30 October 2023

Hi-Tech Park Belarus hosted an interactive discussion on the issues of startup development "Innovation Environment: Opportunities for Startups". The event took place in the Hi-Tech Park business incubator gathered about 20 representatives of the startup community from different spheres.

Kirill Zalessky, Deputy Director of Hi-Tech Park Belarus, spoke about its activities, the advantages of becoming a resident, the business incubator and the existing support mechanisms for startup projects. 

"Over the years of its existence, Hi-Tech Park has become a favorable ecosystem for talented professionals and innovative companies. Many successful IT startups and developments have been born here and are in high demand now both in the domestic and global markets. However, today’s target audiences and markets have diversified notably. Startups need to adapt to the new conditions," – Kirill Zalessky drew the attention of the audience.

Deputy Director emphasized that "bringing the whole range of stakeholders together and establishing effective interaction” is the essential prerequisite for a full-fledged startup ecosystem development.

In his turn, Dmitry Primak, Head of the Ecosystem Development Department of Belagroprombank, elaborated on the history of the IGROW project, which has been in the pipeline since 2019. "At first it was a corporate project, which later grew up to the republican scale," emphasized Dmitry Primak. - IGROW centers of attraction are engaged in the formation of partner centers of excellence, setting priorities in various technological directions, providing support from the idea stage to yielding economic effects, as well as implementing a flexible system of independent expertise, managing the startup market". 

Dmitry Primak spoke about the implementation of the republican contest "Startup-Marathon" to support startup movement and innovative micro-entrepreneurship in the country. "Startup-Marathon is one of the tools that allows to stimulate and support technological startups from the idea stage. Thanks to the program, you can grow your own business in nine months. The most important goal of the Startup Marathon is to increase the number of innovative entrepreneurs in the country," said Head of the Ecosystem Development Department of Belagroprombank.

Irina Puntus, Investment Director of the Russian-Belarusian Venture Capital Fund "RBF Ventures", spoke about the activities of the Fund, which supports startups at early stages, emphasized financial opportunities for startups in Belarus and presented the analysis of the venture capital market situation in 2023. 

In the course of the event, the participants asked questions concerning the database of cooperation partners, funding sources, support, and improvement of business processes. The representatives of the startup community shared their own experiences, offered ideas and recommendations for the successful development of the Belarusian startup ecosystem. 

In the end of the event Hi-Tech Park Belarus and Belagroprombank signed the Agreement on cooperation and interaction on the development and support of startup movement and innovative micro-entrepreneurship.