Saatchi & Saatchi Moscow's Creative Startup Project

Leading global creative agency Saatchi & Saatchi Moscow will develop a series of advertising campaigns worth up to USD 200,00 for some of Russia’s most promising startups waiving all agency fees.  In partnership with the Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF), the ‘Creative Startup project’ aims to aid the development of internet entrepreneurship in Russia.

Start ups were invited to enter the competition via the IIDF website and have now been shortlisted.  The shortlist currently comprises of nine start ups:  Dve Ladoshki, BUBUKA, Dr. Tariff, Newswired, Notissimus, SMDTP, SkiRacer, AppNow and eZWay.  The winner/s will be a joint decision by Saatchi and the IIDF and is due to be announced later this month.  Winners will be selected by examining the entrants’ executive summaries and conducting interviews with each start up.  Saatchi and the IIDF are looking for ideas that show originality of product or business idea, team engagement and enthusiasm and finally, openness to innovative promotional approaches. The agency will then develop and implement an advertising campaign to launch and in some instances scale selected new business projects within Russia. 

“We think this project is a wonderful way to demonstrate the power of creativity, and its potential to transform Russia,” said Shannon Cullum, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Russia. “Great ideas are at the heart of these start-ups, and the key to any sustainable business and new, more creative companies are at the heart of Russia’s sustainable development. We look forward to partnering with these young entrepreneurs and demonstrating the role our creativity can play in helping them launch and grow their businesses.”

Stuart Robinson, ECD of Saatchi & Saatchi Russia commented:  “We’re in the business of creating new ideas that build other businesses.  It’s where our passion lies.  To have the chance to do that with an enterprise from the ground up is doubly exciting.”

Aleksander Izryadnov, communication director of IIDF also added:  “It’s not often that a startup has the resources to engage and hire a leading creative team for their launch. This rather unique initiative will allow them to do exactly that.  Saatchi & Saatchi’s list of successes in this market and abroad is certain to help assure success for these young entrepreneurs.”

IIDF launches its first program in Moscow with several enrolments per year with more programs scheduled across all of Russia. IIDF also supports educational, legislation and infrastructural projects that help build a transparent, full-fledged industry of small and medium online businesses in Russia.