Samara University Students at "Phystech Founder Fest": Leveling Up Skills in Tech Entrepreneurship

From April 17 to 20, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) hosted the "Phystech Founder Fest", a festival aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills among students. Seven students from Samara University immersed themselves in the world of technological startups and innovation.

Organized as part of the federal project "Platform for University Technological Entrepreneurship", the festival brought together students from across Russia. Participants visited Skolkovo, MIPT research centers, and worked on projects under the guidance of industry experts. The Samara delegation showed particular interest in workshops on attracting investments and case studies of successful startups. The students not only studied theory but also applied their knowledge in practice by developing their own tech solutions in inter-university teams.

Vadim Ignatiev, creator of the "Phaeton" nanosatellite platform: "Everything was great! I’ll remember how we ended up at Skoltech’s career day by chance and won cool merch from leading Russian banks."

This year, special focus was placed on artificial intelligence. Samara University students took part in the AI Pitch Challenge by MIPT Business School, presenting AI-driven projects and receiving valuable feedback from industry experts.

Georgy Krasavin, creator of ChefAI, a mobile app using AI to help users save on groceries and plan meals: "I met over 10 MIPT students and exchanged experiences. I even found a competitor for my startup and managed to bike around with entrepreneurs."

Key Stage: Presenting Student Startups to Experts

A pivotal moment was the defense of student startups before a panel of experts, including Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. By the end of the festival, participants agreed to continue collaborating on student entrepreneurship initiatives.

"What I loved most about the trip was the teamwork," shared Vladislav Pelevin, a participant from Samara University and creator of the "Micro-Sized Gas Turbine Engine" project. "The tours of key entrepreneurial tech parks stood out. We met driven and ambitious students from all over the country and exchanged contacts to expand our professional networks."

Exploring Unique Facilities

The program also included visits to cutting-edge facilities:

1.    An electromagnetic wave measurement complex with an anechoic chamber for ultra-precise testing.

2.    A Research Center for Applied AI Systems, developing soccer-playing robots.

3.    The MIPT History Museum, featuring a tour on the institute’s evolution.

4.    Micron Device Laboratories for studying thin-walled structures.

Anastasia Surkova, creator of the "Podari" gift selection and ordering web service: "It was a great trip! We visited MIPT’s startup club, spoke with two jury members, got feedback on our projects, met fellow entrepreneurs from Moscow, and connected in person. That’s invaluable."

Participation in such initiatives underscores Samara University’s active support for tech entrepreneurship, equipping students with skills to create innovative projects. The university continues to solidify its role as a hub for nurturing future industry leaders.