Ekaterina Voronova: We intend to introduce Armenian and Swiss startups

Innovare Swiss-Eurasian Innovative Platform helps startups from Eurasian Union: Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, etc. to reach European and global markets.

Itel.am talked with Innovare Swiss-Eurasian Innovative Platform Communications and PR Manager Ekaterina Voronova about the platform and its work in Armenia.

- How exactly does Innovare assist Eurasian startups? 

- We aim to connect Eurasian Economic Union states with Switzerland in terms of technological development, innovation, research and investment. 

We target Russian, Kazakh, Belarus and Armenian startups that are creating innovative products and doing scientific research in different fields  - we support those who want to enter Swiss and European markets, as well early-stage startups who seek for R&D partners for joint development of innovative solutions.

We establish connections between the innovative institutions and high-technology companies from aforementioned countries (accelerators, high schools and universities, R&D centers) and their Swiss partners/colleagues to create mutual projects and initiatives, and we help startups find investors and mentors, as well as communicate with each other.

- What can Armenian startups expect from Innovare and when?

- At present, we have a discussion with Startup Armenia on how we can engage Armenian startups in our projects. We plan to organize an event in Armenia with the help of Swiss and Armenian partners. Currently, we discuss opportunities, review Armenian market in order to understand its needs. So I believe we’ll begin to actively work in Armenia in August.

We have several projects that you can learn about here.

One of the opportunities for Armenian startups to actively participate in Innovare’s activities is to participate in its global ecosystem InnMind.com for innovative community: startups, experts and investors. As it is online platform, there is no regional limitation - startups from all over the world can find investors, mentors, use free legal documents, find useful tools to develop their projects further and what is more important – reach international community and expand clients base. InnMind is a great solution, combining all different aspects of startup work on one platform.

- Since you began researching ecosystem of Armenian startups, what is your first impression?

- I’m familiar with a number of Armenian startups that are known abroad, e.g. PicsArt. I’m aware that ICT and particularly engineering potential is rather developed in Armenia.

Perhaps, Armenian startups aren’t widely known abroad due to lack of information  -  here in Switzerland many people don’t know what is going on in Armenia. We want to fix that mistake and introduce Armenian startups to Swiss market.

I believe that through our activities we will succeed to attract interest of Swiss and European industry and investors to Armenia and establish effective business relations with Armenian hightech companies.

Narine Daneghyan talked to Ekaterina Voronova