The Official Blog of Bulldozer @ Skolkovo

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #11: No need to reinvent the wheel?

Vitaly Shustikov — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:36:00 GMT

Many European companies have failed to generate organic growth. It’s not that growth isn’t important or that there isn’t any money to invest. The problem is that the methods used to guide a new innovation down the road from just an idea into a real pile of money are so limited. A corporate manager traditionally takes only two different options into account: Either do it in-house or throw a lot of money at established companies and their teams. I’m familiar with both paradigms – as both a buyer and a seller – and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes as both.

In larger organizations the work involves many leadership challenges; the biggest being the ability to identify the hungriest frontline teams. In my own NO FEAR experience this is especially hard if your vantage point is at the top of the organizational pyramid. A superficial way of doing this involves all manner of innovation processes and even competitions. The thing is, all organizations include people who are not comfortable speaking up about their ideas. The identification process is also hampered by the friction and inertia that exists between middle management and other organizational levels. This is an organizational swamp in which thousands of brilliant growth-spurring ideas drown every year.

If we manage to identify the 30 most viable growth ideas inside the company, you’re barely out the gate. The question is “What next?” How do you protect the team and their ideas from dying an ignoble death in the pressure generated by existing products and business fiefdoms? What demands do you set for both business and leadership growth? How do you keep the best people in projects with poor short-term prospects? How do you create a compensation model aggressive enough for this small group to feel like their options are the stunning wealth that comes with success or the “bankruptcy” of failure?

The other way of creating something new is to get a pile of cash from the company’s board and use it to buy and integrate a great variety of different companies. Corporate boards tend to favor big projects with established clienteles. It’s perfectly natural. Who wants to go to the annual general meeting and report on their flops, no matter how big or small? What inevitably follows is that the price for corporate acquisitions is pretty high and integrating the different teams is, to say the least, interesting – verging on impossible. So all talk of risk-free growth via controlled corporate acquisitions is usually bull.

There is a third way worth looking into: active utilization of the startup genre. This makes sense for both paradigms – doing it in-house and buying teams from the outside.

First of all, the best ideas should be spun off from the unwieldy corporate parent. This solves many problems and the teams are turned into real entrepreneurs. Just think about where Nokia might be today if 100 of their best ideas and patents had been spun off as separate companies back in 2004, with Nokia owning 20% of each startup. The entrepreneurs would’ve been free to seek outside financing and if their ideas had taken flight, they’d have stood to make a killing. To serve the interests of the Nokia stockowner, the company could’ve insisted on an option to buy back the entire startup in five years – at its current market valuation. If the innovation drifted too far from Nokia’s core competence, the 20% interest in the startup could’ve been sold.

Nokia is only one example. I believe this would work with any of the hundred biggest companies in Finland.

Another path worth considering is buying a minority stake in startups early on, as soon as it starts to look probable that the innovation may create added value for the bigger company’s agenda. The contracts would be about the same as in the previous model I outlined, i.e. an option to buy the company later or let it go if the cooperation wasn’t working.

Both these model require a lot of effort and the ability to listen to and spar with new entrepreneurs. As far as investments go, high visibility mistakes are inevitable, so you’ll be the laughingstock at the occasional general meeting. So what? The thing is, if you look at the growth the one hundred biggest companies in Finland have achieved over the last three years, there’s not much to write home about, is there?

13-14.11.2013 all the best companies in Finland and Russia will meet at the Cable Factory in Helsinki. If you’re looking for growth and want to personally evaluate the models I’ve outlined, get yourself over to www.slush.org. And hurry!

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #10: In a Sauna (сауна)

Pekka Viljakainen — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:35:00 GMT

Friends,

Like Mr Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) tweeted last week, it seems that everything important in Finland seems to start from Sauna. Yesterday and today 3000 start-up people around the world are gathering to Finland, to www.slush.fi event. This is year SKOLKOVO is heavily involved with this event. We have 130 start-up people from 60 companies joining to sessions. On top of that a lot of investors and bankers are feeling the heat here.

Here comes a short video summary and greetings (only 3 minutes) directly from the heat of START-UP SAUNA.

Дорогие друзья,

Как недавно заметил в своем блоге Дмитрий Медведев "в Финляндии все начинается с сауны. Даже start up". Пожалуй, слова российского премьера лучше всего описывают происходящее сегодня и завтра на конференции Slush. В этом году Сколково выступает с мощной программой поддержки знаменитой финской площадки, традиционно собравшей все сливки европейского инвестиционного сообщества: в нашей делегации 130 человек, представляющих 60 (!) компаний. Предлагаю вам небольшой 3х минутный видеосюжет из самого сердца СТАРТАП-САУНЫ (на английском).

(Please visit the site to view this video)

This was my controversial keynote at the main stage:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

And here are some additional photos... (from Sauna). This is the news feed http://community.sk.ru/press/events/november2012/slush/ Enjoy.

What can leaders learn from the young startup lions?

Pekka Viljakainen — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:29:37 GMT

Lack of financing is not the biggest obstacle preventing the creation of new companies any where in this world.

New companies rarely sprout up in capital-heavy industries these days, so the winner is no longer the one who has tens of millions to throw into building smokestacks,assembly lines and other infrastructure. The problems are related to leadership experience, networks and the willingness to work hard in a sustained manner. The help provided by mentors and business angels can really make a difference between success and failure when it comes to new entrepreneurs and speed they learn at. I’d have gone bankrupt if it wasn’t for the aid of committed older colleagues. In the enthusiasm and excitement of youth I tested all my hypotheses on customers, as well as the more experienced of my competitors. Wherever I saw a working solution, I copied it. This sort of interaction is a two-way street, however.

I’ve spent the past year working with young Russian entrepreneurs and it has taught me things I’d forgotten during my corporate years. I’m more convinced than ever that this new generation has a real genius for working in international teams – as long as they are given the chance.

I took to the stage at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna (www.pioneersfestival.com). 2500 startup entrepreneurs from over 50 countries were present and just one day of walking around exposed me to completely new and highly efficient tools and techniques. I really thought I was up-to-date on what’s going on, but turns out I’m not. I’ll have to start doing more research and learning faster. More important than the gadgets and technologies, though, were the passion, internationality and joy of creating something new. A week earlier I spoke at a big corporate IT event in California, the audience consisted of some big-time American CIOs. Smart people, huge budgets and a lot of experience, but passion and new ideas were not present. Quite the opposite, in fact. The harsher your story dealing with the corporate life, the tougher you seemed in this company.

The difference between this event and the startup entrepreneurs’get-together was like downtown Joroinen compared to Times Square. A cynic will say that these new entrepreneurs were born with silver spoons in their mouths and are just burning their investors’ money. Not so. These guys are dealing with an annual growth of 20 to 300 percent in employees. They need working infrastructure, international payments, data security and mission critical admin. And their core business can do a 180-degree turn within a six-month development cycle. Their IT must be agile and keep its eye on the ball at all times. They rarely have any legacy, I’ll grant that, but then they don’t have experienced IT experts or the masses of manpower some organizations can rely on to effect change. And everyone’s new. Who do you trust?

Internationality is the ability to trust and interact with just about anyone on the planet. Thereare assholes everywhere. They come from all countries, linguistic blocks and age groups.Thus building trust should be easy, regardless of the backgrounds involved. The best startup entrepreneurs have grasped this point in a manner that leaves the average corporate animal eating their dust. Having people from 50 different countries at an event is totally natural forthese people. Putting together work groups randomly, regardless of nationality is totally okay. And they jump right into the given assignment. No one is evaluated based on whether they come from corporate HQ, Europe, China, what their age is or other such factors.

The only thing that matters is what you can offer the team as it tries to achieve its objective. Based on this ability, you get respect and if you have something to give, they will want to work with you again. If not, they won’t.

All of this is related to the pressures involved in producing results. Everyone makes mistakes.Projects are born and they die. Everything is a learning experience and all lessons need to be learned, because we are working on something grand and there is no time for indecisive dawdling. If you want to witness this energy in action in Finland, register for region’s biggest start-up event on 21-22.11. at Kaapelitehdas: www.slush.fi But be aware! You may learn something new!

The original copy of this article was published in Tietoviikko Magazine. English version of the article is published in NOFEAR-COMMUNITY with permission.

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #9: Skolkovo companies connecting to European start-up community

Pekka Viljakainen — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:56:00 GMT

Skolkovo was established to help Russian innovators and researchers become entrepreneurs.

To make this happen, the R&D phase needs to have a strong linkage with commercialization of these new innovations. In old time, this could be started at the end of the product creation cycle. Today high-tech world is living pretty fast development cycles and commoditisation of technology pushes from the other side. In reality this means that steps to get international, needs to happen many times in parallel with R&D. In other words, innovations and ideas needs to be co-developed with end-users or corporate customers. Entrepreneurs needs to start building their international person-networks early enough and most of the R&D needs to be strengthened with talents from all over the world.

At the same time, investors want to invest mainly for companies with a global mindset. Best talent wants to work in more competitive environment.

So, there is no need say, why Skolkovo foundation is pushing heavily to get more and more of our companies to try their wings in international arena. Companies are in different stages and it is just natural that all companies are ready for it today. But like in any development and GROWTH: you need crawl before you can walk. So the learning needs to start tomorrow.

Today we are with some Skolkovo IT cluster companies in: http://pioneersfestival.com It is really funny to compare the ENERGY of people in these events. There are no major formalities. Just talented people willing to make something BIG. And about 2500 people connected to start-ups and establishment of new businesses.

Next big international start-up event will be Helsinki in http://www.slush.fi (21-22 November). If you have not yet confirmed your participation, do that now!

With Regards from Wien, Show must go on! Pekka

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #8: 84 дня до Нового года / 84 days before the New Year

Pekka Viljakainen — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:56:00 GMT

прочесть данное сообщение на русском: http://bit.ly/VA1gcv (PDF document)

I am constantly asked by Russian and foreign journalists: ”Is Skolkovo buy definition a construction project of the Skolkovo village?” … And as constantly I reply: ”Well, making a new physical Skolkovo district is one part of our agenda, but by its DNA, Skolkovo is not a construction project. It is more about coaching new generation of entrepreneurs, destroying both mental and physical barriers blocking new companies to succeed. In this work it is very relevant supporting new leaders and leadership. Skolkovo is about developing people.”

Typically this commentary is followed with a big question mark in the eyes of the journalist. Firstly, what does this mean? Is this possible in Russia? Does this Finnish guy (finsky kon) understand anything about realities?

Well, I believe that I start to understand something about Russia. And very frankly, I am day after day even more convinced about what I just stated about the focus of our program. These very same themes were also strongly highlighted by the prime minister Mr Medvedev and several other respected speakers in Sochi Forum just week ago (here more about this). I feel that I am not alone with my view.

In Finland (where I am originally from), there are two holy milestones in annual calendar. There are days before the mid-summer festival (typically in 20^th of June) and then there are days before Christimas (24^th of December). In Russia it seems that life and everything ends at New Year when also the budget year ends. That is why I wanted to specific we are planning to spend our last days (specifically 84 days).

Firstly, commercialization of our start-ups is the key target of all our teams. Out of some 3200 companies, we selected (so far) 670 companies who are today Skolkovo residents. Many start-ups have a tendency (and old habit and learning even from the schools) to pro-long the product creation phase and try to make product “ready” before even thinking actions of commercialization. Well, in 99% of the cases this tactic is not optimum. To make great products and service you have to be as close with customers and best talents than possible. Deep insights and feedback about customer needs are not typically stored at the chambers of R&D geeks!

Secondly, also at Skolkovo, we need tomove our own brain capacity / people /resources to work only at the very frontline supporting our start-ups. To be even more specific we are implementing an account manager model across our foundation – in all industry clusters. The idea is to get our calendars to be filled with dialogue and interaction with our current and potential new start-ups joining to Skolkovo.
By definition, Skolkovo was never established to be governmental money distributor for companies, but an adviser for new start-ups. To be better on this, we need less byrocracy and more interaction and faster learning.

Thirdly, we, as Skolkovo Foundation are taking very visible actions to find even more great, innovative entrepreneurs across Russian Federation. Russia is not same as Moscow. At the same time we want to diversify our company portfolio for get good non-Russian, also small and median size, companies to start their R&D activities in Russian Federation. Our opportunities, rules and programs are 100% same for Russian and non-Russian entrepreneurs starting their R&D activities at Skolkovo!

Fourthly, we will establish and launch platforms (I call those short-cuts), to get our companies test their wings (meaning innovations, products, leadership teams, investment stories) in international arena. Only in coming 84 days, we are getting more than 160 Skolkovo companies to join to several such events to feel the heat and global competition. The purpose is to LEARN from others and get really CONNECTED with other entrepreneur societies. At the same time we are preparing concrete guidelines and support functions to give our residents easiest and the most cost effective way to start their foreign sales offices in USA, Europe and Asia.

… And fifthly, we will work much more closely with all other voluntary base organizations (like associations and NGOs), as well as federal agencies to increasing focus and to delete overlapping activities. I feel that this is all very, very relevant in establishment of entrepreneurship society in Russia. My personal dream is that we could get millions of Russians to feel connected to this society in coming years (universities, students, private investors, media, individual people, federal organizations, regions).

So to summarize: Target is clear. We are ready with New Russian Entrepreneurship Society when…

… mothers and fathers in Russia advise their smartest kids to start own business,
instead of working in steady, big companies or government.

And yes, we are not yet there. But we working on it every day. So join and meet our participants in following events:

25-26.10      Silicon Valley        www.riw-sv.com
29-31.10.     Wien                     www.pioneersfestival.com
31.10.-3.11. Moscow                 www.forinnovations.org
21-22.11.     Helsinki                 www.slush.fi

Please comment, disagree, argue, help, suggest regarding these topics thru this blog or directly to my email: bulldozer@sk.ru or twitter @pviljakainen

P.S. This is 5 minutes video intro for our cluster events (recorded yesterday) where all these issues are discussed with our entrepreneurs:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

BB @ Skolkovo #7: Thank YOU!

Pekka Viljakainen — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:22:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

Establishment of true entrepreneurship society is not something, which can be created overnight. Neither it is something, what anyone can force to happen. In entrepreneurship society, fully networked entrepreneurs and their ideas/teams/innovations are the force moving mountains. Everything else is just back office and support actions.

Every single stakeholder making Russian Entrepreneurship Society a reality should work for one goal: To make sure that mothers and fathers of Russian young talents would advise and encourage their children to start new businesses in Russia. Starting own business is always risky, but it is not dangerous. If this advice is given to talented youngsters and we can build needed support for him/her to grow – the entrepreneurship society will get a new relentless fighter. If this advice is not given, all investments to support technoparks and even business education is almost wasted. For our foreign business partners we encourage you to check what is corporate Russia today - in reality.

After seeing the attention, media interest and energy of many stakeholders in St. Petersburg Economic Forum, I am confident that we are in a right track. I have been six times in this forum and the DIFFERENCE of talks, focus and attention related to entrepreneurship is truly amazing.

We, as Skolkovo Foundation (as only one stakeholder of the society) need to work relentlessly to cut barriers and get our companies to the stage. The work continues.

On behalf of the Skolkovo Foundation I want to sincerely thank YOUR contribution in this work.

Pekka A. Viljakainen
Advisor to the President of Skolkovo Foundation

P.S. And here you can find photos and 4 minute video intro material used in our screens in St. Pete…

SKOLKOVO FOUNDATION STATUS IN 4 MINUTES:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

22 COMPANIES (OUT OF OUR 500 RESIDENTS!) INTRODUCED IN SKOLKOVO EXHIBITION STAND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Intelligent Platforms and Solutions, http://youtu.be/TwUaW2QJqVg

Inforesource, http://youtu.be/vm8ysYn8ZCY

GlobalLab, http://youtu.be/fKibuyHIZVU

STC-innovations, http://youtu.be/-N1hzC5R4og

VIST Mining Technology, http://youtu.be/brBvAl4Jwng

SDI Research, http://youtu.be/acTsi_zMnXg

3DiVi Company, http://youtu.be/IqiPKjsO9Ss

ENERGY

KD Technology, http://youtu.be/USL1CRH8L7M

Novas, http://youtu.be/sIXnWZ9CEXY

Gasochim Techno, http://youtu.be/Y6Ba87VT17E

PPT, http://youtu.be/KasOa01v1Ng

Mobix Chip, http://youtu.be/fazv47-KYLo

BIOMEDICAL

Pharma Bio, http://youtu.be/oDM3ZmdujSg

Leksystems, http://youtu.be/jjoadtumhy4

Quantum Pharmaceuticals, http://youtu.be/ACXJXzyo3YU

HemaCore Labs, http://youtu.be/LI1Xe48HWvc

SPACE

Aerob, http://youtu.be/tO86qthKLcI

Advanced Energy Technologies, http://youtu.be/NRckgzLBk8E

Tensosensor, http://youtu.be/idh_Fhxp2D8

NUCLEAR

Intersoft Eurasia, http://youtu.be/zvDilb2DHgI

RamMics, http://youtu.be/m5VOZLIYPYQ

Femtoniсa, http://youtu.be/WF_ZYHjIQpc

BB @ Skolkovo #6: Getting connected with European Entrepreneur Society

Pekka Viljakainen — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:23:00 GMT

... is coming! SAVE THE DATE!

SLUSH is an important, tested and well functioning platform for start-ups entrepreneurs to meet each other, investors, new talent, media etc.

Please check the pre-material (just one pager) from HERE.
You can sign up for free mailing list to get updates automatically from HERE.
You can also see some videos from the previous years (great pitches and other learning material) from http://www.youtube.com/user/aaltoes/videos?view=1

AND… Save those dates to your calendar… We are planning to organize a joint trip for Skolkovo residents to join to this event. Stay tuned! P.S. Greetings from lovely St. Petersburg.

BB @ Skolkovo #5: Are you Ready?

Pekka Viljakainen — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:23:00 GMT

In connection of massive St. Petersburg Economic Forum 2012 http://2012.forumspb.com/ Skolkovo Foundation is doing many things to introduce all our start-ups to the 3000 VIP persons at forum (from 120 countries). We will also celebrate our 500th Skolkovo resident company!

You can hear more from this short, just recorded video email:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

During these days, we will have very active role in

1) Youth Forum 2012 ( http://youthforum.ru/ ) focusing this year to leadership and entrepreneurship society issues

2) We have selected 22 start-ups from our start-ups to be introduced in our booth LIVE and then rest 478 thry www.sk.ru website. All industry clusters and their key leaders will be available for introducing their cluster companies

3) ... And we will have own seminar program for media, VIP guests and investors...

Pre-invitation materials for our customers:

Skolkovo special program (PDF file to customers, in Russian) from here.

Skolkovo special program (PDF file to customers, in English ) from here.

... And this is the short video email http://bit.ly/KO6snl which can be sent to guests, while you are inviting them and you are sending the PDF.

If you have any comments or questions, just ask thru this blog post. 100% reply guarantee. Regards, Pekka, bulldozer@sk.ru

BB @ Skolkovo #4: Making our companies visible to the world

Pekka Viljakainen — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:16:17 GMT

As it was told in my earlier blogs, it is time to get all our 400 Skolkovo start-up companies to show to the world their teams, achievements and plans. Naturally all companies have some trade secrets and issues which can not be told (at this phase of their company cycle). Some are just in early phase of patenting process or establishing their teams. However, within coming weeks, we will open in this community are section where all companies are introducing themselves. IT IS the place to monitor within coming months and years - whether Skolkovo project is delivering, or not. I am confident that it does.

This is my introduction video email, which was recorded, edited and sent to our entrepreneurship community just 4 minutes ago:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

If you have any questions or comments regarding this activity, just post those in this page. 100% answer guarantee in all comments...

Have a great May holidays!

BB @ Skolkovo #3: First cross-industry / cross-cluster session at Skolkovo Technopark

Pekka Viljakainen — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:41:00 GMT

It was great honour for me to be part of Skolkovo Technopark event yesterday. As I wrote in my earlier blog posts, I see it very important to start building the true entrepreneurship society in Russia. And the society is always built from the bottom-up. And definitely not top down. By making that happen, this society should be (and will be) then closely connected other global and regional societies (like www.aaltoes.com or http://miter.mit.edu/tag/Society )

It was excellent to see 700 people already in this first session to make this society a reality. We will continue this work in many forums and ways. This virtual Skolkovo will be also in key role in a future to share the knowledge of Russian entrepreneurs, students, investors and universities. By doing that, we want to share all learning’s of success and failures of entrepreneurs. Thanks for Sergey Kurilov @Skolkovo Technopark (sk@sk.ru ) and his team for making this first session happen!

The topic of our first joint session was to focus on next steps of Skolkovo and about the success factors of our great start-up companies. All the Skolkovo clusters / industries were present and a lot of energized entrepreneurs.

In my part of the plenary session, I was sharing my non-academic and quite straightforward approach to the topic: Our key task, as a Skolkovo Foundation, is give all the possible support for companies to really speed-up and shorten the critical phases 1 and 2. For any start-up entrepreneur it is easy and cosy to stay behind the desk and make endless loops of planning, planning and planning – without testing the idea with true customers. Well, in todays world, most of the great innovations are created jointly with business partners and pilot customers. And in this game, time-to-market is really crucial factor. Some people call this as crowdsourcing or networked economy product creation model. Well, you can use whatever words you like, but the true key is to get all the possible ideas, even contracting ones, from the potential users and customers.

You can get my few slides used in the session from (2.5 megabyte PDF) here (in Russian) and here (in English ).

I really hope to get your feedback, ideas and comments thru this blog system. There were some technical problems earlier (sorry for that, my mistake in settings), but now everyone can comment. Share anything what you think is valuable for the other community members.

Regards, Pekka, email bulldozer@sk.ru

P.S. Video interviews regarding the change of leadership style can be found from http://www.nofear-community.com

BB @ Skolkovo #2: My first sessions with clusters and entrepreneurs

Pekka Viljakainen — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:51:00 GMT

During past weeks I have started sessions with a Skolkovo start-up companies (so far with IT, Biotech and Energy-clusters). Without any over-statement, I am impressed about the pipeline of ideas, companies and entrepreneurs. It is true that whole Skolkovo (with its 2 year birthday approaching) as such is a start-up with its all excitement, hype and cynical doubts. But when you get deeper under the hood, you meet super excellent people who want develop great products, hire top talents, conquer the world and make money. So precisely like with some best start-up companies. That makes me also a true believer of Skolkovo.

During discussions and mentoring sessions, I have used my experiences and failures as an introduction to the topic (i.e. story written in http://www.nofear-community.com). It seems to be a pretty eye-opening approach to kick-start a dialogue. Quite quickly we are moving to the true motivation and leadership development of these young leaders. Many of these companies are recruiting young talents, which are behaving pretty much in a same way in all over the world: With these guys and girls, your leadership is not based on title, wealth or your given status.

To be able to lead, you need to show your value to your team members practically every day. And your value can not be monthly salary. People want to learn from you and with you. You can’t be a be leader, if there is nobody who wants to follow you. And the generation of cyber cowboys behaves in a same way in all countries – including and especially in Russia.

The dialogue has just started, but you can see&get my introduction (sorry, it is 14 megabytes, so hold your breath for a second) powerpoint deck from here.

To get some Russian flavour to this theme, this is what Mr Alexei Mordashov, the CEO of Severstal thinks about it:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

And the whole story: http://nofear-community.com/blog/2011/video-executive-interview-alexey-mordashov-ceo-severstal-group/

BB @ Skolkovo #1: Building Skolkovo Entrepreneurship Society

Pekka Viljakainen — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:24:00 GMT

REF: With this press release, I became an advisor for the president of Skolkovo.

My task in Skolkovo Foundation is clear. I want to use all my learnings, failures, connections and energy to support Skolkovo start-up entrepreneurs to GROW. Growing means growth as businesses, but simultaneously, as leaders, capable to lead in global arena.

My motivation for this role is high and KPIs are very well aligned with the whole Skolkovo; I want that before I officially will retire (20.4.2040), at least 5% of Skolkovo born start-ups have reached 1 billion USD annual revenue level. If none of those have reached that, I/we have failed miserably. In case more companies have succeeded to reach the target – I will definitely organize a big retirement party.

For me Skolkovo is not only a Russian exercise, but if it is successful, it will have an impact for the whole European region. Russia is already today the biggest Internet nation in Europe (check this) and it is having a potential to drive growth in many sectors.

My style as a leader and a colleague is to share all my findings, presentation materials and events thru digital channels. So if you need to know what I am up-to, check the latest blog post first. I also want to hear your comments and feedback thru this channel so comment and ask freely!

From YOU, I expect true interaction and collaboration. Whether you are a start-up entrepreneur, Skolkovo foundation colleague or an investor – let’s talk about joint opportunities and actions. If something sucks, let’s fix it as quickly as possible. Having said that, it seems that there is a tendency to talk about problems, limitations and conditions. Well, we have to take learnings seriously, but…

… as it was written by George Bernard Shaw (1856 –1950), an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics:

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them”

And lastly… NO FEAR. When we are jointly building Skolkovo entrepreneurship community, we should not be afraid of anything in this world (except of course our mother’s).

Do WE have a common understanding for co-operation? With Love, bulldozer@sk.ru

The Official Blog of Bulldozer @ Skolkovo

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #11: No need to reinvent the wheel?

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #10: In a Sauna (сауна)

What can leaders learn from the young startup lions?

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #9: Skolkovo companies connecting to European start-up community

Bulldozer@ Skolkovo #8: 84 дня до Нового года / 84 days before the New Year

So to summarize: Target is clear. We are ready with New Russian Entrepreneurship Society when…

… mothers and fathers in Russia advise their smartest kids to start own business,instead of working in steady, big companies or government.

BB @ Skolkovo #7: Thank YOU!

BB @ Skolkovo #6: Getting connected with European Entrepreneur Society

BB @ Skolkovo #5: Are you Ready?

BB @ Skolkovo #4: Making our companies visible to the world

BB @ Skolkovo #3: First cross-industry / cross-cluster session at Skolkovo Technopark

P.S. Video interviews regarding the change of leadership style can be found from http://www.nofear-community.com

BB @ Skolkovo #2: My first sessions with clusters and entrepreneurs

BB @ Skolkovo #1: Building Skolkovo Entrepreneurship Society

… mothers and fathers in Russia advise their smartest kids to start own business,
instead of working in steady, big companies or government.