VK (ex. Mail.Ru Group)

VK, formerly known as Mail.Ru Group, is a prominent Russian internet company that has evolved into a diversified technology conglomerate. Initially known for its email service and internet portal, the company significantly expanded its reach by acquiring and developing leading social networks like VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. This strategic evolution transformed Mail.Ru Group into a dominant player in the Russian digital landscape before its rebranding to VK in 2021, reflecting its focus on a unified ecosystem around its flagship social media platform.

As an active corporate venture investor, VK (and previously Mail.Ru Group Ventures) strategically invests in companies that complement its core businesses and expand its digital ecosystem. Their investment focus spans a wide array of internet-related sectors, including social networking, gaming, e-commerce, edtech, and new technologies like artificial intelligence. The goal is often to identify synergistic opportunities, integrate promising startups into their platforms, or acquire them to strengthen their market position.

VK's venture arm typically targets early to growth-stage companies, providing capital, strategic guidance, and access to its vast user base and technological infrastructure. Historically, their first cheque sizes have ranged from approximately $100,000 for seed-stage startups to around $10 million for more mature Series A or B rounds, depending on the specific opportunity and strategic fit. These investments aim to foster innovation within the Russian and broader Eastern European tech ecosystems, leveraging VK's significant market presence, which includes over 90 million monthly active users in Russia across its various platforms as of 2023. Their portfolio includes notable successes in food delivery (Delivery Club, later acquired), classifieds (Youla), and online education (SkillFactory, GeekBrains), demonstrating their commitment to building a comprehensive digital offering.