... country. This step is aimed at reviving international investments in the economy and the venture sector, despite the geopolitical environment. It is noteworthy that emigrants from CIS countries are already achieving global success, integrating into the international tech industry. For instance, the AI startup Perplexity, founded by a Belarusian entrepreneur and based in the USA, recently secured an additional funding round (~$100 million), increasing its valuation to around ~$18 billion. Another illustrative example is the Dubai-based project Xpanceo,...

... tracking promising teams from Singapore and Dubai to Nairobi and São Paulo. Africa is also witnessing unprecedented inflows of investment, leading to the rapid development of local startup ecosystems. From Nigerian fintech projects to Kenyan agritech startups—more and more African teams are attracting international capital for scaling. Latin America is not falling behind: in 2025, Mexico for the first time surpassed Brazil in terms of venture investments, and startups in the region are actively raising funds in fields such as fintech, e-commerce, and ...

... tracking promising teams from Singapore and Dubai to Nairobi and São Paulo. Africa is also experiencing an unprecedented influx of investment, leading to the rapid development of local startup ecosystems. From Nigerian fintech projects to Kenyan agrotech startups—an increasing number of African teams are attracting international capital for scaling. Latin America is keeping pace: in 2025, Mexico surpassed Brazil for the first time in venture investment volumes, with regional startups actively securing funding in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, and logistics....

... countries now have unprecedented opportunities to attract capital, making the venture market increasingly international. Russia and CIS: Local Focus Amid Global Trends Active steps are being taken in Russia and neighboring countries to develop their own startup ecosystems in light of global trends. At the Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2025), a new venture fund was announced, with participation from the state bank PSB, targeting a volume of around 12 billion rubles for investments in dual-use projects — from drones and artificial intelligence to ...

... flow of investments in niche projects aimed at domestic demand and import substitution persists. For venture investors from the CIS, the current global upturn represents a chance to enter new markets: despite restrictions, it is possible to attract international partners, register businesses in friendly jurisdictions, and offer products globally. Experience shows that strong teams from our region can gain recognition abroad—there are already several startups founded by Russian/CIS expatriates that have achieved unicorn status abroad. Consequently, the venture ecosystem in CIS countries is developing according to a "catch-up growth" model: adopting the best global practices, local players ...