Softline Venture Partners

Elena Volotovskaya has led the fund as its head since 2008. She operates with an investment committee that includes Dmitry Polyakov, who has spearheaded over 10 deals since 2012, and Dmitriy Isaev, who directs investment project development. The committee evaluates Pre-Seed and Seed-stage candidates, typically requiring a minimum of $50,000 in annual revenue and a working MVP.

The fund operates as a true corporate venture arm. Portfolio companies gain distribution through Softline Group’s international sales channels — an infrastructure built by a former London-listed IT vendor with a presence in Southeast Asia, MENA, and Latin America. The firm also matches startups with engineers, marketers, and other members of its technology ecosystem to accelerate go-to-market execution.

The fund’s top-priority regions are Southeast Asia, MENA, and Latin America. It looks for startups already operating in these fast-growing markets or those planning to use them for international expansion. Its team includes a Director of Investment Project Development responsible for projects in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

Softline Venture Partners was founded in 2008 by Igor Borovikov, the founder of Softline Group, as the company’s corporate venture fund. Borovikov sold Softline Group in 2023 and now focuses on other businesses outside the Russian Federation. The venture fund operates independently but retains its strategic link to the group’s global sales network.

The fund has a special interest in Pre-Seed and Seed rounds, though it also evaluates later-stage expansion opportunities. Its minimum requirements for applicants include an available MVP and at least $50,000 in annual revenue. This early-stage focus is complemented by the corporate parent’s ability to scale successful models through commercial channels.

The firm collaborates with other venture capital funds, business angels, banks, and development institutes, as well as leading global IT vendors. This network is used to help portfolio companies build relationships with key partners and pursue co-investment opportunities where additional capital or strategic alignment is beneficial.

The fund’s legal support is supervised by Victor Iordansky, a former UFG Asset Management senior associate, and Ivan Zubkov, who handles corporate transactions from startup through maturity. Financial and tax administration for portfolio companies sits with Maria Sizova, while Anton Ogarkov manages government relations and grant support for backed startups.