"Start a business with Moscow": The Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented certificates to students in 2025 and announced the launch of a student business club
On April 1, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the summing up of the educational module and the launch of the student business club of the School of International Entrepreneurship for students of Moscow universities, "Start your Business with Moscow."
The project has been implemented for the second year in a row. Last year, it was designed only for international students, but this year they were joined by selected Russians. In total, more than 200 applications were received, 134 people were selected (approximately 50% of Russian and foreign citizens each), they represent 31 universities and 38 countries, including the Russian Federation.
During March, the students attended 9 rounds of lectures and workshops on the basics of entrepreneurship. And 76 of the most active received certificates of completion of the training course. "In the modern world, the most important thing in finding a job is what skills you possess," said Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, addressing the graduates. "When you come to a potential employer with the certificate you received today, you will be one step ahead of your competitors."
The students were addressed by experienced entrepreneurs who came to Russia from different countries and made a successful entrepreneurial career here. Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Raimed Trading Group- CELT LLC, Zenebe Tafesse, founder of the Russian-Chinese B2B digital trading platform KIFA and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC KIFA, and President of the Union of African Diasporas in Russia and the Association of the Ethiopian Community in Russia and the CIS, Senior Researcher at INION RAS Kinfu, shared with the students They shared their successes and the difficulties they had to face in their lives, and also gave advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. First of all, they unanimously stated that going into entrepreneurship just to make money is futile, you need to understand your vocation, your mission to be fulfilled with the help of business. Experts stressed that success can be expected only under this condition.
Young people who became finalists and winners of last year's project also gave parting words to the graduates. They recommended that those who are going to continue their journey in the project should not be afraid, pay attention to numbers when developing their business idea, and those who will work in a team should prescribe the roles of each participant in advance.
"We do not want to part with you, and therefore today we are announcing the launch of a student business club, in which we invite both today's graduates and participants of last year's project to participate, and we also hope that there will be further streams, and we are waiting for everyone on our site," said the director of the MGIMO Career Center, Executive Director Natalia Neporada, Director of the International Employers Club Association and one of the Club's curators. The second curator is Valery Kalyuzhny, a social investor, public figure, entrepreneur, expert, founder and head of the Avangard public and commercial holding. He also invited the guys to the Club, stressing that at this site they would have the opportunity not only to communicate with their peers, but also to get advice from experienced entrepreneurs.
All graduates of the School had the opportunity to listen to a lecture from Sber, from which they learned about the possibilities of artificial intelligence for business, and about industry solutions provided by the ecosystem.
At the end of the official part, students were awarded certificates of completion of the educational module of the School of International Entrepreneurship "Start your business with Moscow". After that, the guys took pictures, talked, exchanged their ideas, contacts and impressions about the training.
Further, all interested graduates will be able to apply for participation in the second acceleration module of the course. The organizers will select the most promising business ideas. Further, under the guidance of experienced mentors, teams and individual students will prepare business projects - calculate their effectiveness, "package", prepare presentations and pitches. Only the top 10 will qualify for the finals. The winners will be determined by the expert council, which includes entrepreneurs, investors, business angels, university professors, and experts. Finalists will traditionally be eligible for internships at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry and at member enterprises of the Chamber.
The project "School of International Entrepreneurship for students of Moscow Universities "Start your Business with Moscow" is being implemented by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Moscow Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy as part of a Grant from the Mayor of Moscow.