Got a great e-business idea, and don’t know where to take it?
Well, you could try visiting www.olympiada.ru.
A team of big-name companies have come together to bring talented but under-funded Internet entrepreneurs from the former Soviet Union an online competition whereby a good Internet idea can win you a $20,000 in cash, academic courses at Harvard University, access to venture capital, and $30,000 in development software.
The www.olympiada.ru is the brainchild of the Rambler Group, one of Russia’s largest Internet holding companies; Arthur Andersen, an international business consulting firm; the Monitor Company, a leading global strategy consulting firm; and Sun Microsystems, a multinational leader in computer software and hardware systems.
“The hundreds of Internet business ideas submitted so far in the Olympiada reflect the enormous energy of young entrepreneurs in the former Soviet Union,” an Olympiada press release said.
The Olympiada site has been averaging over 650 visitors daily since it first opened on Sept. 12, and already has well over 500 registered participants from most of the former Soviet republics. According to the site organizers, the ideas proposed by participants range from simple innovative new Web sites, to totally new e-commerce strategies. Some new Internet infrastructure ideas have also been submitted, organizers say.
“The Olympiada competition gives a boost to these individuals, and to the new market economy in these countries,” the Olympiada statement said.
According to organizers, the overwhelming success of the site has lead them to move the deadline for new ideas from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9.
“The response we have received to the Internet Olympiada confirms my view of the quality of new economic opportunities that should emerge from this region if given the proper medium and resources to develop them,” said Viktor Huaco, Co-CEO of the Rambler Group.
After the deadline, a jury panel headed by Esther Dyson, president of Edventure, chairwoman of ICANN and a famous Internet figure, will choose the winners of the competition.
The Rambler Group is an Internet holding company managed by Orion Capital Advisers and the Russian Funds Group, pioneering investors in the Russian Internet sector. The Rambler Group owns a controlling stake in www.rambler.ru, Russia’s most-visited Web site and most widely recognized search engine, and Lenta.ru, a leading Russian Internet news provider.
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Ukraine just got a new Web systems company. Altima Web System (www.altima.com.ua) will specialize in all aspects of the Web systems business – from the design of simple Web pages to the development of complex e-commerce sites.
At the Sept. 25 opening ceremony, Altima Director Kostiantyn Herasymenko said that the company’s goal is to become the leading company in the Ukrainian market for Web systems services.
