Dubai, United Arab Emirates
I'm a venture entrepreneur and CEO who builds complex businesses in unforgiving conditions. Currently: launching an immersive exhibition in Dubai — a storytelling-driven concept, first of its kind for the MENA market. Details at launch. Operating through the current Gulf turbulence; treating it as a feature of the test, not a reason to wait. Before that, in 2023, I founded PrintStone 3D in Dubai — entering construction 3D-printing cold, from a completely different sector. In 2024 we delivered 100% of the on-foundation 3D-printed structures in the Dubai market: two buildings for Nakheel and two for a Dubai Municipality department. Walked in from the street, delivered at a quality clients didn't expect. Then we made the harder call. The unit economics didn't work in the UAE — expensive printing mixes against cheap local labor that 3D printing is supposed to replace. Rather than burn capital proving the same lesson twice, we pivoted the company toward small architectural forms (street furniture, landscape elements) where the economics make sense. I paid for those lessons with my own money, time, and 12-hour shifts on a 45°C construction site. Before Dubai, I built Continental New Media in Moscow — a documentary and industrial content production company working with the largest industrial groups in Russia and Russia's leading national broadcasters. Economic programming, industry series, corporate films, special projects, and even scripted drama series on the country's main national channel. Built and ran the company for 15 years before relocating to Dubai. I keep doing the same thing: going into new sectors, new geographies and difficult conditions where there is no roadmap and no obvious way through, with a potential high prize. What I'm interested in: - Building connections in the immersive exhibition, immersive entertainment, and experience design industry - Conversations with founders and operators launching ventures in the UAE — especially those in the early stages, where the hidden risks haven't surfaced yet. - Conversations around business models, unit economics and hidden launch risks. If you're building something new in a difficult market, especially in the UAE, I probably understand why it's hard and what the hidden catches are.
Leading full venue development for a new immersive exhibition concept in Dubai — a storytelling-driven format, first of its kind for the MENA market. Scope: - Concept development with founding partner, from idea to live construction - Investment structure, fundraising, and partner negotiations - Regulatory pathway: corporate structure, licensing, permitting with local authorities - Technical stack: projection mapping, XR systems, naked-eye projections, hologram, large-scale physical decor sourced and delivered across multiple countries - Venue build-out supervision, contractor management, equipment procurement - Commercial strategy and pre-launch marketing development - Operating through 2026 regional turbulence as a stress test, not a reason to pause
Founded PrintStone to build 3D concrete printing capability in the UAE — a sector I entered cold, from a completely different industry. Results (2023–2024): - First company to obtain 3D-printing permit of DM under the newly introduced 3DCP code - Delivered 100% of the on-foundation 3D-printed structures in the Dubai market in 2024 - 2 buildings for Nakheel, 2 buildings for a Dubai Municipality department - Innovation of the year award by Nakheel Strategic pivot (2024): Diagnosed that 3D concrete printing unit economics do not work in the UAE — expensive printing mixes against cheap local labor which is what the technology is meant to replace. Rather than continue burning capital on the same thesis, pivoted the company toward small architectural forms: street furniture, landscape elements, public installations. Stepped from CEO, handed the top role to a partner. Company is active under a new business model. The regulatory, supplier, and market knowledge accumulated during the original thesis remains valid for anyone entering GCC construction-tech.
Built a leading documentary and industrial content production company working with Russia's largest industrial corporations and leading national broadcasters. Core formats: - Documentary economic programming and industry series for national television - Corporate films and special projects for major industrial groups - Scripted drama series, broadcast on Russia's main national channel