Dmitri

I explore humanity through entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to understand and shape the future of work. With a background as a philosopher, entrepreneur, and mentor, I've founded five companies, invested in numerous startups, achieved successful exits, and navigated business challenges. My approach challenges conventional corporate norms, seeking efficiency and innovation in every endeavor. As the former CEO of ArcticStartup and Arctic15, I transformed a regional blog into a leading media and events platform, scaling Arctic15 into a premier startup conference that facilitated over 10,000 investor-startup meetings annually and contributed to hundreds of millions in funding. I was instrumental in bringing international investors to Europe and developing the 'Deal Room' concept, now a standard for matchmaking. I also co-founded CoFounder Magazine, a unique crowdfunded print publication, proving that value-driven content can thrive. My commitment to ecosystem building extends to co-founding the Nordic Startup Media Network and advising the European Commission on the Startup Europe Advisory Board, directly influencing policy and fostering cross-border collaboration. In my current roles, I act as an Angel Investor and Venture Scout, leveraging a proprietary 72-point evaluation system and extensive networks to identify high-potential early-stage B2B SaaS startups across Europe. I've personally invested in over 10 companies, with one successful exit and another reaching unicorn status. I provide hands-on mentorship to founders, guiding them through funding, scaling, and organizational challenges, and I've designed and delivered accelerator programs at Imaguru Ventures, supporting hundreds of startups. My work is deeply rooted in fostering personal development alongside business growth, influencing a pan-European startup ecosystem. Beyond my professional life, I draw insights from disciplines like Wing Tchun Martial Arts, Chess, and Gong Fu Tea Ceremonies, which teach me about fluidity, strategy, and organizing groups effectively. I am dedicated to continuous learning and bringing a unique blend of strategic thinking, practical experience, and a founder-first mindset to every project.