Our Team
Our diverse team is made up of professionals with deep industry sector expertise
Team
We’ve assembled a world-class team made up of the most experienced and proven group of professionals in venture capital, energy technologies and solutions.
Alexander Starchenko
Managing Partner
Alexander is a Managing Partner of First Imagine! He has over 25 years experience in the energy and investment business, and he leads with a mindset focused on future and people.
Alexander Starchenko
Alexander is the founder and the key driver of First Imagine! In partnership with passionate visionaries with big ideas and global ambition he helps to build great companies disrupting established industries.
He has over 25 years experience in energy and industry innovations.
Prior to establishing First Imagine! Alexander Starchenko served as a vice-president at Novolipetsk Steel Company, one of the world's largest public steel producers. While at NLMK, Alexander was focusing on energy and energy efficiency.
He has also served on several boards as a member and trusted advisor.
Previously among other roles he held a number of С-Suite positions in multiple IB and utility companies.
Igor Ryapin
Investment team
Igor brings to First Imagine! the research, analysis, and communication skills he has developed in over two decades of work as a researcher, analyst and investment manager.
Igor Ryapin
Igor works together with the startups to find growth opportunities and leverage First Imagine network.
Igor is the co-author of several landmark researches on Russian power market and the influence of new technologies.
Igor has extensive experience in consulting, GR and legislative and policy development.
Alexey Znamenskiy
Investment team
Alexey is responsible for deal sourcing & execution and management of portfolio companies.
Alexey Znamenskiy
He has over 20 years of experience in management consulting and venture investment and serving as a Board member in power companies and technological startups Prior to joining FI! team Alexey worked for a global technology VC&PE firm Rusnano for 7 years.
He holds a Bachelor degree in Economics and Law.
Alexey is a graduate of the MBA program of the IE Business School, Madrid
Boris Starchenko
Investment team
Boris Starchenko
Prior to FI! he was working for private energy companies in London.
Boris holds a Bachelor degree from London Metropolitan University
Yulia Kupriyanovskaya
Head of Operations
Yulia leads our Operations team and is responsible for overseeing and managing overall risk as it relates to operations.
Yulia Kupriyanovskaya
Yulia holds a BS in Quantitative Economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University and MSc in Major Programme Management from Said Business School, University of Oxford.
Prior to joining First Imagine in 2015 Yulia for 10 years worked for large international utility company in Moscow and London focusing on business development in power and gas markets across Europe. Before that, she worked for PWC Russia and Meta Group (currently Gartner).
Svetlana Sirotkina
Administration team
Svetlana provides general support to the FI! team with projects, events and running the marketing operations.
Svetlana Sirotkina
She has over 20 years of professional administration and marketing experience focusing on finance, data analytics, marketing research, marketing communications, event planning and new product development in a variety of industries and sectors including UK Department for International Trade, Airbus Group, Audemars Piguet, HENSOLDT and other companies. She gained experience across several industries and various countries in Europe.
Svetlana holds an MA in English Linguistics (Honours) and MA in Finance (Honours) from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and a Master of Business Administration degree from the London Business School in the UK.
Long-term mutual experience
We are partners with different backgrounds, who have worked together for decades and are passionate company-builders – we have a common vision and a good mutual understanding
Competences in key areas
Collectively we possess an invaluable mix of sector experience, proven corporate finance and VC/PE capability, startup and blue chip operational experience, technical understanding and top-tier management consulting expertise
Credibility and extensive contacts network
A particular strength is our deep industry network which can be used to accelerate and amplify growth
Associations & Memberships
First Imagine! is a Member Firm of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA), the industry body for the private equity
and venture capital industry in the UK.
