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From Idea to Forum with 3,200 Attendees
© Petr Zakharov/ HSE Cultural Centre
On May 31, 2025, HSE University hosted the fifth and anniversary edition of the HSE Business Club Forum—the largest student-led entrepreneurship event in Russia. Over five years, students have transformed this forum from a small local initiative into a large-scale platform bringing together market leaders, investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone keen to build a business while still at university.
Entirely student-run, the forum is living proof that entrepreneurship at HSE is already a reality. In 2025, the event attracted a record-breaking 3,200 registrations and was supported by 20 partner companies. The online broadcast drew thousands of viewers. The event’s general partner was VTB Bank.
HSE Deputy Vice Rector
— The HSE Business Club Forum is a striking example of what our students are capable of when they have an idea, a team, and the drive to make something truly meaningful. This event is the result of tremendous effort, brought to life entirely by students, and that is its greatest value.
Students don’t just sit through lectures; they organise major events, learn by doing and taking responsibility. They leave university with genuine managerial and project experience. Initiatives like this show that studying at HSE is not about preparing for the future—it is about creating the future now. And that is truly inspiring.
The forum also gives students a unique opportunity to meet real entrepreneurs—to ask questions, share ideas, and gain an insider’s view of the business world. It is a chance for meaningful, personal dialogue with people who have already made the journey from idea to enterprise.
President of the HSE Business Club
— At our Business Club, we believe entrepreneurship begins with initiative—with the ability to take responsibility, bring a team together, negotiate, inspire others, develop an idea and see it through to the end.
Each year, we become more convinced that the forum is an effective tool for shaping the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs—people who will build businesses, form teams, and make big decisions. And it is crucial that this generation possesses the right values, mindset, and ambitions. Ambitions not just about building something big, but also something meaningful. Not just to earn money, but to create. Not just to speak, but to take responsibility.
We do not just want to inspire—we want to show that the entrepreneurial path is closer than it seems. It all starts with a simple conversation, a desire to learn more, that first idea. The forum is a space where you can take that first step. We wish every participant to leave with a new question, a new contact, or a new idea that sparks something important.
Thank you to HSE for the freedom and trust. And thank you to everyone who has taken part—you are the ones shaping the future of entrepreneurship today.
Investing in Ideas: Highlights from the Roundtable
One of the key events of the forum was the roundtable discussion ‘The Future of Business: Investing in Youth Entrepreneurship,’ organised in partnership with the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organisation ‘Development of Human Capital.’ Participants included representatives of investment funds, the venture capital sector, the university, and the HSE Business Club.
The discussion focused on early-stage investments in student startups, the criteria that make them attractive to investors, and the role universities play in nurturing young entrepreneurs. Participants explored how the university environment can serve as a catalyst for developing startup ecosystems and which support mechanisms are most effective.
Pitch Session: From Words to Action
The forum served as a true testing ground for student ideas. Nine student teams took part in the pitch session, presenting their projects to investors and industry experts. Among the startups were an AR atlas, infusion devices, an AI interior design tool, gaming PCs, a fitness community, and AI-based mental health support apps.
Participants received not only valuable feedback but also the chance to attract partners, clients, and mentors.
Shaping the Future: Insights from Industry Leaders
The forum welcomed some of Russia’s leading entrepreneurs, each of whom shared not only their experience but also their strategic vision for the future of business.
Stanislav Bliznyuk, President of T-Technologies, spoke about digital transformation and the role of young professionals in ecosystem development. According to him, over 40% of the company’s employees are recent graduates. The company follows a ‘Test and Learn’ principle: successful solutions are instantly implemented, and mistakes are seen as part of the process—the key is not to scale failures.
Vladimir Yevtushenkov, founder of AFK Sistema, gave a talk on leadership during a crisis. His core message: the ability to stay composed in uncertain times is vital—‘If someone gives in to panic, they have already lost.’
Oleg Zherebtzov, founder of the Lenta supermarket chain and Solopharm Co., shared his approach to building efficient operational models. He emphasised the need to eliminate unnecessary steps and the importance of prioritising speed and strong teams, going digital, and focusing on the customer.
Mikhail Grebenyuk, founder of the consulting company Resulting, presented a 20-bullet checklist for assessing a business idea at the concept stage. His company has built over 1,000 sales departments and generates an annual revenue of 2 billion roubles.
Other forum speakers included Ivan Tavrin (Kismet Capital Group), Dmitry Chuyko (Whoosh), Rinat Aliyev (Educate Online), Alexander Dubovenko (GOOD WOOD), Anton Makarov (divan.ru), Viktor Kuznetsov (VseInstrumenty.ru), Sergey Lebedev (CHICKO), and Amiran Mutsoev (Dream Island).
Learning by Doing
The forum offered HSE students not only knowledge, but also the opportunity to put it into practice. Through organising a major event, managing partnerships, handling logistics, moderating sessions and leading teams, members of the HSE Business Club gained real-world experience.
Alongside the main programme, practical workshops were held in the Small Hall, covering topics such as team building, conflict management, and growing a business in uncertain conditions. Semyon Shimichev, founder of the Mates coffee chain, also shared his story of opening his first location at the age of 19.
General Partner of the Forum: VTB Bank
Partners: Sber, Ozon, Alfa Bank, Х5 Group, SBS Consulting, Domodedovo, Kept, Axenix, Future Today, Internet Initiatives Development Fund, Changellenge, Rosselkhozbank, HSE Business Incubator, Promsvyazbank, Svyatoy Istochnik mineral water, and others.
