The dark side of Arcadius Moreinis. “Periodically it becomes sad” Arkady Moreinis and his startup factory “Glavstart. But on the other hand, why do we all scold you

The founder of Anti-Accelerator, Arkady Moreinis, wrote a column for the CPU about the lack of an entrepreneurial culture in Russia, about the near future of startups, and why an investor owes nothing to anyone.

And with what fright did you decide that I should do something for free?

The fact that we have a vanishingly small number of new good projects is clear to everyone. Well, probably, except for the authors of these projects themselves, who are convinced of the uniqueness of their ideas. Dudes, fir-pals, when I hear the first words "unique idea", "no analogues" - my hand immediately reaches for the trigger of the revolver.

When I hear about the fact that “the project is already working in America, so I will now write down the same site and everything will fly” - I start to feel sick.

When they say that “we have a project ready, it remains only to figure out how to attract an audience,” your head starts to hurt sharply.

When they talk about the fact that “there is an idea, but in order to do at least something, I need programmers and marketers,” they ache stupidly.

But on the other hand, why are we all scolding you?

We didn’t tell you anything and didn’t explain how to start designing, testing and building a business. The very first steps are the most important. It is at this stage that 99% of projects die. That is why another 99% of the surviving 1% start making money and ... get stuck on it, because they stumbled upon generic problems laid down at the very beginning of the business.

We tell you - come to us with prepared projects, listen to you and recommend in Aesopian language "hit the wall". Then we complain all over Facebook that "there are no good projects in Russia."

Why don't we have a generation of entrepreneurs? Entrepreneurs, not wannapreneurs. Entrepreneurs, not "want-to-be". It is necessary to answer this question, as well as the question “why do we piss in the entrances?”, since 1917. Well, that's how it happened. What now - to wait another 200 years until a new one grows on the bones and humus of today's generation, which has already absorbed the meaning and culture of entrepreneurship into the blood?

Take you to the accelerator? Taking a stake in a project and giving you money? Wow. In fact, in this accelerator we will teach you and straighten your brains. After that, you will look at yourself and your project with new eyes, try to make it take off and, most likely, give it up because of the hopelessness.

For this we will not only get nothing - a share in an abandoned project is worth nothing - but we will also pay you for a few months of life and laboratory marketing experiments. That is, at the exit we will see some people pumped professionally and with a new outlook on life. We will pay for this. And we won't get anything in return.

Houston, we have a problem. Even two problems

First problem. The level of startups is low, because the level of entrepreneurial knowledge, understanding, and preparation is low. We must first send you to a vocational school, give you the basics, and therefore already listen to your project as a thesis. And it is in vocational schools that no MBA will help here. How many MBAs have you seen among successful startup founders? In PTU, definitely!

Second problem. You must pay for your education yourself. Don't want to pay? good filter in order to weed out freeloaders who for some reason decided that they "should be supported." To ride the investment elevator, comfortably pushing the buttons, instead of plodding along the road leading up the hill to the temple. Nafig. If you want to learn, pay.

And, damn it, how I want to see more projects in which money can be "invested" and not "loved". There is a hypothesis: if I first teach you, and then you begin to choose ideas accordingly, think through the business model and, finally, understand that “a product is not what you do, but what you sell” - then projects will be better.

It was with such thoughts that I launched my course on anti-startups. I heard a number of exclamations from start-ups: “Moreinis began to take money for courses, ahh, what a petty one.” So I want to immediately answer those who, out of some fright, decided that someone should teach you for free - go through the forest. The process of preparing the course, the software platform, the filming, my time and the time of the platform team to communicate with you during the course cost money, so you have to pay for it. Why should I pay for this?

And I still take a little. Exactly because I'm interested in the projects that will turn out at the end. After graduation from vocational school. As the very thesis. This is fucking interesting. Because it's time to start investing in projects, not in people.

And a bonus track for those who have not yet lost their temper and started trolling in the comments.

While everyone is in shock

1. Start a new business at this time- a solution close to madness.

2. But, paradoxically, by the level of risks it is not fundamentally different from the state of "sit on the priest evenly", since the prospects of people, even those who now have a normal job and salary, are very incomprehensible. These prospects depend entirely on whether their companies survive in this troubled time. Which is not a fact. Find new job with decent conditions in case of problems at the old place it will be oh-very difficult.

3. There will be fewer such crazy people than in fat years.. There will be fewer new projects, less competition between them. Adult companies operating in target markets will not invest in development, their main task will be to defend, survive and hold on. The new project has a chance to seep into the target market through a hole in the defense fence, no one will really catch mice.

4. Players living off investment injections, will be forced to start counting money, as it will be difficult to wait for new rounds in the near future, to put it mildly. They will be forced to reduce the intensity of dumping, due to which they recent times and developed. This will lead to more companies in the target markets playing the general market, trying to make money, and not just investing money in unprofitable growth. Surprisingly, this gives a chance to small companies with small bones and greater freedom and speed in decision-making. A chance to start attracting the target audience for the payback.

5. Start new project per investment will be impossible. No one will give money for an idea. You can rely only on yourself and on your ability to create a product on your own, attract customers and make money on them.

6. From dropping your hands or burying your head in the sand, nothing will change. There are no guarantees for success. There is always a chance.

General Director of the company "Glavstart"

General Director of the company "Glavstart".

Graduated with honors from Moscow State University.
The first place of work was the Computing Center of Moscow State University. Here he is a research assistant.

Arkady devotes the next few years to the Macsimum company he created (trade in hardware and software development for Apple Macs (hence the name of the company)).

The next frontier is the Internet.
Arcady's first online project was the Extranet e-mail system. Later there was a specialized electronic catalog "Autodrom". According to Moreinis, these projects were commercial failures.
In 1997, he launched a truly successful project - the Price.Ru portal (an online directory of companies and prices on the computer and hi-tech equipment market). The project has received several significant Internet awards. In 2008, he leaves the post of CEO of Price.Ru.
From 2008 to 2009, he held the position of Project Development and Development Director at Rambler Media.
Currently, he is the founder and head of the Glavstart company.

was born on December 26, 1963 in Moscow. He describes his early years utterly modestly - he studied at an ordinary school, after that he went to serve. Appointment - chemical troops Soviet army. Arkady Moreinis did receive higher education, in 1984 he entered the Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics of Moscow State University. In 1989 he graduated with honors and received a "specialist".

The first place of work of Arkady Moreinis was the Computing Center of Moscow State University. Here he is a research assistant. After some time, the low salary and the lack of enviable prospects bored Moreinis - he leaves the EC. Around this time, he breaks off relations with his wife. Arkady devotes the next few years to the Macsimum company he created. The firm was involved in hardware sales and software development for Apple Macs (hence the name of the company). But even this activity will soon bore Arkady. The next frontier is the Internet.

The first online project of Arkady Moreinis was the Extranet e-mail system. Later there was a specialized electronic catalog "Autodrom". According to Moreinis, these projects were commercial failures. And only in June 1997, Arkady managed to launch a truly successful project - the Price.Ru portal. Under it, Price Express LLC was founded.

The idea of ​​Price.Ru is to collect the largest possible list of companies selling computers and components, as well as gadgets and other technical innovations. Together with the companies, a list of their products/services is offered. With the help of this service, the Internet user of the 90s and the beginning of the 21st century was able to compare prices for the product of interest as efficiently as possible. In 2001, the portal was updated with many new features. During its existence, Moreinis' first successful startup had physical representation in largest cities Russia and the capital of Belarus. He has received several significant Internet awards.

In June 2008, Arkady Moreinis left the post of CEO of Price.Ru and became director of development and project development at Rambler. He holds this position until June 2009. Apparently, Arkady is overwhelmed by a passion for startups - having left the leadership position at Rambler, he creates the Glavstart project. Moreinis's venture is looking for interesting ideas for start-ups and investing in bringing them to the launch-ready stage. Arkady is the CEO at Glavstart.

The head of Glavstart, Arkady Moreinis, opens a $5 million venture fund in the spring. The fund invests in 10-15 new projects during the year. The entrepreneur spoke about this in an interview with UNOVA.

What are the criteria for your investment focus?

First, a sound idea (business model + investment attractiveness). Second, the team/project leader. He must be competent to solve one of the key tasks of the company: technological, marketing, sales or (rarely) organizational. Thirdly, the time (the company must achieve investment attractiveness) in 6-12 months. Fourth, money: up to $100,000 per project.

What is the business model of Glavstart itself?

At the initial stage, we issue money in pre-negotiated tranches for a certain period. In return, we get a share in projects. But our goal is not to hold the project, but to bring it to the next stage of financing. On the way, I have the opportunity to sell part of the share: for example, to a private investor (a person not from the market). There are many private investors, and they have free money. The reason for their low investment activity is the lack of expertise. I can point them to understandable projects and trusted people. Selling shares to investors will help me recoup my own investments in projects.

The second part of the share is brought to the stage of venture investment. This will allow the factory to break even, and it will give me pleasure: after all, I work with startups, not selling boxes of coffee.

How many projects can you still invest in?

My global goal is 30-50 projects per year. It is clear that quite soon I will need other people's money. Most likely, in the spring I will raise the fund. I think that now is the time, because projects are gradually appearing. I also accumulate a pool of private investors. And finally, I invite venture investors to look at my projects.

Tell us about your mentoring system.

We are the first to create such an institution in Russia. Now we already have 40 expert mentors. And at every new event, more and more new people join us. There is only one rule for everyone - this is the “fight club” rule. Work on projects, collect a certain amount of positive feedback, and welcome to join our team.

How is a mentor different from a business consultant?

Functionally nothing. But a business consultant is usually a talker who sells learned business schemes for your own money. The mentor is a participant in the project and is interested in its success. A business consultant works for money. The mentor is not paid money: he gets a share. The job of a mentor is to do business, he is a market participant himself. He has business experience.

You had experience as both an investor and a top manager. What is closer to you?

Of course, your business. I have been in business since 1991, worked as a top manager at Rambler for about 1.5 years. Why I left Rambler: we did not agree on a share, I wanted to be participants in the project and be interested in it. I am not a top manager.

Full interview on the website

» we talk about those who shape the present and future of the venture investment market in Russia, and at the same time wish its heroes a happy birthday.

As part of Glavstart, Arkady Moreinis organized Startup Weekend events in various cities of Russia, which gathered up to a thousand people. As a result, the investor personally financed 12 projects. In addition, Moreinis holds weekly meetings with entrepreneurs in the Good Republic coworking space.

In 2014, Arkady Moreinis made a successful exit. The travel companion search service "Podorozhniki", which raised the only round - from Glavstart, was acquired by the international company BlaBlaCar.

Also this year, Arkady Moreinis, who positions the activities of Glavstart as the “Dark Side” of the venture capital market, launched an “anti-accelerator for anti-startups”. “Anti-startup. A New Hope" is a paid online course for entrepreneurs, accompanied by webinars and meetings in the "Good Republic".

This fall, he taught an entrepreneurship course for ninth-graders at a private lyceum in St. Petersburg, and also periodically lectures at universities - at Moscow State University and Moscow State Technical University. Bauman, for example.

Quotes

If you can’t motivate yourself, then you don’t need to meddle and mind your own business, you are not an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur does not need to motivate himself, he already has an “awl in the ass”.

(From an interview with Hungry Shark)

Why don't we have a generation of entrepreneurs? Entrepreneurs, not wannapreneurs. Entrepreneurs, not "want-to-be". It is necessary to answer this question, as well as the question “Why do we piss in the entrances?”, since 1917. Well, that's how it happened. What now - to wait another 200 years until a new one grows on the bones and humus of today's generation, which has already absorbed the meaning and culture of entrepreneurship into the blood?