RST2015: Rostov pitch session winners revealed

Adaptive toys for rehabilitation and a robotic assistant surgeon were among 13 winning innovations at the first stage of the Russian Startup Tour in Rostov-on-Don.

More than 100 projects from the southern city and surrounding region competed for a place in June’s Startup Village earlier this week, split into four categories: IT, industrial technology, efficient energy, biomedical, and robotics.

“We’re not in this event for the first time, it’s been very well organized and there are lots of great innovations here,” said Olga Vorontsova, whose ‘adaptive playing complex’ took first place in the IT track.

Olga Voronstova receiving her certificate from Skolkovo vice president Igor Bogachev. Photo: sk.ru

“Of course, the chance to speak with mentors to help our idea materialize is super,”she added. The Startup Tour offers training and mentorship to regional startups as part of the two-day stop in each of 12 cities.

Another victor, Naira Davidson, had similar praise for the initiative after impressing with her “glowing lead” project.

Naira Davidson. Photo: sk.ru

An innovation that helps diagnose degenerative diseases in joints came third in the biomed track. Its author, Svetlana Panina, outlined the help she received, which Skolkovo experts say is typical of the comments they get on tour.
“I didn’t even aim to win. I just wanted to give a presentation in front of an audience, I like doing pitches. I’m got a degree of satisfaction that the experts evaluated the project as they should have.

Panina said she received some crucial advice from Khristina Khodova of the Biomed Cluster.

“She gave me some really valuable advice about changing the phrasing of my product description for the consumer. That’s for the commercialization part, and I find that part difficult. Science is what I know.”

Panina was also invited to the Startup Village, where a grand final will take place with the top innovations from around Russia.

After coming second in the industrial innovations track with a transport logistics system, Igor Fyodorov noted how this year’s tour had markedly improved upon last year’s.

“This event has seriously exceeded my expectations. I was at the last event in Taganrog (last year). This year they’ve taken it up a notch. The feedback and reaction of the panel is simply more realistic, targeted, and relevant to the particular projects. Here I have found people who actually understand me.”

The full list of winners is below: The tour next rolls into the Siberian city of Tomsk next Wednesday and Thursday.