Tech
Ten years after start in Ukraine, GitLab lands on Nasdaq at $11bn valuation
GitLab (‘GTLB’), a San Francisco-based open-source software startup founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Dmitry Zaporozhets and Dutch-born Sid Sijbrandij, made its debut on the Nasdaq at a valuation of $11bn on October 14.
Russian internet major Yandex adds London to foodtech expansion
Russia’s ultrafast grocery delivery service Yango Deli that can get goods to customers in under 15 minutes has launched in London, the company said in a press release on October 14.
Mail.ru Group pursues gaming acquisitions across Russia and Belarus
Mail.ru Group’s appetite for acquisitions in the gaming space was confirmed again today as My.Games Venture Capital (MGVC), the investment arm of its subsidiary My.Games, announced minority investments in three game studios.
Russian internet major Mail.ru rebrands to VK in ecosystem drive
Russia's internet major Mail.ru Group announced its rebranding into VK, the name of the social network (former VKontakte) and the key asset of the group.
Russian venture market reached $1bn in 1H21
Dsight, a Moscow-based business intelligence company with a focus on investment, has just released the English version of its Russian venture report covering the first half of 2021.
Facebook and Google exposed to record fines for not removing unlawful content in Russia
Russia could impose record fines on Facebook and Google (held responsible for YouTube) for not removing prohibited content. Since these companies are accused of repeated violations, fines could be in the range of 1/20 to 1/10 of the yearly revenues.
Russian-founded graphene nanotube leader aims to raise up to $800mn through SPAC merger
OCSiAl, the Russian-founded global graphene nanotube leader (pronounced ‘Oxial’), intends to get listed on a Western exchange at the end of this year by merging with a SPAC.
Facebook and Google exposed to record fines for not removing unlawful content in Russia
Russia could impose record fines on Facebook and Google (held responsible for YouTube) for not removing prohibited content. As these companies are accused of repeated violations, fines could be in the range of 1/20 to 1/10 of their yearly revenues.
Kosovo’s parliament expects to approve law on cryptocurrency by year-end
Crypto mining is popular in northern Kosovo, where citizens have received free electricity since the end of the Serbia-Kosovo war.
Croatian banks to invest up to €100mn to adjust IT systems for euro adoption
Croatia is preparing to adopt the single European currency and the government hopes it will join the Eurozone at the beginning of 2023.
Kazakhstan to abandon domestic eGov platform for Russian service
Local IT experts say the plan ignores their talents and risks handing sensitive data to Russia.
Moscow sets the pace in global car-sharing race
Car-sharing businesses worldwide will likely be looking to Moscow in the coming years for tips, as the Russian capital has built up the largest fleet globally amid increasing global competition.
Romanian online retailer Elefant repays bond before planned IPO
Elefant.ro is reportedly planning an IPO on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in November.
Croatia reports dozens of state-sponsored cyber attacks in 2020
Most attacks were attempts to break into the information and communication systems of the foreign and European affairs ministry and the defence ministry.
Russian mobile operator MTS to invest $100mn in AI startups across the world
MTS AI, the artificial intelligence arm of Russian telco MTS, is launching an international acceleration programme and venture fund to invest in AI startups across the world.
Croatia’s Span starts trading after first IPO by local IT company on Zagreb exchange in 18 years
Span raised €13mn to fund its expansion in Croatia and abroad.
Russian Softline pursues international expansion in Baltic states, Belarus, Egypt
Softline, an international solution and service provider with Russian roots, is pursuing its international expansion with two deals announced this month.
Connections Consult is fourth software producer listed on Bucharest's AeRO market this year
Connections Consult to use IPO proceeds to pursue expansion in Romania and abroad.
In a first, US sanctions Russian crypto exchange linked to ransomware
The US Treasury Department has for the first time sanctioned cryptocurrency exchange, a Russian-based Suex that is registered in the Moscow City business compound and operates physical as well as virtual exchanges.
New law to allow mass biometric surveillance of Serbian population
Hundreds of surveillance cameras installed in Belgrade to be activated for biometric surveillance if new legislation is approved, warns NGO the SHARE Foundation.
