More than 80 million rubles in funding flowed to startups formed by nine teams of schoolchildren and university students from various Russian cities during Demodna, an initiative of Sber’s youth accelerators. The press service of the financial institution confirmed that investment proposals came from venture funds and individual investors, signaling strong late-stage interest in youthful tech ventures.
Sberbank explained that Demodnaya participants spent six months shaping their technological products, identifying target audiences, and building viable business models. They achieved initial sales within the accelerator program and also took part in TV programs that showcase youth IT entrepreneurship. The segments on Fridays aired across the network channels, with Saturday programming featuring star mentors who guide the teams toward practical milestones.
Demoden will mark the sixth and final episode of the series, and the episode is titled Friday. It is scheduled to be broadcast on the channel on December 10 at 8:20 p.m.
On demo day, the largest checks went to standout startups. SmileAI showcased a telemedicine app that leverages patient photography to monitor dental health, Dairy Vision presented a computer-vision system to track cow well-being, and Neurolumber introduced a computer-vision device designed to automate woodworking processes.
Alexander Vedyakhin, the first deputy chairman of Sberbank’s board of directors, noted that the finalists attracted an unprecedented level of funding for youth programs and received numerous offers from corporate clients. He emphasized that investors are beginning to take tech solutions created by young minds seriously and that young people now have access to practical tools and information on how to shape a tech idea into a monetizable venture.
Vedyakhin stressed that Sber’s mission is to share success stories and demonstrate that the quality of a solution is determined by the author’s determination and talent, not age. He added that the bank aims to create an ecosystem where every budding entrepreneur can fully realize their potential and receive the necessary support to grow. Participation in accelerators is offered free of charge to school, college, and technical school students, as well as undergraduates, graduate students, and university staff. Training is delivered online, with registration open until December 15.
Since 2021, the program has provided free boosters, and over three seasons more than 130,000 young people from across the country joined the accelerators. They developed 3,000 business projects and secured 420 million rubles for their development, demonstrating the program’s sustained impact on youth-driven innovation.
Across the landscape of youth entrepreneurship, these initiatives underscore a growing trend: young talent paired with robust mentoring and accessible capital can translate bright ideas into market-ready products. The momentum reflects a broader shift toward early-stage funding models that empower students and early-career tech enthusiasts to test and scale solutions with real customer value. As more accelerators adopt this approach, the path from classroom experiments to practical, revenue-generating ventures becomes clearer, and the role of large financial institutions in fostering this transition becomes more visible than ever.
In this environment, the collaboration between corporate backers, venture funds, and emerging founders can accelerate the deployment of technology that touches daily life—from health monitoring and animal welfare to manufacturing and beyond. The story of Demoden thus serves as a compelling case study in how structured mentorship, accessible capital, and real-world validation can unlock the potential of a generation eager to turn ideas into impact. The enduring message is simple: opportunity follows effort, and with the right support, youthful ingenuity can become a powerful engine for innovation across industries.