Alexander Borodich, one of Russia’s most active investors, has been named the country’s business angel of the year in a ceremony at the Skolkovo Hypercube.
Borodich is one of the founding members of the Closed Business Angels Club, itself one of the three prominent business angels networks in Russia. He was honored this week at the annual congress of one of the other organizations, the National Association of Business Angels.
Alexander Borodich, right, receiving his award at the Hypercube on Tuesday. Photo: sk.ru
“History has shown many times that in times of crisis companies can develop even quicker than in calm or slow growth,” said Borodich at the Hypercube ceremony.
“Now investors are investing their ruble liquidity even more actively in startup projects, so it’s easier than ever to raise investment.”
According to a profile on angel.co, from 2005 to 2009 Borodich led the international business of software Acronis in the US before joining Mail.ru Group as a marketing director in 2009. A serial entrepreneur, Borodich sold his two previous companies and is currently CEO of Rumart.ru.
Borodich was on hand in September for the ceremony to award Skolkovo startup Panorics $50,000 in investment from the Skolkovo Business Angels Club.
Seven awards in total were handed out during Tuesday’s NABA congress including: the award for best business angels infrastructure, which went to the Russian Fund for the Development of Internet Initiatives; the best syndicated deal (Panorics); Exit of the year (private investor Yevgeny Medvedev).
The head of Skolkovo’s Investment Service and the founder of the Skolkovo Business Angels Club, Evgeny Taubkin, said any event aimed at encouraging angel investment was to be praised.
“The Skolkovo Investment Service has an interest in making sure that all initiatives linked to creating a community of business angels in Russia are supported,” he said.
“And this time we are very happy to support this important year-ending NABA event here at the (Skolkovo) Innovation Center.”
Skolkovo vice president Kirill Kaem moderated a discussion titled “Is there life after IT? Angels and biomed,” that touched on the specifics of investing in biomedical gadgets, pharmaceuticals, bioenergetics and other fields.