Home: A nomad, I can be found at times in Monaco, Amsterdam, Palo Alto, Berlin and Dubai, occasionally Hong Kong and Singapore. Age: I never count and almost never look in the mirror. Birthplace: Zhytomyr region, Ukraine. Profession: VC, high-tech investor and entrepreneur. Organization: Almaz Capital Partners. Title: Co-Founder and Managing Partner. Alma mater: Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Ph.D., Computer Sciences). Nationality: Citizen of the Earth with a Ukrainian soul.
Current project: Almaz Capital Fund I, II, III, IV, Runa I, B612 Foundation. Recent recognition: Nomination by UAE officials by Golden residency. Recent professional development: Exit from many assets. Latest accomplishment: Very promising investments outside of Almaz’s geo and/or industry mandate. Latest contribution to others: Two hours per week mentoring high-tech entrepreneurs. Donation to B612 Foundation and school construction Africa. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Personal investment into the company, which my partners declined. Hobbies: Mountain skiing, diving, photography. Recent travel or adventure: Madagascar and South Africa. Last book read: The Coming Wave, by Mustafa Suleyman. Recently viewed and recommended: BlackBerry.
Personality profile: Open minded, thinking; doer, helper; slightly crazy. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Fairyteller. Moral compass: Golden human rules gifted to me by my father, mentors and teachers. How do you define a perfect friendship? Doors open to one another at any and all times. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Trust, patience, respect and mutual benefit. What is your greatest joy? Seeing the happy eyes of my loved ones and friends. What is your greatest fear? Losing my identity. What is your guilty pleasure? Opening the fridge at night. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Investment and kids’ education. What is at the top of your bucket list? Diving with the white sharks. How do you relieve stress? Extreme sport and nature. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Great people, action and adventure.
What was your first paying job? Swimming coach at university. What was your favorite college course? Physics. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? European football. What books have you repeatedly read? Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov; Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Old Soviet and French comedies. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My mentors. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Always get up and move ahead, no matter how hard the fall. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Do things that you are not sure how to accomplish; take risks, look beyond the fence. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? AI and new energy like fusion. What is your favorite app? VPN and e-mail. What is your go-to source of news and information? Internet, books, ChatGPT. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? My loved ones. What company or organization do you most admire? Apple, and in the past, Sun Microsystems. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? Collapse of the Soviet Union. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? The Russia / Ukraine war.
What is your big idea?
Implementation of the track and trace system to control quality, reduce non-productive obstacles and bring transparency to business and social life.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Bringing tools to fight corruption and bureaucracy. What change would you like to see in the world? The ability to solve any conflict between people, countries and nations without military action. What message do you want to send out into the world? Always think about the future generation and make our planet safe. What mega-trend most excites you? AI and fusion energy. What mega-trend most concerns you? AI and cybersecurity.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My parents. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A cosmonaut. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My notes. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Enjoying one last sunrise and sunset with my loved ones. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? None. Even my mistakes have made me much stronger and more knowledgeable. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? In the nineties, to better understand the importance of business knowledge and tech achievements.
Personal mission: To make our world much better and safe. Personal motto: Seek to understand the unknown and use it. Favorite quote: “Well done is better than well said” (Benjamin Franklin). Also, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). Desired epitaph: Dreamer.
