• Startup Summit Awards received over 1,700 submissions from across Russia

September 16, 2025 – On October 1–2, the international conference Moscow Startup Summit dedicated to technological entrepreneurship will take place in the capital, organized by Moscow Government and Sber. The event will bring together innovators, investors, corporate executives, governmental agencies, and research institutions from Russia, BRICS, and SCO.

Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow:

“Participation in the summit has already been confirmed by international investment funds and startups from 25 countries, including Belarus, China, India, Serbia, Brazil, Türkiye, and the UAE. Experts will discuss mechanisms for supporting talented developers, successful implementation and scaling practices, and promising directions for further collaboration.”

The business agenda includes presentations, master classes, panel discussions, and practical sessions. More than 150 leading market players will share their experiences with visitors. Additionally, there will be an exhibition featuring startups, including residents of the Moscow Innovation Cluster.

Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank:

“This summit will serve as a platform merging the capabilities of Moscow’s innovation ecosystem with Sber’s infrastructure and expertise in AI to advance technological entrepreneurship and creative economy in the country. The program will ensure tangible outcomes: startups will secure pilot programs and investments, corporations and ainvestors will discover promising projects, and government bodies will conclude agreements on international cooperation. A major focus will be placed on regional agendas and innovations in Russian constituent regions, alongside Sber500 international seed accelerator’s Demo Day and roadshows by young startup teams. We expect more than 4,000 delegates from Russia, the BRICS, and theSCO.”

The summit will be held at the Smart City SberCity venue. Event broadcasts will be streamed live on the official website.

Innovation Award

The conference will present the Startup Summit Awards for contribution to innovation development for the first time.

Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow:

“In total, more than 1,700 applications were submitted from 79 regions of Russia. The most popular category is ‘Startups,’ attracting nearly 1,000 applicants. Moscow leads the way with 550 entrants, of whom roughly 270 are affiliated with the Moscow Innovation Cluster.”

Saint Petersburg ranks second, followed by Moscow Region and Tatarstan.

The applications will be reviewed by a jury consisting of heads of domestic enterprises, well-known entrepreneurs, investors, representatives of government bodies and specialized educational institutions.

Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank:

“Artificial Intelligence stands out as one of today’s pivotal technologies: every third startup applicant submitted an entry for the ‘Best Artificial Intelligence Solution’ nomination. Symbolically, determining finalists in this category will rely on our neural network model GigaChat. This demonstrates how AI serves as a real instrument for advancing innovation, augmenting expert assessments, and identifying projects poised to transform Russia’s tech landscape.”

Projects will be evaluated according to criteria such as solution originality, partnership quality and scale, sustainable revenue growth, and contribution to improving and promoting the technological ecosystem, as well as creating new sources of growth for its participants.

The founders of the award are the Moscow Government and Sber. Its mission is to recognize effective practices, inspire larger companies and investors to support aspiring entrepreneurs, and enhance the economic potential of Russian regions.

The prize-giving ceremony will occur on October 2.