An awards ceremony celebrating media excellence and journalism coverage of the milestone 20th Russian Venture Forum (RVF 2026) was held at the Tatmedia Republican Agency briefing hall. The ceremony was fronted by Damir Galiev, Director of the Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan (IVF RT), and Aidar Salimgaraev, Head of the Tatmedia Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications.

The anniversary forum, hosted in April 2026, generated unprecedented media traction, breaking record metrics across its 20-year history by drawing over 7,000 global delegates from 25 countries. More than 160 accredited media representatives covered the event's various tracks, generating an extensive portfolio of analytical essays, broadcast features, and executive interviews for jury review.

During his opening address, IVF RT Director Damir Galiev recognized the press corps for their role in demystifying deep tech and venture capital mechanics. He noted that high quality journalism bridges the gap between academic research, private capital, and the public, creating the information ecosystem necessary to catalyze new commercial partnerships. Aidar Salimgaraev echoed these sentiments, commending the technical proficiency of the submissions before presenting the official accolades.

The expert jury awarded top honors to the following journalists and media outlets across four core categories:

Best Television Feature or Broadcast

1st Place: Inna Danilova (GTRK Tatarstan, a regional affiliate of federal broadcaster VGTRK)

2nd Place: Ruzal Sharipov (TNV / New Century Television and Radio Broadcasting Company)

3rd Place: Guzel Zaynakova (GTRK Tatarstan / VGTRK)

Best Digital or Print Media Feature

1st Place: Darya Golikova (Inc. Magazine Russia)

2nd Place: Tatyana Renkova (RBC Tatarstan / RosBiznesConsulting)

3rd Place: Ekaterina Bryzhak (Idel Magazine)

Best Radio Feature or Broadcast

1st Place: Lyutsiya Sharafieva (Bolgar Radio, operating under TNV)

Best Blogger / Telegram Channel

Winner: Dmitry Begovatov (Host of the "Startup Secrets" podcast)

The media competition was jointly institutionalized and organized by the Tatmedia Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications, IVF RT, and the Association for Promoting Digital Development. Reviewing the final field, the panel noted a significant spike in content quality this year, specifically highlighting journalists' ability to navigate complex thematic frameworks such as technology transfer and multi-stage corporate venture financing.