Friedman Boris Mikhaylovich

Friedman Boris Mikhaylovich

Friedman Boris Mikhaylovich is the founder of Mikroinform company.

Biography

1988: Foundation of JV Mikroinform, trade in computers, training

The Mikroinform company is formed in June, 1988. Her actual creator Boris Friedman. In the second half of the eightieth, during an era of reorganization and the arising cooperative movement, enormous prospects were offered vigorous and enterprising people — at last there was an opportunity to implement accumulated for many years experience and knowledge.

In 1987 Boris Friedman already had solid work experience in the oil and gas industry. In its record of service NPO Soyuzgazoavtomatika and GIVTs of Minneftegazstroy where it was engaged in data transmission systems appeared. But life made the next turn: the director of GIVTs under supervision of which Boris Mikhaylovich worked passed to other work — became the rector of the Central interdepartmental institute of advanced training at the Moscow construction institute of V.V.Kuibyshev (TsMIPKS). And at the end of 1987 he invited Friedman to himself to work. "I agreed — Boris Mikhaylovich remembers — and the whole month taught. But quickly understood that it not mine therefore decided to leave though already promised me the associate professor's position'.

It was simple to find application for the forces. In the country the market economy arose, both the most far-sighted and courageous people took the first steps in a new field, creating own firms. By then there were already several companies which managed to gain popularity and authority for the short period. The Soviet-American JV Dialog was one of pioneers of a new era. Stories by Pyotr Zrelov, the head of this firm, made great impression on Friedman. Just imagine, the director of the company could resolve any issues independently: select suppliers, customers, to sign contracts, to send people to abroad travels. At that time it looked if not heresy, then precisely a fantasy. At socialism which in 1987 was still strong for all all decided the State Planning Committee and the ministries — to a lump that from whom and for what amount to buy what business trips to make. And here... everything is so simple and on anybody you do not depend.

"It very strongly intrigued me, and I began to think and what occurs in the country and economy?' — Boris Friedman tells. Soon he became the witness of one more event — the Soviet-French JV Interkvadro was founded.

"There my acquaintances worked, and, judging by their stories, activity of the joint venture cardinally differed from usual foundations of the Soviet enterprise. Yes I also saw. For example, they could organize a press conference if considered that it is necessary for business. It was the second power pulse which defined my future solution' — Friedman noted.

The meeting with representatives of the Soviet-Austrian JV Prosistem became a final point. It took place in the spring of 1988 at one of the Moscow exhibitions on automation. Heads of the joint venture among which there were also good acquaintances of Friedman, told about what equipment they supply to the country and as the company works. "I made the final decision to be engaged in business also — Friedman told. — Time at others everything so great turns out, it is necessary to do also to me something'.

The preparatory period did not take a lot of time — on all formalities and business negotiations several months left. Boris Mikhaylovich created the company as the joint venture too — other alternatives to open the non-state company, at that time just was not. And, on the laws existing then the Soviet part had to possess 51% of the company, and to foreign partners — 49%. TsMIPKS became the founder from our country. The rector of institute in detail asked Friedman on plans and, without thinking twice, approved his undertaking. So the company was born in many respects thanks to support and this person. The Hungarian enterprise "Telefondyar" acted as the foreign cofounder. Communications with this firm were old — with them Friedman worked hard years, still being an employee of GIVTs of Minneftegazstroy. Hungarians delivered quite large batches of the equipment for data transmission, bought from them even such, for those times, exotic as data transmission multiplexers.

Boris Friedman fairly recognizes that in 1988 neither he, nor the Hungarian partners plainly represented about what business there is a speech and in what area the new company will work. "They asked me: "Do you though understand, than will be engaged?' — Friedman remembers. — Without batting an eyelid, I surely answered: "Of course and!'. Well, then let's try, Hungarians agreed".

However, such situation was typical for the end of the 80th. Practically everything had to be created from scratch. Newly appeared presidents and the CEOs of the companies had no necessary experience, knowledge, abilities. In any case directors and presidents. The legislation sensible and that was not. Neither officials, nor government institutions represented where the situation "will taxi". Worked intuitively, to the touch. Were guided only by indistinct instructions on top — there decided that at this stage of reorganization it is necessary to create the joint venture.

By the way, the registration certificate of Mikroinform company was written out on the form at number 60. In the USSR it was the 60th non-state company. And Boris Friedman became its CEO. Except him at the beginning of summer of 1988 when Mikroinform was only born, in the company one more person, the former employee of the Ministry of Finance helping with document creation worked. Soon invited several programmers, and by September of the same year the commercial director, the accountant and the HR manager came to the company.

September 14, 1988. The first press conference devoted to opening Microinform. Boris Friedman – the second on the right.

Activities of newly made firm were defined very quickly. First of all the head of Microinform thought of in what way the company will earn money? The answer arose by itself — to sell computers. Then delivery of the equipment was profitable and popular occupation.

Nevertheless, from the commercial point of view Microinform trade in computers was the main activity.

But, as Boris Friedman remembers, "it not really interested me. Working in NPO Soyuzgazoavtomatika and GIVTs of Minneftegazstroy, I was engaged in the solution of many interesting problems, including participated in serious developments. Therefore even before creation Microinform dreamed of that my company specialized in the field of developments. And almost at once after registration of firm we thought that well to create also training center. However, all understood that these two directions will be unprofitable, but nevertheless decided not to turn from the selected way. Eventually, nobody prohibited to be engaged in it "as a hobby"".

Here so, practically from the first day, the CEO estimated all pluses and minuses of "free floating" and used the powers.

"Eighteen years ago the relation to trade was absolutely another, not such as now — Boris Friedman in 2006 said. — Businessmen and dealers did not inspire special trust. But the words "development" and "training" were associated with intellectual activity, bore an aura of a certain noble mission'.

At the ministries and departments of those years there were numerous scientific research institutes solving quite specific problems. And Microinform was the independent company, not connected with one serious ministry. And owing to these reasons it appeared away from applied developments. Therefore in Microinform also decided to focus on creation of an intellectual product which would have broad demand. To be fair it is worth noticing that Boris Friedman bore the idea to be engaged in developments even before registration of Microinform. He even decided that he will develop. The choice fell on the Lexicon program.

In September, 1988 the first steps on the Niva of training when occupations were started by the first group of listeners were taken. They were taught elementary things — how to work with the computer. "From the very beginning we very seriously approached the organization of educational process — Boris Friedman tells. — We had an educational class equipped with twenty computers. We wrote in the avenues that the separate PC is provided to each listener. However, in our company training cost not much therefore also we long time did not get profit on this direction'. These are later training centers began to grow as mushrooms, declarations of "Norton Commander/DOS/Windows/Word/ïѬ߿¬«¡" hung on each column.

1989

Completion of the editor Lexicon

Personal computers quickly entered everyday life. On keys not only engineers and programmers, but also secretaries already knocked, printing letters, references, orders and orders. The end of the 1980th years was an era of supremacy of three software products — MS-DOS, Norton Commander and Lexicon. Programs "went" on diskettes, to that time still five-inch, and users with enthusiasm exchanged new versions.

And here in such situation the thought came to Boris Friedman to mind "absolutely mad" — to make Lexicon this, full-fledged product. That looked not worse, than the western programs that was on sale in shops, in a box and with the instruction to the user. Why Lexicon? The answer is simple — other mass programs at that time were not.

Being a person of action, Boris Friedman at once started idea implementation. He contacted Evgeny Veselov, the author of Lexicon and invited him for a conversation.

"Veselov at that time working in data center of Academy of Sciences was already the famous programmer and knew the own worth — Friedman remembers. — Therefore the first talk was difficult. I told it that I am going to create the company which will differ from the existing firms and also that I have a great desire to be engaged in developments and to enter the market with a specific product'.

Apparently, Veselov not really believed Friedman. First he treated this idea watchfully, but after several meetings, seeing determination and persistence of future head of Microinform, agreed to cooperate. At the same time Veselov said that he will not work in Microinform, but suggested to form a team of people close to it with whom it worked on Lexicon in the company. Evgeny Veselov reserved a role of the research supervisor of the project. It did not correspond to Friedman's plans, but the CEO had no choice, and he agreed with Veselov's proposals. That quickly enough sent sensible programmers, they were issued for work in Microinform and development of Lexicon continued at the new level. But idyll continued not for long.

At the beginning of 1989 Veselov received the invitation to go to work to Norway.

"It was the notable blow to developments — Boris Friedman tells. — About that Veselov passed to work into Microinform and did not go to Norway, there could not be also a speech. Moreover, it took away from us one of the leading developers'.

Certainly, all opportunities were used not to wind down the work on Lexicon — Veselov tried to direct process of Norway, and in Microinform waited for it return and especially for it, in total — more than two years, held vacant a position of the technical director of developments.

Share of 10% in JV Aquarius of the Integral Systems

From the commercial point of view Microinform trade in computers was the main activity. Exactly thanks to sales of the equipment the company could finance software development in the first years of the existence and be engaged in training. But only case was not limited to support of the non-profitable directions. "Microinform" played not the last role in formation and development of such large IT companies as Aquarius and Soft-tronik.

Boris Friedman well remembers peripetias of these stories. One of the first delivery contracts of the equipment was signed with the German company TEB Impex which advanced the PC of the Taiwan firm "Aquarius". Seeing high demand on the PC in Russia, the management of TEB Impex decided to open production in our country. Russian Aquarius was born in April, 1989 when JV Aquarius of the Integral Systems which founders were five legal entities from the USSR among which were Microinform was created (then it possessed 10% of stocks) and the Ivanovo NPO Informatika. The West German TEB Impex acted as the foreign cofounder. NPO Informatika provided to the new joint venture the unfinished module in the territory of the Radiopribor plant in Shuya. The module was quickly completed, equipped with the equipment which was provided by the same TEB Impex, and case went.

Sales of the Soft-tronik equipment

In a different way the relations with Soft-tronik company developed. In the fall of 1988 Mikroinform for the first time participated in some exhibition. On the stand of the company two persons came and agreed about a meeting with the CEO. Later, during the conversation, they asked, than the Mikroinform company is interested? Friedman answered that he would like to buy the western equipment, but it is desirable for transferable rubles. Those years it was some kind of analog of hard currency for calculations between member countries Comecon. However, in the late eighties the Comecon already collapsed and transferable rubles could be "attached" only in Poland. To Friedman's surprise, his interlocutors answered that they can supply the equipment and for such "money". Here so the domestic market was entered by Soft-tronik company. Left, despite a certain financial risk. "But we did not risk anything — Friedman remembers. — Under the terms of the transaction, any prepayment from outside Mikroinform was not required, all calculations were performed after supply of equipment'.

The transaction passed successfully, and the parties decided to continue cooperation. Demand for the PC constantly increased and that to satisfy it, in the Western Berlin the joint venture for release of computers was created that facilitated sale of the equipment in Russia. This not import, but our equipment was formal, it only gathered abroad, and specialists Microinform worked in the Western Berlin with a shift method.

The state organizations were the main consumer of the PC at a boundary 80 — the 90th years. And to deliver them the equipment, the firm had to obtain the license for the foreign trade activity.

"I went behind the license to the head of department of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations — Boris Friedman tells. — And I managed to convince the official that our scheme with payment by transferable rubles is profitable all and first of all to the state which because of disorder Comecon lost these rubles in large quantities. The official, and called him Mikhail Fradkov, it was the person sensible, and authorized obtaining the license for foreign economic activity'.

After that the trade direction in Microinform began to develop in high gear and to make good profit. The company sold computers, printers and one of the first began delivery of hardware-software complexes.

Sales of the equipment of Xerox

Boris Friedman considers one of the most successful projects of that time delivery of the hardware and software systems Ventura of Xerox company. In the beginning bought five units, and all to our country by that moment of Xerox delivered no more than one hundred complexes. Then Microinform, having estimated requirements and possibilities of the market, decided to make larger order.

"In representative office of Xerox asked how many we want to purchase? — Friedman tells. — We answered — 600 complexes. Judging by reaction of staff of Xerox, we were considered adventurers. But we confirmed our intentions, and the vendor believed. For them it there was incredibly large delivery too, and they to execute the order, mobilized all company. And we received a huge discount, nearly 70%'.

1991: Receiving building and its restoration

The end of the 80th — the beginning of the 90th years were rich with events. For example, at Microinform the building on Malaya Ordynka appeared. Its receiving and restoration — the certain head in life of the company. Boris Friedman refers this project to category of good and kind adventures.

The first office of Microinform was located on Kozhevnicheskaya Street, in TsMIPKS. Several rooms with a total area of 250 sq.m were provided by the Soviet founder as an authorized contribution. But from the first days the CEO dreamed of own spacious building where everything will not be worse, than in the West. Even the fitness center for employees did not forget to provide. But to receive in property the building in Moscow, in the city which residents "are spoiled by a housing problem" moreover in the Moskvoretsk area — it seemed a utopia. However Boris Friedman was not going to give up.

"We regularly invited to ourselves in close 250 squares of representatives of the Moskvoretsk district committee of a batch, repeatedly talked to its first secretary — Friedman tells. — Promised us, then refused, again promised, offered buildings or in the improper area, or absolutely not suitable for repair and operation'.

There were also funny cases. Somehow time the CEO stopped the choice on one of buildings on Pioneer. Everything went to the fact that the company at last will receive the building. Already collected the necessary signatures, but stumbled on the last — competent authorities "cut" transfer of the building to Microinform. The reason was learned soon — it appears, behind a fence some "box" was located. It is impossible that the Soviet-Hungarian joint venture was near.

Eventually, the persistence and persistence of the CEO were rewarded. The authorities believed in the new company and promised to help. Soon transferred to Microinform the half-ruined building on Malaya Ordynka. "The show was terrible — Friedman remembers. — The house staid without roof several years, water was a circle'. On recovery and reconstruction year left. The company received 700 sq.m and by own efforts turned them into 1500 sq.m. Attached a part of the building, added a penthouse — the fourth floor. And even about the fitness center did not forget — allocated the space for a sauna and gym. Microinform celebrated the housewarming in August, 1991, in two weeks prior to a putsch.

On August 19, 1991 the CEO remembered well: "I sit in the empty building and I think: here also it doprygatsya, the entrepreneur. Now the GKCHP with the first will deal with us. Will come and will ask: it who such, almost in the center of the capital to themselves the building was built up?'. Today it is possible to remember a putsch with irony, it is now clear to all that this adventure was doomed to a failure, but then had no time for laughter. Programmers went to the White House, brought some leaflets and told that they need to be multiplied. "I strictly forbade — Friedman tells. — Told that we not the political organization, but commercial firm'. He prohibited to go to nobody on barricades, this personal record of everyone, but no policy in the company should be.

1992: The authorized center of training Novell

In Microinform mastered technology of the authorized training that allowed the company to move to qualitatively other level. Novell was the first foreign vendor which decided that it is time and to enter the authorized training in Russia. Representatives of this company visited Microinform in 1992 and were pleasantly surprised with scope of activity of the Russian firm. In short terms of the party discussed formalities, and the authorization agreement was signed.

1993: Success of sales of Lexicon under DOS

In the fall of 1993, in day when fired at the White House, Friedman together with Anatoly Karachinsky was in an abroad travel and watched succession of events on TV. They returned to Moscow next night. It was already known that in the downtown the curfew is entered.

For Friedman the machine came to the airport, and Boris Mikhaylovich suggested Karachi to go with it to Moscow. But Karachi refused and told that till the morning will remain in hotel. And Friedman decided "break" home. "Go it was terrible — he remembers. — Usually on Leningradskoye Highway the brisk movement never stops even at night, and here we go absolutely some in complete darkness. And then I told the driver: "Turn back". Several hours till the dawn was spent in Sheremetyevo Airport'.

At last, the term of the Norwegian contract of Evgeny Veselov, the Leksikon developer expired, it returned to the country, and heads of Microinform raised again a question of that he headed development of Leksikon. But the situation in the market of software cardinally changed by then. Users began to master the new operating system — Windows, and specialists perfectly understood that behind it the future. Veselov had no lack of the ideas, he already thought over the concept of the text editor for the new platform. At the same time all understood that Leksikon for Windows is actually new project which will involve enormous costs of forces and means. Whether "The company is ready to take one more programming team? — Veselov asked Friedman. — If yes, that I head development '." It was impossible to stop, and we agreed' — Friedman told.

And the version of Lexicon for DOS was already ready, and it should be sold. The aspiration to correspond to world level pushed the company to a step next, obscure at that time. The firm decided to offer the market a full-fledged shrink-wrapped software product — in this (same as at the western companies) a box to put a distribution kit of the program and the detailed instruction for users. But in the early nineties in our country it was a wonder, even to find production where could make such boxes, was a problem.

"We learned that there is the only enterprise which is able to execute our order — Friedman remembers. — One Kazan plant purchased such production line just recently'.

Certainly, there was a question, how many boxes to order? A number of employees of Microinform considered that for a start it is necessary to be limited to a batch in 100 — 200, at most 500 pieces. But the CEO gave other number — 5 thousand. "For those times it was very large order — Friedman tells. — In many respects thanks to our order the Kazan plant could get on feet'.

As usual, it was not also without funny things. That the first in the Soviet Union shrink-wrapped software product looked presentably, for development of design of a box heads Microinform invited professional artists. They offered tens of sketches, any of them to founders of Lexicon did not attract. "Eventually, we waved on everything a hand, Veselov came and offered the drawing — Friedman tells. — It also went to production. The logo was thought up too'.

Fate of the first domestic box was successfully. Users willingly bought Lexicon for DOS. Only for the first year about 20 thousand boxes were sold. For almost completely piracy Russian market it was a great achievement. But from the financial point of view the situation was not so great — in "plus" the company did not leave. The reason simple — the price of a box was very low. Nevertheless the project on development and promotion on the market of the domestic text editor by all specialists and analysts of the market of those years was considered successful. Whether a joke, in the category of products — text editors — Lexicon won first place, its share on number of installations was estimated at 32%. The honourable second place was taken by Word of Microsoft company (23% of the market). And taking into account non-licensed copies Lexicon was in general the inaccessible leader.

"We had huge advantage over Microsoft — Boris Friedman tells. — Our editor was initially Russian-speaking product, and for the foreign companies russification of software those years represented a certain problem'.

By the way, we will notice that the considerable merit in promotion of Lexicon belongs to Olga Dergunova who in the early nineties headed sales department in Microinform.

"Lexicon" for DOS lived and developed, as well as it is necessary to a normal commercial product — there were new versions, technical support was adjusted. And development of the version for Windows progressed with great difficulty. It seemed that 60% of works are made, 70%, but the horizon was removed further and further. Eventually, heads Microinform understood that in this case it is necessary to put an end. Boris Friedman remembers that there were two reasons which forced to stop development. First, this project took away more and more money, and the firm could not but not reckon with the volume of costs any more, and secondly, the editor of Word for Windows of Microsoft company gained strength. It was clear to all that the American vendor will enclose in adaptation of software, marketing and advertizing campaign huge amounts of money, and Microinform will hardly have means to resist to so powerful expansion.

The programming team was defunct, Evgeny Veselov passed to work into IBS, and went to the USA later. For DOS in Microinform several years as Boris Friedman assured, "to the last client" continued to support the version of Lexicon. And the Lexicon brand was transferred later to Arsenal company which developed the text editor.

1994: Trade turning, a rate only on training, an exit of Hungarians

Fast-growing domestic IT market introduced the amendments in business of Microinform. In 1993 — 1994 the company began to curtail gradually sale of separate devices and to promote network equipment and complete solutions more. However, the range of network equipment those years was limited to net boards, and complete solutions represented creation of a LAN and connection of the PC to it. But so proceeded not for long — the equipment for data transmission changed in the eyes, and solutions became harder and harder and large-scale. The specialized companies — system integrators gained strength.

"We saw that it is necessary to invest a lot of money in this direction, to train specialists — Boris Friedman says. — Our means did not allow to work at the same time in several areas therefore in the mid-nineties we made the decision completely to focus on educational business, and to contract all other directions'.

But the CEO Microinform does not consider that the company in the first years of existence in vain spent efforts. "If it was necessary to repeat again all passable way, we would repeat its step to a step' — Friedman emphasizes. Development of the company is a natural process, and everything that was made, everything bore fruits: there were partners, experience, the authority, and it is more important, than net profit.

In the mid-nineties Microinform focused only on educational business, all other activities were contracted. By this time the company won reputation of one of the leading suppliers of the authorized training.

In 1994 Microinform became the authorized Microsoft training center.

In the mid-nineties there was one more important event — the joint venture became the Russian company. Transferred the share to several stages "Telefondyar" to the Russian side. According to Friedman, from the very beginning of the party understood that the joint venture is a forced form of the organization which was necessary only to create the non-state company. The message about purchase of the Hungarian founder Telefondyar by Siemens company^[1] accelerated process of the Microinform conversion of the joint venture to Ltd company^[1]

Press conference on a 15 anniversary case Microinform. Karachi (the second at the left), Friedman (costs), Gens (the third on the right), further Dergunova (the second on the right), Goldenberg (extreme on the right)

Hobbies

In 2012 in halls of Department of personal collections of Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts there takes place the exhibition "The book by the artist of Livre d'artist. Spanish collection. Picasso, Dali, Miro, Gris, Klava, Tapyes. From Georgy Gens and Boris Friedman's meetings"^[2].

On February 17, 2014 the large-scale exhibition "Surrealism and Livre D'artiste" in Department of personal collections of Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts of A.S. Pushkin opened. Exposure includes 400 works created by ingenious artists of the 20th century from 1924 to 1980 and serves as a peculiar narration about formation and development of surrealism. Jean Arp, Enrico Bai, Hans Belmer, Victor Browner, Salvador Dalí, Oscar Domínguez, Giorgio de Quirico, Vifredo Lahm, André Masson, Roberto Mata, Joán Miro, Pablo Picasso, Yves Tanga, Dorathea Tanning, Leonore Fini, Max Ernst – not the complete list of names which can be met at the Surrealism and Livre D'artiste exhibition. All works are provided by the president of Lanit group Georgy Gens and the CEO of Mikroinform company Boris Friedman.

Notes