DI Group

What DI Group does

DI Group is a Russian-based technological venture builder founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tomsk, with additional offices in Moscow, Hong Kong, and Wilmington, Delaware. The company operates a vertically integrated model that spans DI Investments (three venture funds), DI Labs (R&D), DI Manufacturing (a network of 30+ contract factories in China anchored by an exclusive partnership with the Honpe Technology production hub in Shenzhen), and DI Workshop (in-house metalworking and prototyping). Since founding, the company has built more than 50 hardware products, produced over 100,000 units, and achieved distribution across 2,500+ retail stores including Walmart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Beyond hardware, the company operates DI Junior, a network of 384 youth soccer schools across 204 Russian cities serving 36,940 enrolled children.

The company's revenue model combines venture returns (with average seed checks of approximately $150,000 per project), consumer and enterprise hardware sales, and recurring service revenue from B2B kiosk deployments. Notable enterprise products include CardMat automated banking card vending machines deployed with Sberbank, Gazprombank, and VTB; Simkiosk telecom SIM distribution kiosks deployed with MTS and MegaFon; and transit-related installations with Russian Railways and Moscow Metro. Consumer hardware successes include the Storypult selfie stick, which achieved distribution across US tier-1 retailers. Manufacturing leverage is sourced through the exclusive Honpe Technology partnership and the broader Chinese factory network.

The company is led by managing partners Igor Kovalev (business) and Dmitry Starodubtsev (technology, who holds patents), with Anna Rubtsova as Chief Designer. DI Group runs accelerator programs in partnership with SKOLKOVO, HaxAsia, and other institutions, and maintains formal research collaborations with more than 20 universities and 10 research institutes, giving it privileged talent and IP access across both Russian and international ecosystems. The overall business profile is that of a multi-vertical holding company combining hardware venture incubation, contract manufacturing access, enterprise service deployment, and consumer education services.

Name

DI Group

Legal name

DI Group

Website

https://en.digroup.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DI Group is a Russian venture builder that designs, manufactures, and distributes consumer electronics and enterprise kiosks (banking, telecom) globally via 2,500+ stores, while operating a 384-school youth soccer network serving 36,940 children across Russia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)

SIC

Electronic Computers (3571)

akta.pro primary industry

DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN)

Keywords

• Hardware venture building
• IoT vending machines
• Smart payment kiosks
• Hardware manufacturing services
• Precision metalworking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Venture Fund Returns: DI Investments focuses on attracting funding for projects from internal and external sources through 3 venture funds to support innovative products.
2. Hardware Product Sales: Products built by the venture builder are sold globally through retail distribution and direct channels.
3. Manufacturing Services: Full production cycle services including DFM, prototyping, testing, quality control and certification for external clients.
4. Metalworking Services: High-quality metalworking services using modern equipment, technological park with high precision equipment and fully automated production cycle.
5. Marketing Agency Services: In-house marketing agency developing marketing strategies, running advertising campaigns and conducting customer development.
6. Vending Machine Operations: Vending machine products including CardMat, MolokoVend, and Simkiosk deployed across various sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DI Group is a technological venture builder that builds high-tech hardware startups through an end-to-end stack covering venture funding, R&D, manufacturing, and marketing. The company develops and manufactures IoT smart vending machines (CardMat for payment cards, Simkiosk for SIM cards, MolokoVend for milk), consumer hardware products, children's products, and provides contract manufacturing and precision metalworking services through a network of 30+ factories in China.

Product overview

DI Group is a technological venture builder that builds high-tech hardware startups using in-house funding, engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. The company operates across the full startup lifecycle: concept validation, industrial design, prototyping, fundraising, manufacturing, and marketing and sales. Its portfolio includes: Cardmat (smart card storage/delivery machines for banks), Simkiosk (SIM card vending machines), Molokovend (milk vending machines), TimeFlip (physical time trackers), Zephyr and Lepa Sand (children's creative products), Junior (soccer schools network), Coin Attraction (souvenir coin equipment), Sport Tracker (action trackers), and various IoT/AR products including Skinry (smart mirrors), ARIS (interactive sandbox), Yullo (sleep trackers), Svet (lighting control), Printa/CinemaPrint (photo kiosks), and 3DBin (360-degree views). Core divisions are DI Investments (venture funding with 3 funds), DI Labs (R&D with 50+ products developed), and DI Manufacturing (production with 30+ factory partners in China).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DI Investments: Venture fund focusing on attracting funding for hardware startup projects from internal and external sources
• DI Labs
• DI Manufacturing
• DI Workshop
• DI Vending
• Junior
• Zephyr
• Sport Tracker
• CardMat
• Simkiosk
• TimeFlip
• MolokoVend
• Coin Attraction
• Skinry
• ARIS
• Yullo
• Russian Ballet
• Printa
• Lepa Sand
• Svet
• 3DBin
• CinemaPrint

Products and services

• DI Manufacturing Full-cycle manufacturing division providing DFM, prototyping, testing, quality control and certification services, with access to a network of more than 30 factories in China and exclusive partnership with Honpe Technology. Provides dedicated project management, IP protection including NDAs, diversified manufacturing between factories, and rigorous on-site working processes.
• DI Labs R&D division developing sophisticated technological parts of products, having provided technologies for over 50 global hardware products. Conducts research and development in medicine, robotics, IoT, VR, AR, vending and industrial automation with access to more than 20 universities and 10 research facilities.
• DI Investments Venture investment division attracting funding for projects from internal and external sources, having established 3 venture funds (Singapore Fund in collaboration with RVC, HaxAsia Venture Fund, HaxVentures Fund, TSU Fund) to support innovative hardware products. Average seed funding per project is $150,000.
• CardMat Smart IoT vending machine for automated storage and instant delivery of payment cards to bank customers. Allows banks to automate card issuance, reduce staff workload, and is deployed at major Russian banks including Sberbank and Gazprombank.
• Simkiosk SIM card vending machine for automated sale and dispensing of SIM cards. Deployed at telecom operators including MTS and MegaFon for product distribution and customer acquisition.
• MolokoVend Milk vending machine for automated sale of milk and dairy products in retail locations.
• TimeFlip Physical time tracker device for tracking time spent on tasks and activities. Distributed across European and Asian markets.
• Coin Attraction Souvenir coins, special coins production equipment, and penny-press vending machines deployed at Moscow Metro stations, VTB Bank branches, museums, zoos, and planetariums.
• Metalworking Services High-quality metalworking services using modern equipment, including hobbing, complex details, machinery units and mechanisms, deep drawing dies, molding forms, technological equipment, and medical devices. Backed by a technological park with high precision equipment and fully automated production cycle.
• Junior Soccer Schools Network of private soccer schools for children from 3 years, operating 384 schools across 204 cities with 36,940 children enrolled. Largest network of private soccer schools in Russia and near abroad, with markets in USA, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Zephyr Kinetic Plasticine Brand of kinetic plasticine for children's creativity and sculpting that does not leave traces and develops fine motor skills. Marketed in European and Asian markets.
• 3DBin Service for creation of interactive 360-degree views.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ companies and products built
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Honpe TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner and exclusive representative of Honpe Technology, one of the largest manufacturing hubs in China. Provides manufacturing network of 30+ factories.
• SKOLKOVOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegularly host accelerator programs for startups in collaboration with SKOLKOVO Innovation Center.
• GoldBell InvestmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborate on startup accelerator programs with GoldBell Investments.
• IIDF (Internet Initiatives Development Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborate on startup accelerator programs with IIDF.
• DI LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationR&D division developing sophisticated and technological parts of products. Access to 20+ universities and 10+ research facilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PCH International: End-to-end hardware manufacturing and supply chain partner based in China that helps companies bring hardware products to market — comparable to DI Manufacturing's contract manufacturing offering.
• Bolt (hardware venture studio): US-based venture builder that takes hardware startups from prototype through manufacturing to market launch, mirroring DI Group's integrated funding-engineering-manufacturing structure.
• HAX (Shenzhen Hardware Accelerator): Shenzhen-based hardware accelerator that funds, develops, and helps launch hardware startups end-to-end — directly comparable to DI Group's full-stack venture builder model with similar focus on IoT and consumer hardware.
• SparkFun Electronics: US maker/DIY electronics retailer and product developer selling open-source hardware components — overlaps with DI Group's IoT vending/smart device product line and STEM maker category.
• Seeed Studio: Shenzhen hardware platform providing manufacturing, distribution, and open-source IoT/maker modules — overlaps with DI Group's IoT vending and maker hardware focus.
• Dragon Innovation: Hardware product realization firm guiding companies from prototype through mass production — directly comparable to DI Labs/DI Manufacturing combined R&D-to-production pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy that builds hardware products and ventures at scale — broader incumbent in product design and venture building adjacent to DI Labs' R&D work.

Regional players

• Qixi (QiXi Hardware Studio): China-based hardware venture studio that incubates and brings consumer hardware startups to market — comparable regional hardware venture builder operating in adjacent geography.

Others

• Honpe Technology: DI Group's exclusive manufacturing partner and one of China's largest hardware manufacturing hubs — adjacent ecosystem participant that DI Group represents exclusively for Western/Russian markets.

Emerging players

• MacroFab: Cloud-based contract manufacturing platform for hardware startups, providing PCB assembly and prototyping — comparable emerging player in the same hardware venture enablement space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DIGroupPublicPage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/view

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DI Group