How to turn Saturday into a growth driver: 18 startups, expert analysis and live connections
Working Saturday, June 20, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan turned out to be really lively, businesslike and inspiring. This is how the future of the republic is born, behind fierce discussions and analysis of real cases.
For half a day, leading experts, managers and mentors of the "100 Leaders — Tatarstan of the Future" program listened to presentations of 18 ambitious projects from the program participants. Taliya Minullina, Head of the Investment Development Agency, and Renat Yusupov, Head of the Investment Project Expertise Department, acted as key experts. Their task is not just to evaluate, but to help each project become stronger, more sustainable and more attractive for investment.
How was it in practice?
The experts did not stay away: immediately after the presentations, they asked tough but honest questions, gave advice, sorted out unstable places in business plans on the spot, pointed out hidden risks and helped to reassemble the logic of projects. And most importantly, right on the sidelines, the participants were brought together with the right people: potential partners, future clients and specialized specialists. Because in Tatarstan they believe not only in ideas, but also in living connections.
In her welcoming speech, Taliya Minullina shared with the participants three basic working methods that helped them make their presentations truly meaningful today.:
The rule of the "elevator with a Mask"
Imagine that you have only a minute and a half to interest an important investor in the elevator. If during this time you cannot clearly convey the essence of the project and be remembered as a person, then you yourself do not fully understand what you want. People invest in people: trust in the author often outweighs doubts about the idea itself. Your task is to be succinct, vivid and memorable.
The "granny" test
If you can't explain the essence of your business to an elderly person in simple words, you haven't fully understood the project yourself. The simpler, more accessible and faster you express your thoughts, the higher the chances of being heard.
A person is not just a budget
Each interlocutor is not just a source of money, but also a valuable bridge to the necessary connections and useful acquaintances. The ability to see people as a resource of opportunity opens doors that money can't buy.
What did the participants present?
The geography of ideas encompassed literally everything that drives the economy today: artificial intelligence, biomechanics, agricultural technology, logistics, education, sports and creative industries. There were projects that could already change entire industries, from search platforms and digital services for businesses to medical developments in the field of neuromotor and motion analysis. The sports direction surprised with its depth: there is a high-tech analysis of technology, taking into account anthropometry, and the organization of large-scale sports festivals. The agricultural sector presented solutions for rural development, education — online schools and AI coordinators for researchers, logistics - smart dispatchers for trucking companies. The creative industry has made itself known with virtual artists and augmented reality projects. Platforms for team management, digitalization of the beauty industry to return customers and collect employee knowledge to scale production were highlighted separately. Each of these startups is not just a beautiful idea, but a ready—to-implement model that can bring real benefits to Tatarstan, its residents and investors.
Talia Minullina: "Tatarstan is waiting for not just beautiful presentations, but real actions. And judging by how this Saturday went, the leaders of the future are already here. They study, argue, refine, and believe in their republic. This is how we are building the economic and investment future of the republic together. This is exactly how we achieved the first place in the National Rating of the investment Climate in Russia!"