Moscow, March 20 – Sber500, the international startup seed accelerator, announced on Thursday that it is accepting applications from technology startups across various countries. To qualify, startups need to have a complete team, finished products, and have already made their first sales.
The program is giving priority to AI agents, AI assistants, and science-based solutions (DeepTech), and welcomes applications from teams in the BRICS countries.
“125 startups, who have graduated from previous Sber500 seasons, have secured over RUB 3.7 billion in investments and entered into nearly 9,500 commercial contracts,” stated Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank.
“The Sber500 seed accelerator provides technology companies with access to international experts, Sber’s partners, and investors, allowing access to resources that help these companies grow,” he added.
Vedyakhin also shared that last year, one in every four applications came from foreign startups, representing 28 different countries. “This year, we are strategically focusing on AI agents and DeepTech solutions, and we are hoping to engage even more participants from abroad, in particular, those located in the BRICS countries,” he clarified.
The accelerator program will run for approximately three months, offering participants opportunities to work with senior experts and mentors from 17 countries, both in group settings and on an individual basis. Approximately 150 startups are expected to participate in the online bootcamp, which is the initial phase of the accelerator.
Specialists will guide the startups in adapting their strategies, preparing for scalability, reinforcing their market position and facilitating the identification of potential partners for pilot programs. Twenty-five finalists will proceed to the subsequent stages of the training, during which they will gain access to 40 major Russian companies, along with several departments within Sber, hundreds of business angels, and various venture funds.
The final stage of the program will be a demo day hosted in Moscow, during which the participating startups will pitch their solutions to executives from large companies and potential investors. The deadline for all applications is May 12, 2025.
