Creative Entrepreneurs of the Moscow Region Will Develop a Business Growth Strategy with Leading Market Experts

Applications are now open for a free accelerator program targeting creative industry entrepreneurs in the Moscow Region.

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Businesses and organizations in the Moscow Region currently operating within the creative industries can apply for the "Creative Environment" (Kreativnaya Sreda) accelerator until October 5. The program is hosted by the "My Business" Center of the Moscow Region with support from the Federation of Creative Industries. Experienced experts and industry leaders will help 20 selected participants identify growth points and draft a future development plan alongside experienced mentors and sector experts.

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The accelerator is open to representatives across all sectors of the creative industries recognized under Russian law: from publishing and design to video games, cinema, fashion, and traditional handicrafts. Organizers emphasize a special focus on cross-industry businesses operating at the intersection of multiple fields. In their view, these exact types of projects are most likely to generate new formats and market-first products.

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Participants will go through three core phases. First, a diagnosis of the current state of their business, goals, key objectives, and growth bottlenecks. Next, one-on-one tailored work with mentors: setting targets, testing hypotheses, and recording initial results. The program features three in-person sessions with an expert, four thematic webinars, and continuous support from curators. The primary portion of the accelerator will take place online to allow participants to comfortably balance it with ongoing business operations. The final stage will be held in person in the format of a public project pitch to experts.

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Project Curators:

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Sofya Trotsenko — President of the "WINZAVOD" Foundation for Support of Contemporary Art, Board Member of the Gallery Association (AGA);

Vasiliy Ovchinnikov — CEO of the Organization for Video Game Industry Development;

Lidiya Roy — Chair of the CCI RF Council for Creative Industries, Director of the Center for Creative Economy at the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO;

Yulia Zholya — President of the National Association of Event Organizers (NAOM);

Alexey Bazhenov — Founder of the Beinopen Fashion Development Institute;

Denis Schukin — Director of the "Creative Practices" Foundation for Support of Creative Industries, Publisher of the "Masters" educational platform for creative entrepreneurs;

Vitaly Stavitsky — President of the Union of Designers of Russia.

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"For the Moscow Region, the creative industries are not an abstraction, but a real sector of the economy that yields jobs, taxes, and brand awareness for the region. We see how many talented entrepreneurs are launching projects in this space, and we want them to gain tools for structured growth and revenue scalability. Accelerator participants will walk away not with generic advice, but with a concrete action plan and a clear understanding of the immediate steps to take tomorrow," noted Kirill Zhigarev, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Science of the Moscow Region.

Applications must be submitted via the website https://creative-accelerator.ru/ by October 5. Following a competitive evaluation, 20 winners will be selected to join the program. Participation in the accelerator is completely free of charge.

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Background Information

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"My Business" Centers represent state infrastructure designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Operating since 2019, the centers focus on assisting entrepreneurs with launching and scaling their ventures through a "one-stop shop" model.

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"My Business" offers a convenient, accessible service framework. Citizens can obtain qualified assistance at all stages of venture development: from consultations on taxation and marketing to accounting, government procurement participation, and finding optimal financial solutions.

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Support is available to established entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and aspiring business owners alike. Furthermore, each regional center designs and implements its own targeted initiatives tailored to local economic needs.

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The Federation of Creative Industries is a cross-sector union that has brought together professional associations, creative collectives, and creative businesses across Russia for over five years. The organization represents industry interests before government bodies, develops the professional community, and supports entrepreneurs in the sector. Among the Federation's partner initiatives are the Russian Creative Awards national prize, the Creative Business Project Cup, and regional development programs for creative industries.

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The event is organized by the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Science of the Moscow Region and the "My Business" Center of the Moscow Region under the national project "Efficient and Competitive Economy."