Sesamers on Tour: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Recap

blank

Learn about the general happenings of the CIS region. Presented by ecosystem expert and co-Founder of EMERGE Alina Nilsson, this session looked at three countries and how they are growing their Tech ecosystems.

See the full program of the session here.

1:20 Meet the Speakers

Learn about the speakers and their role in their Tech ecosystem.

  • Jane Klepa, Executive Director at Open Data Incubator (Ukraine)
  • Ira Yashina, ex-Investor at The Untitled VC, Startup Consultant, Founder of community ‘Ladies Who Tech’ (Russia)
  • Cyril Golub, Board Member of Belarus Angels Association/AngelsBand (Belarus)
  • Alexandra Gerasimova, Co-Founder & CEO at FITMOST (Russia)

14:12 Debunking regional stereotypes

Highlights of what is happening in each ecosystem.

23:40 The influence of politics

Not getting into a political debate, the speakers discuss how founders are influenced by regional politics and can influence global perceptions.

35:45 Establishing business in local v. going global

Hear from founder, Alexandra Gerasimova about why FITMOST has stayed in the wellness market in Russia.

40:36 Debunking the “underdeveloped” Tech & VC funding myth

Experience funding and fundraising in Eastern European Tech centres.

48:57 Tech patterns?

Specific industries or technologies per country? Any patterns? Skyrocketing?

53:05 Vision for the region + Conclusion

Which industries? What direction? Working together to support and develop this region on the global stage.


Conclusion

Thank you so much to our partner EMERGE and La French Tech for their involvement in Sesamers on Tour.

Who is EMERGE?

EMERGE is the global tech product conference, where entrepreneurs, tech talent, investors, and scientists get together to create the future we want to live in. It’s a 360° cross-industry approach to product development, scaling, and growth. Held in up-and-coming innovation hubs, we spotlight the tech underdogs.

Who is La French Tech Moscou?

Want to see more Tour content?

Or head over to our YouTube channel to watch all past videos.

you might also like

Agritech Events FoodTech
blank

NutrEvent, the leading European platform for nutrition innovation and collaboration, is set to showcase a range of emerging trends this year.

Agritech + 2
AI Events France SaaS
blank

The B2B Rocks World Pitch Contest is a global competition for AI-driven SaaS startups that offers visibility, mentoring, and prizes. Out of 50 semi-finalists who received free tickets to the B2B Rocks event, the top 10 finalists were selected last week. They awarded a prize package valued at €6,000, including booth space and pitching opportunities. This week, on September 25, during B2B Rocks the winner will be defined and receive an exclusive prize package worth €20,000. This package includes pre-arranged meetings with investors and journalists, an Appvizer campaign to boost visibility and lead generation for their SaaS, and access to the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, which offers up to $150,000 in Azure cloud credits, expert mentorship, and free collaboration and development tools such as Microsoft 365, GitHub, LinkedIn, and OpenAI. Meet the Jury Panel This year’s distinguished jury includes: The 10 Top SaaS/AI Startups Finalists At WPC 2024 Crono (England): Crono is revolutionizing time management with its advanced scheduling solutions. Using cutting-edge technology with user-friendly interfaces, Crono helps businesses optimize workflows and productivity. Their platform’s seamless integration with existing tools makes it an invaluable asset for any organization looking to enhance operational efficiency. Pitch Avatar (Austria): Pitch Avatar offers an innovative platform for creating and delivering dynamic pitch presentations. Their technology leverages artificial intelligence to tailor presentations to specific audiences, ensuring that every pitch is engaging and effective. This platform is perfect for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to make a lasting impression. Quick Legal (Romania): Quick Legal provides a streamlined approach to legal services, making it easier for businesses to navigate complex legal landscapes. Their platform offers quick, reliable, and affordable legal advice, helping companies stay compliant and reduce legal risks. Quick Legal’s services are designed to support businesses of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises. Salesforge (Estonia): Salesforge is at the forefront of sales automation technology. Their AI-driven platform helps businesses accelerate their sales processes by automating routine tasks and providing actionable insights. With Salesforge, companies can boost their sales performance and drive revenue growth more effectively. Fun fact: Sesamers spotted this startup at Techchill 2024. Sensia.ai (France): Sensia.ai transforms how businesses analyze and leverage data. Their advanced AI solutions provide deep insights into customer behavior and market trends, enabling companies to make data-driven decisions. Sensia.ai’s technology empowers businesses to enhance their strategies and stay ahead of the competition. Pinmy (Ukraine): Pinmy offers a unique platform for managing and visualizing business data. Their tool simplifies data organization and helps businesses track key metrics easily. Pinmy provides intuitive dashboards and comprehensive analytics to help companies make informed decisions and drive better outcomes. Metagora.tech (France): Metagora. tech is revolutionizing the tech landscape with its innovative solutions for digital transformation. Their platform offers advanced tools for automating and optimizing business processes, helping companies adapt to the ever-evolving technological environment. Metagora. tech’s solutions are designed to enhance efficiency and drive innovation. Chain Fuse (United States): Chain Fuse is pioneering the future of blockchain technology with its robust platform for building and managing decentralized applications. Their solutions enhance security, transparency, and efficiency for businesses leveraging blockchain for various use cases. Chain Fuse’s technology is poised to reshape industries by enabling new possibilities through decentralized systems. Outfindo (Czech Republic): Outfindo redefines how businesses approach customer feedback and market research. Their platform offers advanced tools for gathering and analyzing customer insights, helping companies understand their audience and improve their products and services. Outfindo’s solutions are designed to drive customer satisfaction and business growth. Beink Dream (France): Beink Dream transforms how businesses approach creativity and innovation. Their platform provides tools for brainstorming, idea management, and creative collaboration. By fostering a culture of innovation, Beink Dream helps companies generate and implement groundbreaking ideas that drive success. These finalists represent the forefront of B2B innovation, addressing critical challenges businesses face today. As the B2B Rocks World Pitch Contest 2024 unfolds, these startups are not only poised to impact their respective fields significantly but also to inspire innovation and drive sustainable growth across the industry. 🎟️ Grab your ticket to the B2B Rocks and immerse yourself in B2B SaaS innovation. Join us at Station F in Paris on September 25-26 to support the finalists as they compete in the B2B Rocks World Pitch Contest 2024.

AI + 3
Events Ireland
blank

As we approach SaaStock Europe, this year’s event promises to deliver even more value to the SaaS ecosystem with new themes, expanded networking opportunities, and a dedicated focus on growth for early-stage startups. Here’s a sneak peek into what attendees can expect. Key Themes: Founder Diaries & CEO Insights The SaaStock team is launching two new tracks this year: Founder Diaries and CEO Insights, designed to provide a rare, personal glimpse into the journeys of successful SaaS leaders. According to SaaStock’s founder & CEO, Alex Theuma, these tracks will “share insights and inspiration from the people actually behind the success headlines” to guide the next generation of SaaS leaders. Industry Leaders and Speakers SaaStock Europe will feature over 100 world-class speakers, including some of the biggest names in the SaaS industry. Among the confirmed speakers are: These thought leaders will offer deep insights into the SaaS landscape, including growth strategies, fundraising advice, and leadership best practices. Networking Opportunities Like Never Before In addition to the main talks, SaaStock Europe is reinventing the Networking Experience, making it more structured and intentional. Attendees can look forward to: Beyond the structured networking, the event also promises an active social calendar, with welcome parties, 5K runs, and partner fringe events, making it easier for attendees to foster meaningful connections. The Accelerate Experience for Startups The Accelerate Experience program at SaaStock is tailored for Pre-Seed, Seed, and Bootstrapped startups to help them build product-market fit, connect with investors, and develop skilled go-to-market (GTM) teams. Key features of the program include: This program helps early-stage startups secure funding, scale effectively, and build a strong network. Tackling the Challenges of European SaaS The European SaaS market faces several unique challenges, particularly in revenue generation and retention. SaaStock addresses these issues head-on with a full day of interactive workshops focused on revenue growth, retention strategies, and boardroom sessions for revenue leaders. “Generating and retaining revenue is one of the biggest pain points in the market right now,” according to SaaStock’s Marketing Manager, Jessica Ramesh. Success Stories from SaaStock Alumni SaaStock has been a launchpad for many successful European SaaS companies. Josh Lee from Swit reflected, “SaaStock is the best SaaS conference ever! We generated 300+ MQL and signed up +250 SaaS professionals during the exhibition.” Similarly, Cristina Vila Vives, CEO & Founder of Cledara, shared, “I remember being on the SaaStock Pitch Competition stage five years ago. Back then, I was on my own. Today, 62 wonderful people make up Cledara’s team. We wouldn’t be here without SaaStock.” Beyond SaaStock Europe: The SaaS.Concierge Program SaaStock’s SaaS.Concierge is a tailored, partner-only service aimed at optimizing SaaS implementations and improving client satisfaction. This personalized matchmaking service connects businesses with their ideal customer profiles (ICPs) and ensures partners leave with tangible results. Maximize Your SaaStock Experience To get the most out of SaaStock Europe, attendees should engage in fringe events like SaaS.City and SaaSociety. SaaS.City, a one-day bootcamp held before the main conference, offers deep-dive workshops on crucial SaaS topics such as revenue retention, scaling, and product excellence. “SaaS.City lets you pick the content that matters most to you and your role,” notes a speaker. This year’s bootcamp themes:   For experienced founders, SaaSociety is an exclusive retreat to facilitate valuable connections. “Our content is two-way, no stale slides—attendees shape the dialogue,” explains the team. Additionally, the Startup Program supports B2B founders through investor matchmaking, while the Global Pitch Competition offers invaluable exposure. “It’s a chance to pitch in front of the region’s top VCs and funds, positioning your business as one-to-watch.” Final Thoughts For SaaS startups and established players alike, SaaStock Europe offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. With a range of expert speakers, structured networking, and practical workshops, the event is set to provide invaluable insights and connections for all attendees. As the SaaStock team says, “this is your opportunity to connect with like-minded SaaS enthusiasts and swap ideas and challenges.” SaaStock continues to bridge the global SaaS community throughout the year with initiatives like the SaaStock Founder Membership, a private community for SaaS founders to learn and grow together. As David Neuhaus, CEO of SocialHub, notes, “the number of founders I know today is 50x what it was years ago. The insights you gain are priceless.” Stay tuned for more SaaStock events and opportunities coming up next year!

Events + 1

Subscribe to
our Newsletter!

Stay at the forefront with our curated guide to the best upcoming Tech events.