Please provide the Top 20 Venture Capital Firms that have specific
experience in providing funding for U.S. / Russian business
development activities.  We are an American Company that have been in
Russia for the last 24 months researching numerious opportunities
relating to the Semiconductor industry and wish to find a funding
source capable of raising between $10MM to $50MM.  Our ideal VC
partner would have experience in the Semiconductor industry as well as
specific experience in U.S. / Russian businesses.

Thank you,

Jim Prete

<Sources of venture capital for businesses in Russia.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is the major
source of venture capital for Russia.
http://www.ebrd.org/apply/index.htm . It provides investments from EUR
5 million to EUR 15 million.

Business Information Services for the Newly Independent States
(BISNIS) is a US government agency http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/. Sources
of finance are given at
http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/finance/finance.cfm

Other sources of investment are as follows:

Baring Vostok Private Equity Fund
http://www.bvcp.ru/eng/bvpef_e.htm

The CapMan Group
http://www.capmandk.dk/en/about_capman.html
Has experience of investing in Russia and specializes in technology
investments.

Top Technology Limited - Invests in technology companies and in
Russia.
http://www.toptechnology.co.uk/ 

Delta Capital Management Inc. – Investment from $1 to $10 million
http://www.deltacap.ru/eng/

The Black Sea Fund (Global Finance) - $3-9 million.
http://www.infobus.ru/eng/msb/finres/36.html

LV Finance
http://www.lvfinance.com/flash.html

Junction Investors Ltd
http://www.infobus.ru/eng/msb/finres/22.html

Providence Capital Inc.
http://www.providencecapitalnyc.com/

Lehman Brothers
http://www.lehman.com/

Palms & Company - $5 million +
http://www.ukrainebiz.com/companiesOther/palms.htm

KfW group
http://www.kfw.de/EN/Entwicklungszusammenarbeit/TRANSFORMP95/Venturecap.jsp

Framlington Investment Management
http://www.framlington.co.uk

Ascend Technology Ventures
http://www.ascendvc.com/

http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/finance/000731Financing_for_SMEs2.htm

The Carlyle Group – They have invested in semiconductors. Although
they have as yet not invested in Russia, they are exploring new
markets.
http://www.carlylegroup.com/

Advent International – Currently not in Russia but has invested in 35
countries.
http://www.nvca.com/ (click on NCVA members and then on Advent
International)

Walden International – invests in semiconductors
http://www.nvca.com/ (click on NCVA members and then on Walden
International)


The Russian Venture Capital Association lists 14 sources of venture
capital investment. Members of RVCA can be found at
http://www.rvca.ru/webrvca/members_e.html .
Contact details for RVCA:
Ms. Albina Nikkonen, Executive Director
PO BOX 33, 194156 St. Petersburg, Russia
Phone: 7 (812) 326-6180
Fax: 7 (812) 244-3135
E-mail: rvca@rfntr.neva.ru

Igor Yegorov, BISNIS Representative for Northwest Russia
U.S. Consulate General St. Petersburg
Tel: +7-812-326-2585; Fax: +7-812-326-2561
E-mail: Igor.Yegorov@mail.doc.gov


There is an annual venture capital fair held in Russia, the last one
was in October 2002.  The next one will be held in Perm. For more
information see http://www.rvca.ru/rvf/main_vf_e.html>

 
<Additional links:>

<National Venture Capital Association>
<http://www.nvca.com/>

<Venture capital funding in Russia.>
<http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/020304RVCI.htm>

<Bisnis sources of finance>
<http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/finance/finance.cfm>

<EBRD Russia Small Business Fund>
<http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/finance/9904rsbf.htm>

<Bisnis – venture capital funds>
<http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/finance/000731Financing_for_SMEs2.htm>


<Search strategy>
<"venture capital" Russia>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22venture+capital%22&as_q=russia>


<Hope this helps.>

Very good answer, it built nicely on the first comment.

Thank you,

Jim

Jim - 

US VCs typically do not fund Russian ventures.
Generally, VCs fund ventures that are relatively close geographically
to where the VC's partners are physically present.  If they were to
fund a Russian venture it would most likely fit into their portfolio
in some other way - e.g. software company or biotech or whatever, but
it would have US offices.

Also, a hit list of 20 companies is not going to do you much good
unless you have connections into those VCs.  VCs generally do not look
at a business plan or opportunity unless it had been referred by
someone they know.

Hope this info helps some.
Thanks,
ragingacademic

The above comment that American VCs do not invest in Russian ventures
is not correct.  Any investment strategist would look for geography as
a source of diversification, as long as the business plans meet or
exceed the criteria that VCs are looking for.  Geography should not
necessarily be a limiting factor.

Claudietta