />
<h2>
    ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>researches, monitorings, reports and other analytics of Moscow and Russian IT market</i>
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/iot-spending-in-russia-in-2020/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IDC</a>: IoT spending in Russia in 2020 →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/express-delivery-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DATA INSIGHT</a>: Russian express delivery market →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-market-of-5g-smartphones/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SVYAZNOY</a>: 5G smartphones market in Russia →</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    <br><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/" target="_blank"><b>More analytics →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    KEY ACTORS IN IT
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow</i>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Ekaterina Bereziy</b>, CEO of ExoAtlet | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katka.bereziy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Danila Nikolaev</b>, Co-founder of Bortello | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/danila.nikolaev.5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Olga Uskova</b>, CEO of Cognitive Pilot | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000826626015" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Ekaterina Mironova</b>, CEO of NUT.Tech | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinamironova/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Maxim Azarov</b>, CEO of NovaKid | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mazarov/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    MORE
</h2>

    <p>
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NGgch0ymOajqNHadPVGsmjUvD1W5B6Z" target="_blank">Videos</a> from the fifth annual international summit ‘Machines Can See’ held by VisionLabs on July 8, 2021 that focused on human-centric technologies based on analysis of person's attributes without collecting and analyzing personal data. Leading experts in computer vision and machine learning discuss technology trends and share experience: Dima Damen, Efstratios Gavves, Bernard S. Ghanem, Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman, and Kris Kitani.
</p>
    <div>
        <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NGgch0ymOajqNHadPVGsmjUvD1W5B6Z">
            <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
                 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/53f9beb6-8554-5e26-b9aa-40b77fab0e1e.png">
        </a>
    </div>

    <p>
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NGgch0ymOajqNHadPVGsmjUvD1W5B6Z" style="" target="_blank"><b>Watch videos →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/?filterCategory=Tech-in-Moscow">Previous Tech in Moscow newsletters</a>
</p>

The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories

ICT.Moscow

Tech in Moscow #26 (2 August - 6 August 2021)

    <p>
    According to Forbes, Moscow-based telecoms company <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=MTS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS</a> is negotiating the purchase of the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/bartello/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bartello</a> service for instant ordering of drinks and food in bars and restaurants.
</p>
    <p>
    As the co-founder of the company <a href="https://www.facebook.com/danila.nikolaev.5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Danila Nikolayev</a> explained to Forbes, Bartello is already integrated as a separate service into the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/mts-live/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS Live</a> app, but the company does not conduct “<i>explicit negotiations on the sale</i>”, because “<i>there is no such goal</i>”.
</p>
    <p>
    According to the CEO of TelecomDaily <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denis.kuskov.9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Denis Kuskov</a>, the deal may become an extension of Bartello's partnership with MTS Live, with the capabilities of both apps to be combined. Thus, in addition to payment features, Bartello may, for instance, have events managing, tickets purchase, and other services.
</p>
    <p>
    Bartello was founded in 2018. In 2019, the startup raised $82,700 (6 million rubles) from <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Qiwi" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Qiwi</a> and gained access to the Qiwi payment infrastructure, merchant acquiring, payment service, and bank billing.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-vedet-peregovory-o-pokupke-servisa-bartello/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

MTS Plans to Purchase FoodTech Bartello

    <p>
    An online learning platform for employees <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/teachbase/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Teachbase</a> raised investment from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DAVoloshin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dmitry Voloshin</a>, a venture investor and co-founder of the Otus educational online platform, Rusbase reports. The amount of investment was not disclosed, but Voloshin received 5% of the project.
</p>
    <p>
    According to the founder of Teachbase Vladimir Shcherbakov, now the company is focused on scaling the sales of the current product and developing the project stream.
</p>
    <p>
    “<i>A unique feature of Teachbase is its flexibility and the ability to quickly create custom projects. I believe that based on our product we may well create (and are already building) a leading integrator of educational solutions,</i>” he explained.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/platforma-teachbase-privlekla-investitsii-na-masshtabirovanie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

Teachbase Raises Investment for Scaling

    <p>
    Education platform <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/uchi-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Uchi.ru</a> (25% owned by<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Mail.Ru_Group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Mail.ru Group</a>) acquired 8.7% in online school <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tutoronline/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TutorOnline</a>, which has an office in Moscow. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed. TutorOnline intends to use the raised funds for platform development, content projects, as well as attracting new customers, Vedomosti reports.
</p>
    <p>
    The deal will enable Uchi.ru to expand its share of online education market for the mid- and high school, <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/ilya-parshin-034129a8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ilya Parshin</a>, CEO of the company, says. Sergey Libin, an analyst at Raiffeisenbank, estimates the amount of investment to be around $2.7-$5.4 million (200-400 million rubles), when evaluating the entire asset at a multiplier of 5-10 annual earnings. <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Mail.Ru_Group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mail.ru Group</a>, the co-owner of Uchi.ru, plans to make based on this asset a "springboard" for investments in the edtech sector, the expert suggests.
</p>
    <p>
    The TutorOnline project was launched in 2011. It provides individual online tutoring services. The company's revenue, according to its data, in 2020 increased 2.8 times to $3.2 million (238 million rubles). According to this indicator, TutorOnline ranks 27th in the overall rating of the largest EdTech projects in the CIS, according to Smart Ranking.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/uchi-ru-stala-sovladeltsem-onlain-shkoly-tutoronline/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>
</p>

Edtech Uchi.ru Buys a Share in TutorOnline

    <p>
    Russian telecoms operator MTS acquired 51% in <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/factorin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Factorin</a>, a blockchain-based trading platform, for $11.7 million in a deal with Digital Horizon. Around $4.7 million of the total investment will be used for company development, according to MTS.
</p>
    <p>
    Factorin founder <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/amaklin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrey Maklin</a> and the team retained 25% in the company, while Digital Horizon kept 24%. The acquisition will allow MTS to expand the ecosystem of financial services for corporate clients, namely, to provide factoring services using blockchain.
</p>
    <p>
    Andrey Maklin <a href="https://factorin.io/news/00200" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">notes </a>that the deal will help to “<i>transform entire areas of fintech services for the B2B segment on a major scale</i>”. He estimates the trade finance factoring market to grow to reach more than $100 billion by 2024.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-priobrela-kontrol-v-blokchein-platforme-factorin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

MTS Acquires Controlling Stake in Factorin

    <p>
    According to The Bell, Yandex is negotiating the acquisition of the Azbuka Vkusa supermarket chain. The deal is aimed at creating synergy with Yandex.Lavka, a product delivery service. According to one of the sources, both companies are targeting the premium audience, Lavka is actively developing the sale of ready-to-eat food, the segment in which Azbuka Vkusa is strong, and will be able to quickly expand this area with the help of the deal.
</p>
    <p>
    One of the sources mentioned Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, a premium supermarket chain, as an example. Whole Foods has retained the stores and the retailer’s brand after the acquisition.
</p>
    <p>
    The representative of Yandex said the company would not comment on the rumors. Representatives of Azbuka Vkusa refused to comment, the newspaper writes.
</p>
    <p>
    Azbuka Vkusa is one of the key partners of Yandex.Lavka, The Bell reminds. The service has been selling ready-to-eat food from Azbuka Vkusa for several months, and the retailer announced that it would give the exclusive rights for express food delivery to the services of Yandex, and would refuse to partner with its competitors.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-vedet-peregovory-o-pokupke-seti-azbuka-vkusa/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

The Bell

Yandex is negotiating the acquisition of the Azbuka Vkusa retail chain

    <p>
    According to RBC, Beeline acquires DataFort, a cloud division of IBS. The deal can be completed in the coming days. However, the companies will have to obtain permission from the government commission on monitoring foreign investment, since DataFort works with cryptographic tools, and VimpelCom belongs to VEON, which is a foreign holding. The FAS confirmed that the commission had already received the application for the deal.
</p>
    <p>
    IBS estimates that the value of its subsidiary company is 2.5-3 billion rubles. According to another source, for Beeline the deal is “a very good opportunity to strengthen its cloud services b2b direction, and for IBS it is a good exit”.
</p>
    <p>
    According to iKS-Consulting, in 2020 the value of the Russian cloud market grew by 19.5% compared to the previous year and reached almost 99.7 billion rubles. The largest players were subsidiary companies of Rostelecom (20.8%) and MTS (11.2%), as well as CROC (8.3%), Selectel (8.2%) and SberCloud (6.2%).
</p>
    <p>
    In early April, TAdviser <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-vedet-peregovory-o-pokupke-oblachnogo-provaidera-ibs-datafort" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that Beeline was negotiating the acquisition of IBS DataFort cloud provider.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-pokupaet-oblachnyi-biznes-u-ibs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Beeline acquires cloud business from IBS

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ICT.Moscow  — Market in Brief

    <p>
    <i>The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories</i>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    MARKET IN BRIEF
</h2>

<div>
    <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
         src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/969a67bd-73ba-547a-ba4c-0d22a669bf4e.png">
</div>
    <p class="grayText">
        <i>Source:&nbsp;Christopher Schirner / Flickr</i>
    </p>

    <p>
    <br>
</p>
<ul>
    <li>Russia is the First Country <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-is-the-first-country-to-submit-un-cybersecurity-convention/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Submit</a> UN Cybersecurity Convention</li>
    <li>Gaming Courses <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/gaming-courses-to-be-introduced-to-russian-state-universities-programs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Be Introduced</a> to Russian State Universities’ Programs</li>
    <li>Rostec <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/rostec-to-create-a-fund-for-investments-in-edtech-and-hr-tech/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Create</a> a Fund for Investments in EdTech and HR-Tech (Cards of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Rostec" target="_blank">Rostec</a>)</li>
    <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/plans-to-spend-650-ml-on-e-commerce/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans</a> to Spend $650 ml on E-Commerce (Cards of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank">Yandex</a>)</li>
    <li>Kaspersky Lab <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/kaspersky-lab-presents-a-system-for-real-time-recognition-from-drones/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Presents</a> a System for Real-Time Recognition from Drones (Cards of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Kaspersky_Lab" target="_blank">Kaspersky Lab</a>)</li>
    <li>Blockchain-Based Time Capsule <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/blockchain-based-time-capsule-to-be-developed-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Be Developed</a> in Moscow</li>
</ul>

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
            <p><b>GOV AGENDA</b></p>
            <p>Digital Assets Operators <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/digital-assets-operators-create-association-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Create</a> Association in Russia</p>
            <p>Subsidies for Driverless <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/subsidies-for-driveless-testing-in-russia-prolong-for-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Testing</a> in Russia Prolong for 2022</p>
            <p>Russia’s Major Banks <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russias-major-banks-plan-to-join-unified-biometric-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">To Join</a> Unified Biometric System</p>
    </div>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" style="" target="_blank"><b>More news →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
</h2>

<ul>
    <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-acquires-controlling-stake-in-factorin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acquires</a> Controlling Stake in Factorin (Card of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/factorin/" target="_blank">Factorin</a>)</li>
    <li>Edtech Uchi.ru <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/edtech-uchi-ru-buys-a-share-in-tutoronline/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys</a> a Share in TutorOnline (Card of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tutoronline/" target="_blank">TutorOnline</a>)</li>
    <li>Teachbase Edtech <a href="http://ict.moscow/en/news/teachbase-raised-investment-for-scaling/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">raised</a> Investment </li>
    <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-reports-strong-second-quarter-results-plans-to-spend-650-ml-on-e-commerce/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Upgraded</a> its Revenue Forecast for 2021 to $4.6 billion</li>
    <li>Mail.ru <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-posts-17-4-growth-in-second-quarter-2021-revenue/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Posts</a> 17.4% Growth in Second Quarter 2021 Revenue</li>
</ul>

<hr />
<h2>
    ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>researches, monitorings, reports and other analytics of Moscow and Russian IT market</i>
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/internet-infrastructure-of-russia-during-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HIGHER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS</a>: Internet infrastructure of Russia during the pandemic →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/smart-home-device-market-in-the-first-half-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">M.VIDEO-ELDORADO</a>: Smart home device market in the first half of 2021 →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/the-dynamics-of-emergence-of-new-software-companies-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">RUSSOFT</a>: The dynamics of emergence of new software companies in Russia →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/results-of-the-analysis-of-the-security-of-russian-companies/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ROSTELECOM-SOLAR</a>: Results of the analysis of the security of Russian companies <b>→</b></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/" target="_blank"><b>More analytics →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FROM MOSCOW
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>a showcase of some </i><b><i>EduTech solutions</i></b>
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/uchi-ru/" target="_blank">Uchi.ru</a></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    The education online platform used by the students of first grade through eleventh grade for studying school subjects in an entertaining manner.
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tutoronline/" target="_blank">TutorOnline</a></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    Online school that makes it possible to study mathematics and Russian, physics and chemistry, as well as foreign languages, programming, probability theory and other sciences
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/getcourse/" target="_blank">GetCourse</a></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    Online learning platform
</p>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=education" target="_blank"><b>More solutions  →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    
</p>
<h2>
    KEY ACTORS IN IT
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow</i>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Ilya Parshin</b>, CEO of Uchi.ru | <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/ilya-parshin-034129a8" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Andrey Maklin</b>, Founder of Factorin  | <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/amaklin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Svetlana Demyashkevich, </b>Chief Financial Officer at Yandex  | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlana-demyashkevich-57508b1" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Vasily Maguryan, </b>Chief Executive Officer at MY.GAMES | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vmaguryan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/?filterCategory=Tech-in-Moscow">Previous Tech in Moscow newsletters</a>
</p>

Tech in Moscow #25 (26 - 30 July 2021)

Review of CityTech services landscape worldwide and particularly in Moscow

CityTech: a fresh approach to digital services for residents of big cities

    <p>
    The idea of ​​creating the “National video surveillance platform” information system <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-obsuzhdaetsia-sozdanie-edinoi-sistemy-videonabliudeniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">is being discussed</a> in Russia. The system will unite city video surveillance systems throughout the country and become a unified framework for analyzing incoming video data. The model in which cameras will be equipped with computing modules and independently recognize and record incidents, and only after that send the video stream to data centers, will be taken as the basis for the system.
</p>
<h2>
    <b>Pros and cons</b><b></b>
</h2>

    <p>
    The technique, where surveillance cameras with built-in “on-board” video analytics modules are responsible for primary video processing before sending it to the server, is called “edge analytics” - product director of Ivideon, a cloud surveillance systems developer, Zaur Abutalimov explains. In general, experts mentioned both advantages and disadvantages of this approach.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    If we speak about the advantages,
first of all, the use of such a system reduces the load on servers. Secondly,
in the long term, this approach can help reduce the operational costs of both
the data center and communication channels. Thirdly, the video surveillance and
video analytics systems are being accelerated, they become faster. This is
achieved due to the fact that the video stream comes to the camera directly
from the matrix, it is not compressed or additionally processed.
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Zaur Abutalimov" src="https://ict.moscow/static/30a26b46-6786-5ddf-b7a7-ca06d82092d5.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Zaur Abutalimov
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Product director of Ivideon</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Other market participants have given similar arguments.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    If we consider video cameras networks at the regional level, the introduction of AI cameras will have a cumulative effect on the speed of response processing and will help to save money on the volume of storage on the central node.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Igor Afonin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/51464563-1398-51d6-891c-dec320af5d30.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Igor Afonin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Director of Multimedia Center and Situation Centers, “T1 Integration”</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Despite the higher cost of such cameras, the cost of equipment in the data center will decrease, and in the long term and in case of scaling, the project can be cost-effective.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    The proposed solution will significantly increase the number of cameras and reduce the cost of the entire system.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Nikita Mokhnatkin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/e238e1c6-eb0b-54d6-9fa7-2e03f2f17afa.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Nikita Mokhnatkin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of the information systems security sector, Innopolis University</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Moreover, since the decision to transmit the video signal to the control center will be made by the camera itself, the recognition algorithms must ensure the highest accuracy in detecting illegal actions, Mokhnatkin points out. However, today, according to ISS, it is still too early to talk about it.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    So far, the computing resources of the cameras are not sufficient for the operation of complex video analytics algorithms or complex solutions, where identification of an incident is based on the result of processing data from several video analytics detectors. Thus, the use of video analytics is limited to simple detectors, for example, “abandoned objects”, “object counting”, “line crossing”, “face detection”, etc. Server analytics allows to implement much more flexible and complex solutions.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    ISS
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Press service</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Nevertheless, the company representatives add that the quality of processing by built-in video analytics algorithms “on board” the camera can still be higher, and it can be feasible to use the system if narrow data transmission channels are available, or during short-term projects, for example, at public events (festivals, concerts, etc. etc.).
</p>
    <p>
    Market participants mentioned information security risks, the inability to conduct retrospective video analysis, the use of video from one camera to detect different types of incidents, and the necessity to use the products of certain vendors among the main disadvantages of using cameras with computing modules.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    Another challenge in using such devices is the need to modernize and update the databases in each of them. For example, in a conventional video surveillance system, it is enough to replace one camera with another with similar or superior characteristics and, if necessary, separately improve the server capacity - the data will be processed in the data center regardless of which source sent it. But this is not the case with a smart camera.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Pavel Lobanovsky" src="https://ict.moscow/static/1ad8b081-04c6-5f5c-b440-3d320142dd98.png">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Pavel Lobanovsky
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Expert of the engineering systems unit of the IT outsourcing department, KORUS Consulting Group</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    The proposed model has both positive and negative features, so it can be assumed that hybrid solutions will be preferable.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    Speaking about the national video surveillance platform, it is necessary to take into account the fact that a huge number of video surveillance networks using cameras with different functionalities have already been deployed in the regions. What approach can prevail in this case is not very clear yet. I believe that a hybrid option will most likely be chosen - in this case new networks will use AI cameras when the need arises, and old networks will be integrated via cheaper communication channels with the central core of the platform.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Igor Afonin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/40f306d4-2f61-5c8b-8c38-c505a3e12d3b.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Igor Afonin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Director of Multimedia Center and Situation Centers, “T1 Integration”</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Alexander Sivolobov from Skoltech believes that there is no alternative to smart IP cameras. But in this context the question is what functionality will be entrusted to the cameras, and what functions will be performed by centralized data centers.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    It is most likely that the main question will be what kind of architecture the solution will have. Probably, it will be a divided unit, where there will be a separate camera from a well-known manufacturer, and next to it there will be a small server with a system for recognizing faces, cars, etc.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Alexander Sivolobov" src="https://ict.moscow/static/92fd8dd5-2331-5233-9484-87638224f7dc.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Alexander Sivolobov
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Deputy Head of the Skoltech-based NTI Center of Excellence in Wireless Technologies and the Internet of Things</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
<h2>
    <b>Security issues</b><b></b>
</h2>

    <p>
    Information security risks - possible data leaks and unauthorized access by intruders - are the most widely discussed issue of the potential use of cameras with computing modules.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    It is true that additional information security risks are emerging. Smart cameras will be of much greater interest to cybercriminals: the cameras will probably contain confidential data, ranging from the accounts using which they will be connected to the data center to provide remote control or to download updated databases, which will be used for search, to the data itself and the software.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Sergey Nenakhov" src="https://ict.moscow/static/4f8e9447-8188-5306-8dd6-ddf11358a2a7.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Sergey Nenakhov
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of information security audit department, Infosecurity (a Softline Company)</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Special attention is paid to the potential risks of compromising biometric data.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    The use of biometric data is becoming more popular, however, in my opinion, protective measures for the collection, storage and processing of such data are not enough. Today, the only good thing that protects us from large-scale incidents is the fact that biometric data is used just as an additional security factor.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Sergey Zolotukhin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/50bd80d1-9c76-5b88-8ab3-e18376adc59e.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Sergey Zolotukhin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Information security specialist, Group-IB</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Sergey Nenakhov from Softline believes that due to the relative physical accessibility of individual devices it will be necessary to pay special attention to protecting channels of communication with the data center, and protecting data on the device, for example, using encryption. Andrey Arsentiev from InfoWatch Group says that cybercriminals will be interested in the data in central storages. According to the expert, it will be necessary “to implement measures to protect data from copying and transmission by internal violators”.
</p>
    <p>
    Nikita Mokhnatkin from Innopolis University has a different point of view. He believes that the proposed model is more secure.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    The decentralized architecture will ensure information security of personal data. It is easier to protect one server than hundreds of cameras. At the same time, if the intruders manage to hack a classic data center, they will get access to all information at once, and in the case of separate surveillance cameras only a small part of information will be available to violators.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Nikita Mokhnatkin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/973ea9c7-6995-59d0-8976-c02b25f3c78d.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Nikita Mokhnatkin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of the information systems security sector, Innopolis University</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
<h2>
    <b>Experience of the first ones</b><b></b>
</h2>

    <p>
    Global surveillance systems are being implemented all over the world, they are widely used in Asian countries. But the use of cameras with built-in computing modules will be an innovation.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    I am not aware of any significant experience in using such systems. The implementation of advanced technologies for detecting illegal actions is “at the cutting edge” of technologies, these are the latest scientific achievements, and it will not be possible to “adopt someone’s experience”. These are innovations, and in this case Russia is in the first echelon.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Nikita Mokhnatkin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/56937e4d-06dc-5716-961a-3ab4f9f5e945.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Nikita Mokhnatkin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of the information systems security sector, Innopolis University</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Both ISS and T1 Integration representatives mention this point.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    I have not seen materials on the implementation of large video surveillance systems using AI cameras with a detailed description of the functionality in the open sources.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Igor Afonin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/3c081c93-e7b7-5c69-85bc-00aebbf4bbc6.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Igor Afonin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Director of Multimedia Center and Situation Centers, “T1 Integration”</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    It seems like we have not seen similar projects, which have been maintained for a long time after launch.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    ISS
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Press service</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    However, Zaur Abutalimov from Ivideon notes that the use of cameras with built-in video analytics modules in local projects is <i>“a worldwide practice for Safe City projects, which has already replaced the outdated continuous streaming method, which is less secure due to possible failures resulting from increased load on the network and servers”</i>. The expert mentions the example of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/are-you-ready-for-facial-recognition-at-the-airport-11565775008" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">using</a> facial recognition at the check-in counters in US airports, and the example of <a href="https://www.tadviser.ru/index.php/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82:%D0%A1%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%80_%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%BC_%D0%B2_%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BB_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%8E_%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%83_%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86_%D0%B4%D0%BB%D1%8F_%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">using</a> technology for identification in Singapore.
</p>
    <p>
    In other words, edge analytics technology is currently used only in local projects in some countries and is at the initial stage of development. The implementation of such a video surveillance project at the national level may set a great precedent on the world stage.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/reaktsiia-otrasli-v-rossii-obsuzhdaiut-sozdanie-edinoi-sistemy-videonabliudeniia/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Experts — about the advantages and disadvantages of the “National video surveillance platform”

The creation of a unified video surveillance system is being discussed in Russia

Smart assistants in Russia: market overview, trends and prospects

    <p>
    ICT.Moscow jointly with the Moscow Government launches the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Smart City Moscow</a> section. It includes information on 68 Moscow projects in the field of "smart cities",  which is published in English for the first time. Project include <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/5g-demo-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">5G Demo Center,</a> <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/experimental-legal-regime-in-the-field-of-ai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">an experimental legal regime in the field of AI</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/analysis-of-radiology-images-using-ai" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">analysis of radiological images using AI</a> and others. 
</p>
    <p>
    All projects are divided into the following "smart city" categories: human and social capital, digital government, urban environment, urban economy, end-to-end technologies, digital technologies and communications. Each project includes description, key results, and an indication of relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals.
</p>
    <p>
    The following materials are also included in the section:&nbsp;
</p>
<ul>
    <li>a selection of more than 600 open data sets on urban infrastructure facilities</li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>more than 30 sets of data collected by the Department of Prospective Projects of the IT Department of Moscow Government according to ISO37120 and U4SSC international standards</li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>news, research, monitoring, reports and other "smart city" analytics</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    This section will be useful for foreign companies, governments and analysts to study the Moscow practices and look for new ideas for their projects. The section will be regularly updated in the future.&nbsp;
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/na-ict-moscow-dostupen-pervyi-angloiazychnyi-katalog-moskovskikh-reshenii-smart-city/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

ICT.Moscow launches the first English-language catalog of Moscow smart city solutions

    <p>
    An international version of the blockchain tech base<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/blockchain/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> has become available</a> at ICT.Moscow. The new section presents 52 Russian practices of technology application in various fields. Practices of the Federal Tax Service of Russia, Sberbank, Norilsk Nickel, the Moscow Government, Rostelecom, Kaspersky Lab, Russian Railways, S7 Airlines, M.Video, Megafon and others are included in the section.<br>
</p>
    <p>
    For ease of study, all practices are divided into several categories: FinTech, Public sector, Industry and Energy, Logistics and Transport, Retail, MedTech, E-document flow, EdTech, HR-Tech, Real estate and other. Most of the cases are presented in the areas of FinTech - 16 and Public sector - 13.<br>
</p>
    <p>
    Cards with descriptions of blockchain solutions developed by Moscow developers, and market analytics are also available in the new section.
</p>
    <p>
    Project will be useful for analysts and smart city experts, as well as developers of blockchain projects to find new scenarios and partnerships. In the future, the blockchain tech base will be regularly updated with new cases.<br>
</p>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/na-ict-moscow-zapushchena-mezhdunarodnaia-versiia-bazy-znanii-o-blokcheine/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Tech base contains 52 Russian cases of technology application