Shkvarun Ivan

Shkvarun Ivan

Education

Ivan Shkvarun graduated from MIREA, Faculty of Computers and Systems with a degree in computer security. In 2016, he is studying for an MBA at the IBDA RANEPA with a degree in entrepreneurship and company management.

In his own words, he took an incredible number of courses in various specializations, including sales.

Career

2000s: Banking jobs

He began his career at Gazprombank in the information protection department. Then he moved to an information and analytical center (IAC) in the same bank (2004-2008).

2008-2015: From Business Analyst to Deputy Director

From May 2008 to September 2015, he worked at Neoflex, starting as a business analyst and reaching the deputy director of SOA (service-oriented architecture).

Since 2015, he has been the Director of Business Development at Technoserv Consulting.

2015: Investment in Indigo Kids

Once Ivan Shkvarun at one of the events met Timofey Rakin, the founder and CEO of Indigo Kids, a company that develops children's mobile games under well-known brands.

The studio has existed since 2012, their children pushed their founders to create it: I wanted to help them choose the right applications, since they are still not indifferent to gadgets. "We wanted them to develop and learn when playing games, so we went to gameev," says one of the company's representatives.^[1] In the Indigo Kids portfolio there were applications in the Russian language, mathematics and geography, for the development of IQ, including games based on the method of the Italian teacher Maria Montessori.

At that moment, according to Ivan's stories, he and his wife Angela thought about the correct development of their first child Seva. They were also interested in the Montessori system.

I realized that we were clearly "along the way," and we agreed on further joint development, "says Ivan Shkvarun.[2]

Ivan Shkvarun became a co-investor in the project in early 2015 (does not disclose the share), just at the moment when the studio was planning a new strategy.

I never invest where I can't help in development myself, so I take an active part in development everywhere, "Ivan explained to TAdviser.

It is worth noting that until 2014, Indigo Kids studio was difficult to survive in the difficult market of games for children: promotion required colossal costs, says Timofey Rakin.^[3]

Everything changed in 2014. Then the creators of the studio met with representatives of the promoted brand "Masha and the Bear." They managed to agree on cooperation on the condition of "revenue in half." From that moment on, the famous and popular brand became the main locomotive of the studio's development. Games do not leave the TOP Google Play and have become world bestsellers.

Over the year, three of our games under the Masha and Bear brand have been installed 40 million times! Moreover, the application is not only popular in Russia, but also keeps in the top of children's content all over the world: it was downloaded in the United States about 600 thousand times, in Italy it is the number one brand, it is successful in Mexico, Indonesia and even Saudi Arabia, - says Ivan Shkvarun.

Indigo Kids owners bet on the promoted Masha and Bear brand and did not fail (screenshot of the game)

Basic versions of games are free. Indigo Kids uses two main monetization methods: advertising and built-in purchases. According to the company, advertising brings about 70-90% of revenue (depends on the application, country, advertising format (banner, video, etc.), IAP profitability, platform), built-in purchases - the rest.

In early 2016, Indigo Kids signed an agreement with another popular brand, Fixiki. On November 23, 2016, the first application of Tamagotchi Fixes and cartoons was released.

The cost of Indigo Kids is estimated at $3 million (as of autumn 2016). By the end of 2017, the owners plan to triple it - to $10 million, says Ivan Shkvarun.

A successful strategy, when the studio cooperates with an already popular brand, is planned to continue. The company is negotiating with Jingliki and Smeshariki, and is also considering foreign brands - Peppa Pig, Robocar Polly, Charlotte Strawberry, etc.

Notes