The first startup in the incubation system received angel investment from a graduate of the HTP Venture Academy

The deal which took place at Hi-Tech Park, confirms the ecosystem's effectiveness. An investor who graduated from the Venture Academy invested in Mary, an AI assistant for founders, a project from the HTP incubation system. The startup raised $90,000 at a $900,000 valuation. 

Mary is a personal assistant for startup founders, capable of recording and transcribing calls, setting tasks, and storing all important information in one place. The team went through the incubation system, where they refined their product and business model and, most importantly, learned to speak the investors' language. 

Alexander Lukashevich, the founder of the startup "Mary," comments:
"My journey as a startup warrior began in the youth entrepreneurial community StartUp Space, where, as an inexperienced beginner I came to launch my first project. There, I traveled a long path of failed projects (spoiler: there were 22 of them). But the most important thing I found there was a strong community of like-minded people who want to build great products (and, importantly, the future Mary team).

After this path of trial and error, I came to the HTP startup center with Mary to raise investment. My team and I launched quickly, received feedback, realized we would be targeting the founder market, and clearly see what product we will build next.

To be honest, I didn't have faith that I would be able to attract investment (at least in the coming months), as I understood the current realities. But the fact that it worked out is important for me and, I think, for the entire startup community as a whole. "There's more to come, as they say. What's important to us now is building a great product! We'll keep working!"

From an Idea to a Deal – How HTP Creates a Startup Ecosystem

This story isn't about luck, but about a systematic approach. HTP works across both sides of the market: its incubation system prepares startups to engage with investors, and the Venture Academy prepares the investors for interaction with startups: it teaches them how to assess risks, conduct due diligence, and structure deals.  

"There are indeed many people in Belarus with the potential to invest in projects, but they don't know how the venture model works, how it differs from traditional business, what startup metrics to look at, or who to consult for legal support during a deal. I was able to brush up my own knowledge about venture through the Venture Academy. And one of the most valuable things about it is access to project pipeline, where Alexander and I first met. "It's great to see that the Park is bringing together startups with significant market potential, while the Academy is gathering a pool of people willing to consider startups as investment opportunities, which is essential for the startup movement. This has been missing for quite some time. And I hope that in the future, there will be more such platforms for the development of both startups and investors," notes the investor Vitaly Oparin.

Sasha and his deal are a classic path of a startup founder. There's another approach, one that's already being seen in practice: the founder of the startup "Loveresta," undergoing the Hi-Tech Park incubator system, independently raised investment after participating in the Venture Academy. 

Loveresta is a mobile and web app where cafes and restaurants offer "surprise boxes" of surplus food, and users can purchase meal kits at discounts of up to 70%. 

"Our goal is to create an environment where success stories become the norm. The deal around "Mary" is a vivid example of how the cogs of our ecosystem work. Strong projects thrive in incubation, and the Academy brings together savvy investors.
"When they meet, it results in synergy," explained Dmitry Mikulko, head of the HTP Startup Center. 

As a reminder, in October 2025, the Park launched an incubation system, where startup projects are continuously selected to enhance their investment appeal. Currently, there are 28 of them. At the same time, the Venture Academy is now accepting applications from individuals willing to invest in such projects. 

Want to become part of our ecosystem?

 
For founders:
The HTP incubation system welcomes teams with MVPs and first clients. It offers mentoring, expertise, and a focus on key metrics to attract investment. Apply here.

 
For investors:
The HTP Venture Academy is a 7-week intensive program that will turn your interest in venture capital investments into your first deal. The next cohort starts on March 2! Register here.

This deal confirms that our ecosystem is starting to work. At HTP, we don't just believe in the formation of a strong startup ecosystem in Belarus—we build it every day, creating points of intersections for those who create the future and those who invest in it.