About AmBAR

AmBAR is a non-profit business network of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, engineers, lawyers and other business professionals. Started as an organization of expatriates from Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries that are involved in technology businesses in the United States, AmBAR has grown into a large network in which innovators and entrepreneurs of all origins can exchange ideas and business contacts. The association was launched in 2002 by a group of business professionals and entrepreneurs, representing leading Silicon Valley companies: Sun Microsystems, Intel Capital, and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The AmBAR membership base today includes more than 1,500 business professionals. With headquarters located in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, AmBAR also has a branch office on the East Coast in Boston, Massachusetts.

AmBAR creates a unique networking platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and business contacts between technology entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors. The organization is also dedicated to developing technology partnerships between Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries and the United States, and accelerating access to capital for innovative projects in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Through various seminars and conferences, AmBAR provides educational programs that help entrepreneurs refine their business plans and advance their product development and marketing efforts.

AmBAR past speakers and regular participants include: Sergei Brin, Co-Founder of Google; Maxim Levchin, Co-Founder of PayPal; Alexander Stepanov, Top-manager of Adobe Systems and inventor of the C++ Standard Template Library; Esther Dyson, Founder of EDVenture Holdings and editor at large of CNET Networks; Sergey Kravchenko, President of Boeing Russia/CIS; and many others.

AmBAR’s mission:

• To provide a networking platform for technology entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, and other business professionals from Russian, Ukraine and other CIS countries who are interested in innovation and commercialization of high technology products.
• To educate, showcase, and support entrepreneurs in Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries as they seek equity capital, corporate partners, and grow their companies globally.
• To enhance all aspects of technology partnership between the United States and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

AmBAR’s Programs

AmBAR promotes entrepreneurs' growth and technology partnerships through educational programs, showcases, and strategic connections with investors. In 2004, AmBAR launched its first annual contest to identify the Most Promising Russian Software Company. AmBAR’s distinguished jury consisted of renowned venture capitalists, business executives from leading IT companies, as well as industry analysts and experts. The jury identified the winners whose innovations demonstrated the highest growth potential and leadership in the global marketplace.

The contest presented not only investment and business opportunities in the Russian/CIS technology sector, but also provided business professionals in the US with reliable information about a number of private companies in Russia/CIS.

In order to educate, showcase, and support entrepreneurs in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, AmBAR is putting together a Silicon Valley Open Doors (SVOD) Technology Investment Conference. The event will take place in the heart of Silicon Valley on November 14-16, 2005. The goal of the Conference is to explore investment and business opportunities in the Russian technology sector; help entrepreneurs from Russia and the CIS build their ideas into thriving international businesses; and share the extensive experience of Stanford University in commercialization of innovative projects.

Contact Information

Anna S. Dvornikova, President
American Business Association of Russian Professionals (AmBAR)
1290 Oakmead Parkway, Suite 118,
Sunnyvale, California, 94085.
Phone: +1 (650) 278-0431
E-mail: advornikova@ambarclub.org
http://www.AmBARclub.org