At Moscow Startup Summit, Vedyakhin unveils sweeping infrastructure to support teen-led ventures across Russia and beyond
Sberbank is laying the groundwork for a new generation of tech entrepreneurs, with a bold vision to foster sustainable startups by 2040. Speaking at the Moscow Startup Summit, Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy chairman of Sberbank’s Executive Board, emphasized the bank’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment where young innovators can thrive.
Sber’s youth-focused programs now span all 89 regions of Russia and reach 24 neighboring countries, including Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Since 2021, more than 200,000 participants have engaged with its school and university accelerators, resulting in over 4,700 business projects. Among these, the top 100 graduates have launched companies that have collectively attracted RUB 768 million in investment and executed over 110 corporate pilots.
“Every young person—regardless of age, location, or starting point—can initiate their own tech venture if they have access to opportunities, resources, and support.”
—Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman, Sberbank
“Our goal is to build a supportive ecosystem that nurtures entrepreneurial thinking from an early age,” Vedyakhin said. “By 2035–2040, we expect to see these efforts mature into a robust tech sector driven by youth-led innovation.”
The Moscow Startup Summit, co-hosted by Sberbank and the city government, runs October 1–2 at SberCity. It convenes tech leaders, investors, and policymakers from Russia, BRICS nations, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to explore the future of entrepreneurship.
