Dmitry Volkov (businessman)
Dmitry Volkov (, born 9 July 1976, Moscow) is a Russian entrepreneur, investor, philosopher, contemporary art collector, actor and philanthropist. He has been involved in various international M&A and private equity transactions in e-commerce. He is a co-founder of the Moscow Center for Consciousness Studies, the patron of the Tretyakov State Gallery Foundation and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (since 2016), the President of Stewardship Foundation Arsenal Contemporary Art Museum.
In 1998, Volkov co-founded Social Discovery Ventures, a holding company which has invested in more than 50 internet technology projects, including Academia.edu, Shazam, Dating.com Group, Streetlife, Harbour.Space University.
Biography
Dmitry Volkov was born on July 9, 1976 in Moscow, Russia. He graduated from MSU Faculty of History in 1998 and then completed a postgraduate course in International Relationship at IMEMO. He graduated from Skolkovo Moscow School of Management with an Executive MBA degree. In 2008 he passed the Ph.D defense, and in 2017 he has got a Ph.D in philosophy.
In 1998 he co-founded Social Discovery Ventures together with his foreign colleagues, and in 2016 he founded SDV Arts and Science Foundation. He became a member of the Project Management Institute in 2001, a member of User Experience Professionals Association in 2006 and a member of American Philosophy Association in 2014.
In 2014 and 2015 he participated in the Gumball 3000 rallies. In 2015 as a representative of Social Discovery Ventures he won the SKOLKOVO Trend Award 2015 for effective negotiations, the award was given by professor Moty Cristal.
Business
Volkov is a limited partner in venture capital funds and also serves as an expert and organizer of transactions for the sale of e-companies. He is one of the first Blockchain technology investors in Russia. In late 2015, he invested $3 million in the iTechCapital and 500 Startups funds, after selling the online payment system Payonline to US company Net Element for $8.2 million. In 2017, he has invested $1 million in a new fund called Target Global ES Fund, and in April 2017 he funded the private university Harbour Space. He has also invested $1 million in Academia.edu, a social network of scholars.
Artistic activities
In summer 2015, Volkov organized an expedition with Social Discovery Ventures’ employees and media representatives to The Burning Man festival, where he presented his latest project with Oleg Kulik – robotic monkey "Oraculetang".
In 2017 Volkov made another contribution to "Burning man". He presented a co-project with Andrey Bartenev "Aliens? - Yes!" - four alien figures from 4 to 12 meters and an alien parade. The project was rated as one of the most wild and incredible arts.
Science studies
Thesis
In 2008 Volkov passed the Ph.D. defense on theme of "Daniel Dennet's theory of consciousness". In 2009 he co-founded Moscow Center for Consciousness Studies in Moscow State University; this center assists and supports Russian researchers of consciousness and analytical philosophy. In 2012, Volkov published a book Boston Zombies: D. Dennet and his Theory of Consiousness. He mounted philosophical expidition in Greenland in summer 2014, which was related to the "problem of free will in analytical philosopy". Volkov and Dennet organized debates on consciousness phenomenon. In August 2017, Volkov became one of the initiators of the dialogue between Russian scientists and the 14th Dalai Lama on consciousness. The meeting took place in Delhi.