Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Twenty-five projects by RUDN University students won the all-Russian "Student Startup" competition, organized by the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE). Each received a grant of 1 million rubles for the further development and implementation of their ideas.
We'll cover all the winning projects, starting with the work of Graduate School of Management students Nikola Balev and Kirill Kovalev.
Virtual tourism
Nikola's project is the chatbot-based digital ecosystem QuestBook. The platform is a unique service of interactive digital tour routes and quests that allow each participant to immerse themselves in a captivating journey through the historical sites and landmarks of cities around the world.
The system has three main directions:
Adventure Quests offer unique routes through cities for young people; Business Quest offers corporate solutions for museums, parks, and events; and UNI Quest helps students adapt to university through interactive routes.
The product's relevance and advantages lie in its ability to reach a large audience with minimal costs, its content easily adapts to any changes in demand, and its platform utilizes a personalized approach to predicting tourist preferences (while fully respecting data privacy).
The development had previously participated in the RUDN.VC accelerator and won the StartUP pitching session.
"Receiving the grant is a major milestone for our team. The funds will primarily be used to promote the platform in Moscow and the Moscow region. Some of the funds will also be used to establish a legal entity, as required by the grant, to develop the platform's content and attract freelancers," says Nikola Balev, a first-year Master's student at the RUDN University Graduate School of Management (Tourism major).
As Nikola noted, the project team has been collecting feedback on the system for over three months, improving visuals, and adding new content to the platform. They plan to attract at least 3,000 unique users within a year and add content about other regions beyond Moscow.
"Our strategic plans for the next eighteen months also include business diversification and the creation of a subsidiary specializing in the B2B segment. We are currently conducting research, testing hypotheses and implementation possibilities, and developing the company's concept. The results are positive, and we hope to launch a new subsidiary platform by the end of the year. Regarding monetization, the project involves paying users for tours, with the price being quite reasonable and competitive in the digital quest tour market," notes Nikola.
An app for marathon runners
Kirill Kovalev received a grant for his sports mobile app project. This digital tool is designed to organize and manage mass sports competitions, especially marathons and running events. The app helps athletes track their physical activity, monitor their training progress, and find like-minded sports enthusiasts.
The project's creator explained that receiving the grant will allow the team to expand the app's functionality and implement new technologies that improve user experience. With the Foundation's support, the developers will be able to enhance the product's effectiveness and appeal.
"We're delighted that our idea has received such high praise. The funds will be used for platform development, testing, and launch. A basic service will be created with the foundation for future functionality expansion," says Kirill Kovalev, a second-year Bachelor's student at the Graduate School of Management (Hotel Management).
According to the student, direct collaboration with RUDN University is planned to attract the initial audience. The service will be promoted through digital channels and partners; negotiations are already underway.
"In a year, I expect to have a working service with its first users and partners. The main thing is to conduct a test launch and ensure the product meets the audience's needs. For me, this will be proof that my team and I are moving in the right direction," says Kirill Kovalev.
About the competition
The Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) annually holds the Student Startup competition, which aims to support talented young researchers and developers, develop scientific potential, and implement modern technological solutions.
In 2025, a record number of applications were received—approximately 11,600 projects from various regions of Russia and abroad. Participants represented 345 universities located in 81 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Among them were students from Tatarstan, Moscow, Bashkortostan, St. Petersburg, Perm Krai, and Novosibirsk. Representatives from 31 foreign countries also participated in the competition.
About the RUDN.VC accelerator
You can start your journey to bringing your business ideas to life by participating in the RUDN.VC accelerator. Admission for the third cohort is now open!
In the last round, 15 teams participated, eight projects were selected for collaboration with investors, and three teams received grants of 1 million rubles.
What to expect at the accelerator:
A personal tracker and mentoring on key team objectives; practical master classes and open lectures; access to pitches to investors; a proven program structure and intensive format; a real opportunity to prepare a successful grant application and initial investment.
Registration for the third stream of participants will be open until September 25th inclusive.
You can apply here: HTTPS: //forts. Yandex.ru/u/68b4087950569021AFD51V4/.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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