For 25 years in business an entrepreneur and investor from Novosibirsk Vladimir Kosenko has managed to raise the plant from bankruptcy to profitability and established more than 10 successful companies.
Vladimir's amazing story is a must-read for anyone who does not believe that in Russia it is possible to do big business honestly, without nepotism and bribes. As well as for those who have failed and given up. Vladimir's history can inspire even the most hardened skeptics!
A four-year student creates a business with a turnover of $ 35 million a year
The first business Vladimir Kosenko opened in 1994 as a fourth-year student of the faculty of engineering and economics, SSTU (then – NIVIT) in Novosibirsk. Together with friends he created a close corporation"Assol" (INN 5407156434), a company producing alcoholic beverages.
The company's turnover in the Novosibirsk region alone was about $35 million a year.
In 1997 Vladimir decided to leave the business for the sale of alcohol and established closed corporation "Karachinskaya" (INN 5404147135). He acquired a plant for the production of soft drinks Vimerkati (Italy) with a capacity of 5,700 bottles per hour. On the basis of the empty warehouse a whole complex was built from scratch, assembled and launched production under the brand "Marka". Vladimir was personally involved in the company's strategy, product, marketing, finance and budget.
A year after the launch the production was awarded the quality mark of an independent group of Vladimir Dovgan. The costs of organizing production, launch and promotion were $3 million and it was reimbursed for 19 months, although it was in the midst of crisis of 1998.
Construction, entertainment industry, agriculture – new business projects
In 1997 Vladimir Kosenko together with partners established a production and building society "Youth housing initiative" (INN 5406140738). The cooperative acted as the customer of construction of a 10-storey residential building at Novosibirsk, Ermak str., 4.
Then, in 1997 Vladimir and his partners established a closed corporation "Sekstet" (INN 5407156434) and opened a billiard club with an area of about 1000 m2. Investments amounted to $ 150 thousand, the business paid off and came out on profitability in 7 months.
In 2001 Vladimir launched a project on agriculture OOO "Sibagrocom" (INN 5406211611), which was successfully operated until 2012.
From the factory - bankrupt to profitable production
In 2002 on a public auction he bought the property of the plant OAO "Sibteploizolyaziya". At that time it was unprofitable production at the stage of bankruptcy with a staff of 270 people. Vladimir invested $2 million in the enterprise and took over the management of the company. After 8 months the plant reached its planned profitability, and 20 months from later Vladimir was able to recoup his investment.
In 2002 Vladimir with partners have established OOO "Soft Papery Trade" (INN 5405188705). The company is engaged in deliveries of household chemicals, cleaners and cleaning equipment, is an official distributor of brands Ecolab, Tork, Mola, Paclan and Vileda in Western Siberia.
From 2002 to 2006 Vladimir was a part of shareholders of closed corporation "Investment Construction Corporation "Green" (INN 5405178658). The corporation's portfolio includes a business center "Novograd", mall "Europe", "Business center" and residential complex "Krasnaya Gorka".
The story of one theft: how the stolen Lexus launched a new business
In 2007 Vladimir had his favorite Lexus-GX-470 stolen. Anti-theft systems did not help and the insurance company took advantage of the loophole in the contract and refused to pay. Then Vladimir understood that in the market there was a niche for more perfect product allowing to protect interests of car owners. He appealed to the scientists of Novosibirsk Akademgorodok and set the task to develop a reliable system for finding stolen cars.
Thus was born the project "AutoPoisk". Vladimir became a business angel and took over the management of the project. In 2009 after successful defence of a complex "AutoPoisk" to the leadership of GUVD in the Novosibirsk region, he established and headed the independent noncommercial organization "Interregional Union of Protection of Motorists of Siberia" – ANO "MSZAS" ( INN 5406546128). The organization was engaged in the promotion of the project " PBDD "("Road Safety Prevention"), which included two areas:
monitoring the cycle of drivers on the route;
the project "AutoPoisk" – a mobile network to search for a stolen vehicle.
In 2010 the PBDD system entered the Federal target program and received the gold medal of the exhibition "AVTOSIB 2010". In 2011 the system was adapted to international safety standards and again won the gold medal of "AVTOSIB 2011".
In 2012 ANO "MSzAS" signed the tripartite agreement with the government of the Novosibirsk region and the Korean company "KT Corporation" on the joint development of systems of transport security. In the same year Vladimir became a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of transport and in 2015 became one of the founders of the Novosibirsk city public movement "Law and Order of Siberia" (INN 5406598006).
25 years of experience in business + blockchain technology = SurruS project
In 2017 the development of technologies based on blockchain and artificial intelligence made it possible to scale "AutoPoisk" system in several cities of Russia and abroad. Vladimir Kosenko founded SurruS project which combined:
-ready and proven solution for the search of stolen car;
-the ecosystem of blockchain-theft insurance with a guarantee of return of the car or 100% of its value;
-the mechanism of searching for a car by hundreds of volunteers with guaranteed remuneration.
In the summer of 2018 the project goes to ICO and aims to raise investments in the amount of 80 000 ETN. This will allow launching the project in 8 cities of Russia, Great Britain, France and Italy.
Vladimir Kosenko went from a struggling entrepreneur to a successful businessman and a business angel. He was not broken by "dashing nineties" or two crises. In any problem Vladimir is able to see opportunity. The plant-bankrupt? We will bring to profitability in less than 2 years. Stolen car? We will create a solution for guaranteed return of the car or its full cost. Probably, only with this approach you can do business!