VEB.RF and Skolkovo are launching an open technology request format at Startup Village

The platform is expected to attract more than 10,000 participants, including about 3,000 startups, and will host over 2,000 targeted business meetings. The event will be attended by representatives from 20 countries, with China, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam being key partner countries. The tech festival is organized by the Skolkovo Foundation (VEB.RF Group), with the Moscow Government and VEB.RF serving as co-organizers. The event will take place as part of the Moscow Entrepreneurship Week. «Startup Village has transformed into one of the most reputable domestic platforms for selecting and developing the most promising projects over the past 13 years. It provides an opportunity for startups to grow into mature technology companies with high export potential, while large businesses can incorporate innovators’ developments into their operational models. This year, together with Skolkovo, we will offer a new event model to participants. Now, large Russian corporations will formulate specific tasks and set budgets directly on the platform, while technology companies will offer solutions to these tasks,» said Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of VEB.RF. As part of the business program, VEB.RF will support a number of key sessions at the forum and participate in expert discussions. The «Big Order. From Observers to Deal Participants» plenary session, moderated by Nikolai Tsekhomsky, First Deputy Chairman of VEB.RF, will provide insights into the solutions that have garnered significant commercial interest from major players. The «AI as a Machine. Demand for Products, Infrastructure, and Competencies» discussion, supported by VEB.RF, will focus on how to transform individual AI implementations into a steady stream of contracts while maintaining customer trust, risk management, and quality control. The discussion will be moderated by Alexander Pavlov, Chief Managing Partner for Artificial Intelligence Development at VEB.RF. The «Investor’s Request for a Technology Startup» public talk, an honest conversation between investors and business angels without cameras about who invested in what last year and plans to invest in the near future, will take place within the «Business and Markets» track, also supported by VEB.RF.

As part of the same track, a large-scale discussion titled “A Duel of Equals: How Cyberattacks Are Changing” will be held with the support of VEB.RF. Experts will discuss the new AI arms race, where neural networks are already attacking and defending each other faster than humans can intervene. The discussion will focus on who is winning this battle of algorithms—those with more data, faster reactions, or stronger solution architectures—and where the line is drawn where an autonomous defender can become a threat itself. Participants will also explore why the myth of humans as the primary link in cybersecurity is rapidly crumbling and how a malfunction in the neural network’s weight matrix could lead to the next major data breach. The session “The Digital Revolution in Education: How to Stay in the Game” will be a highlight of the event. Russian edtech is entering a phase where fundamental knowledge and technological innovations must yield a common result, and this demand is being shaped by major market players who are seeking new methods, educational content, and tools for those who teach and learn. Participants will discuss the current issues of industry transformation. Mikhail Khomich, Chief Strategist at VEB.RF, will serve as the moderator, and Alexander Tarabrin, Head of the Prosveshchenie Group and Deputy Chairman of the Board at VEB.RF, will be one of the key speakers. The prospects for the development of Russian technology parks will be one of the key topics of the event. During the discussion “100 Technology Parks by 2030: Ambitious or Achievable?”, experts will share their vision of approaches that can help make this goal a reality. Irina Makieva, Chief Managing Partner for Urban Development at VEB.RF, will be among the participants. Participating in Startup Village 2026 offers several important advantages for technology companies and startups. In addition to direct access to corporate clients, the event helps to develop an effective strategy for product launch, from selecting solutions tailored to the specific needs of the client to developing projects at the industrial readiness level and protecting intellectual property. This approach allows Russian innovative companies not only to find their first clients but also to scale their businesses with a focus on exports, with the support of development institutions. Participation is free. Registration and details can be found at https://startupvillage.ru/.