AO SME Corporation and Innopraktika (NIR Fund) Company announce applications acceptance to the business accelerator for technological SME

On March 1, 2021, AO SME Corporation together with Innopraktika (NIR Fund) Company will start applications acceptance for participation in the "SME: Innovations Accelerator" program. This is a program for fast-growing companies in the field of innovation and technological industries that are aimed at strategic development, product transformation,sales markets expansion, optimization and scaling of their business.

Applications for participation are accepted from SME companies that have been operating for at least four years in one of the priority industries, as well as having the results of intellectual activity on the balance sheet. The total average annual revenue growth rate of the participating company should be at least 10% for the period 2016-2019 (2017-2020). The company must also have at least three employees in
key positions.

Based on the selection results, 100 applicants will be able to participate in Pre-acceleration events – training webinars and online selection. According to the results of the pitching, the top 50 companies will have the opportunity to participate in the main acceleration program, which includes traction sessions – individual meetings of trackers with supervised companies, training webinars and consultations with mentors – industry leaders. The final event of the acceleration program will be a demo day, during which participants will be able to present the results of their work in the accelerator to invited experts and potential partners, as well as share their business development strategy.

"We see a demand from technology companies and SME from different industries to acquire new knowledge and competencies to ensure comprehensive growth of key performance indicators and review of the development strategy. When forming the acceleration program, we did not select individual support tools, but developed comprehensive solutions for specific business tasks and attracted experienced experts in intensive business growth. This is the first program in the cycle of industry accelerators of AO SME Corporation, supporting entrepreneurs at different stages of business development. At the end of the program, together with the participants, we will form detailed "road maps" for the further development of the participating companies, including that AO SME Corporation will offer special financial products that will be available only to acceleration programs graduates," comments the General Director oа AO SME Corporation Alexander Isayevich.

"This acceleration program is aimed at technological SME that have already outgrown the startup stage and have significant potential, being at the stage of sustainable growth. That is why the mission of such a program is to provide support and give impetus to the development of these companies as significant players in their technological niches," comments Natalia Popova, First Deputy General Director of Innopraktika (NIR Fund) and public ombudsman for the protection of the rights of high-tech leading companies.

You can apply until March 23 on the website
 of the SME Corporation: http://www.corpmsp.ru/, or following the link: http://www.msp2021.com/. Participation in the acceleration program is free of charge.