Hello! My name is Igor. I am from Ukraine. Since February 2024 I have been living in Germany. I am over 50 and for most of my life, with small breaks, I have been engaged in innovation.
My parents are engineers. My mother is an economist (she graduated from a metallurgical institute), my father is a design engineer (he graduated from a chemical-technological institute), my grandfather was an agronomist (he graduated from an agricultural institute), and my grandmother was an elementary school teacher (she graduated from a pedagogical institute). My great-grandfather was a well-to-do farmer. In the 1930s he was repressed (his property was confiscated). For many years a rural school was located in one of his houses.
During my school years my parents subscribed me to popular science magazines: Science and Life, Chemistry and Life, Modelist-Constructor, Young Technician, Technology for Youth. I read a lot, conducted various chemical experiments, sawed, planed, soldered things, etc. ;))
For 3 years I studied at a music school — accordion.
In 1991 I graduated from university with a degree in systems engineering. In 2009 I started obtaining a second higher education in psychology, but due to reasons beyond my control I was unable to complete it.
Since the 3rd year of university (1988) I have been engaged in innovation: I actively participated in scientific work at the department of the university where I studied.
In the 4th year I completed training at the TRIZ school (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) at the university.
At the same time, in parallel with my studies, I was involved in business (assembling Spectrum computers, manufacturing printed circuit boards, wholesale supply of electronic components, etc.). Every two weeks I flew to purchase goods.
In the 1990s, in cooperation with the commercial director of a joint venture, I carried out grain exports to Poland and implemented tolling schemes: grain was processed into flour, flour into pasta, etc. A person provided me with grain, and I developed the schemes and implemented them.
In 1993 I opened my first company. At that time it was the era of trade, and for several years I was engaged in wholesale supply of food products, export of bulk chemical products, and import and distribution of certain types of food raw materials (Poland, Latvia). I supplied goods to five of the largest industrial regions of Ukraine. I carried out large-scale packaging of bulk chemical cargo and supplied paper in rolls to industrial consumers.
From 1998 to 2010 one of the areas of my business was marketing/consulting in the chemical industry. As a side project (in 2005) I published a directory of chemical product manufacturers. I have one copy of this directory with me here. Even now, 20 years later, it is still very good (from the concept and classification system to the execution).
During those years I communicated closely with innovators in the chemical industry.
I owned a successful company in Latin America.
In business I went through many difficult situations — from attempts by traffic police to extort money on the roads during cargo deliveries to attempts by various structures to put pressure on my company. I collected debts from debtors, went to court, etc. Once I personally went alone to resolve a conflict in one of the hot spots. Several times in my life there were very tough situations that I would rather not even recall. I never paid bribes to anyone. I always repaid my debts (thank God there were not many such situations), and I always recovered what was owed to me (there were more such situations — not all people want to fulfill their obligations).
Of course, there were incomparably more interesting and vivid moments. And there’s always something to remember in good company.😉
In 2006 I created the first service in the country for searching for investors. At that time the ex-USSR market was not yet ready for it. A year later the service had to be closed.
In 2013 I revived the Startup Project Club, which was supposed to bring together innovations and investors. A large number of projects passed through me. I helped project teams with expertise, development of business plans and financial models, joined project teams, etc. I saw many different situations.
I worked with science-intensive startups (my own and external ones). I have been on both sides of startups: as an investor (investing small amounts) at early stages and as a startup founder, and I helped external startups enter the market.
Several years ago I applied to four hardware accelerators (three American and one Indian). One could write a separate booklet about this experience. In one American accelerator I reached the final stage of selection. I was invited to the final meeting — to have tea together, talk, and receive a check (for a small amount by hardware startup standards). I did not have an open visa to the United States, so the trip did not take place, and the check was given to the candidate following my project. Our team impressed the director of the accelerator very much, and we were invited to participate in the next selection round. After thinking about it, I concluded that by strengthening the team we would be able to accelerate independently.
Startups are incredibly interesting because everything is new, many unique opportunities open up, and at the same time it is difficult. The main difficulty is people: there is a catastrophic shortage of the right people with whom it is possible to build a successful business.
The shortage of effective and reliable people is the key reason why 9 out of 10 startups fail. It is also the reason for the poor return statistics of venture funds (TechCrunch, 2016/2017):
— 50% of funds are unprofitable;
— 35% break even;
— 10% provide returns up to 3x;
— 5% provide returns greater than 3x.
During the analysis of life experience, the following logical conclusions emerged:
— understanding who and how should form effective teams and how projects should be implemented;
— the intention to create a highly efficient investment structure that would launch promising projects on a continuous basis.
Several years ago this idea developed into a desire to launch a (small) venture fund. I posted a description of this project on a well-known American startup service. An influential financier from the United States contacted me and during our communication offered to help fill such a fund with capital. After thinking about it, I concluded that funds (in general) have too little control over startup founders and decided to implement the project in the format of a venture builder. This should initially bring all projects we implement into those coveted 5% with excellent returns.
At the moment I am building a venture builder (as the most efficient investment structure from my point of view). I am developing a startup in the field of cardiology (the project is incorporated in the UK). In my region I run a group for active leisure activities, and in addition I am working on several other projects (including volunteer and social ones).
I also have a mentor from the United States who previously managed a business with annual revenues of $2 billion. He once wrote to me that he considers me a talented person.
I never set a goal to become a professional athlete, but learning a new skill, getting stronger, training for pleasure, bright emotions, and adrenaline — that’s exactly what I enjoy.
As a child I practiced athletics for several years — javelin throw and shot put. Then for a year I played volleyball. At school I held first place in partial disassembly and assembly of a Kalashnikov rifle (with closed eyes).
At university I practiced judo for a year (I got injured and had to stop), lifted weights for several years (kettlebells, dumbbells, barbell), and rode a skateboard. I graduated from a diving school. During my military service I practiced nunchaku for more than a year while on combat duty.
Among my experiences: parachute jumps, paragliding flights, skateboarding, trying surfing, alpine skiing, water skiing, tennis and table tennis, billiards, badminton, target shooting, archery, horseback riding, several years of hatha yoga practice, the first level of Zhong Yuan Qigong, meditation, many years of active interest in psychology, hiking and cycling trips, photography, etc. For one year I ran a self-development club. I am a Candidate for Master of Sports in target shooting.
Many of these activities remain part of my life even now.
I understand electricity, electronics, plumbing, heating systems, computers, and many other things. I learn quickly. I have been soldering for many years. In my home in Germany I assembled a smart home system based on Raspberry Pi 4 / Home Assistant. I like to automate, systematize, and optimize routine tasks to save time for more interesting activities. I draw well.
I cook very well: from dumplings, sauerkraut, and borscht to sushi and baking.
I can build websites on Joomla and OpenCart. Sometimes I write simple things in Python for myself.
I also brought my mother, my cat, and my dog with me to Germany.
I have experience founding and managing (as a social project) a homeowners association in a multi-apartment building that independently maintained two multi-level buildings with multiple entrances. The association included several hundred residents. And I have a good understanding of how people tend to behave in different real-life situations.
I possess expertise in the chemical, food, biotechnology, medical, and several other fields.
I have successful experience bringing a fairly unique product for the food industry to the Western market.
The following values are very important to me:
• honesty
• openness
• intelligence
• integrity
• reliability
• proactivity
• the ability to bring things to results
• the ability to reach agreements
I have deep respect for people who have meaningful goals in life and show persistence in achieving them.
I believe every entrepreneur should have their own written—let’s call it—a “Constitution”, outlining the key aspects of their experience, perspectives, interests, core values, and decision-making logic, among other things.
This helps you quickly assess whether someone is the right co-founder fit.
* The image was generated using AI.
The content is original, mine.