More than RUB 1 bn in investments go to the Sber 500 seed accelerator participants on Demo Day

Finalists pitched technology projects that will change people’s lives for the better

The 30 best participants–startups from Russia, China, Turkey, Israel, and Armenia, and also AI companies from the GigaChat track–pitched their solutions on Demo Day at the fifth season of Sber500, Sber’s international seed accelerator for technology startups.

During the event, any business angel, venture fund, or corporation could agree to invest in participating startups online or offer them a pilot project right on Demo Day. In total, investors and companies offered more than RUB 1 bn in investments.

1,500 startups from 28 countries clashed to join Sber500’s fifth season. 150 teams completed a two-week online crash course, and only the 25 best joined the main seven-week race and reached Demo Day. This year, a new track for startups and individual participants who were ready to implement the GigaChat neural network model into their solutions was introduced. The selection round had 1,200 applications, of which the five best participants presented their solutions on Demo Day.

Sber500 finalists are engaged in a plethora of fields. For instance, Brainphone (Russia, Kazan) is a startup that offers AI-driven software for early detection of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease through speech and voice analysis. Stereotech (Russia, Volgograd), created a 5D printer that can print extra durable construction elements for buildings, car parts, and medical devices. Kfobix Inc. (Turkey, Ankara) patented a nanocomposite coating that protects surfaces from icing and makes them water-repellant.

Demo Day’s expert jury featured Sberbank CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board Herman Gref; First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov; Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Maksut Shadaev; State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Roman Chekushev; President and CEO of ASI Svetlana Chupsheva, VK CEO Vladimir Kirienko; AVTOVAZ CEO Maxim Sokolov; investor, founder and head of Kismet Capital Group Ivan Tavrin; Member of the Board of Directors of Medsi Group Elena Brusilova; Partner of Voskhod Venture Fund Artur Martirosov; Partner of Kama Flow Private Investment Group Pavel Okhonin; Managing Partner of Coion Venture Syndicate Evgeny Ivanov; and Partner of Phystech Venture Fund Ivan Protopopov.

Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank:

We are doing our best to support the innovative environment in our country and enterprising people who believe that they can build world-class companies. In the past, the world’s biggest companies used to join seed accelerators to raise initial investments for their ideas. This year, 30 out of 2,700 applications were selected for our accelerator, which means that only every 90^th contestant made it to this stage–these are the best of the best. We believe that these guys will be able to build their own great companies. Just do not be afraid of difficulties and mistakes, which will always be there, because without them there will be no new inventions!

Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation:

Your projects emphasize the growing role of small technological entrepreneurship in the creation of new markets. The state is certainly ready to help those who are not afraid to generate bold ideas and put them into practice. We have a direct order from the Russian President to increase the revenues of small technology companies at least seven times by 2030. To achieve this national goal, a new federal project for technological entrepreneurship development is being created.

The selection for Sber500’s sixth season will be open until year-end.

2024-11-07 18:00