“Russia is very progressive country in terms of using IT-technologies with open code, that’s why it is such a pleasure to work here».

French Tech met with Diana Potokina, Head of business development in Russian subsidiary of French company — Linagora.

Linagora develops IT programs with open code as for example cloud emails storage, data exchange, service for videoconference and many more. Diana told us why Russia is a country with large potential, especially in terms of using open code and not only.

Diana, what was your occupation before joining Linagora?

I worked in Russian company Prime Pass that develops IT programs for Russian cultural institutions as museums, galleries, theatres. I was responsible, for example, for partnership between the metro pass “Troika” and tickets to museums. Also, we developed mobile applications for Moscow seasons, Tretiakov gallery, Planetarium, etc. That was a very interesting experience. And then Alexander Zapolsky, the founder of Linagora, invited me in 2019 to join his business in Russia.

Why did Russia seem like an attractive country to Linagora?

As you might know, Linagora is a very old and famous company, founded in 2000 in France. It has subsidiaries in Сanada, Vietnam, Tunisia, and the projects entrusted to Linagora are very important for the governments of these countries.

Linagora represents innovative technologies — an open source code that is common to the whole world and the interest of its mass use in Russia is gaining momentum due to the import substitution program and close attention to the security of the software used. Russia is famous for its IT-specialists, and in recent years — in willing to be innovative. Potential clients are open to meet, they are curious. When we speak about IT, it seems that we use the same words. I see that Russia changes and chooses the way to work with open code products, than with products of Microsoft, for example. This naturally instills optimism in us!

Now Linagora in Russia works through a Russian partner – Atalan company, and already we have such big clients as Nanosemantics, MTS, Leroy Merlin, and we expect many more to come, but it’s a secret!

Diana, what are the secrets of success to enter the Russian market if you represent a foreign company?

As I said before, Liagora is a famous company, so we use the brand of it, so we have the guarantee of the quality of our product, that helps a lot. Also as I was working in Russia before, I had some business connections already and it helped to find clients. I’d add that in Linagora we have special attention to our future customers: our CEO can fly from Paris to meet Russian potential clients, so that shows respect.

How did COVID-19 influence Linagora?

Of course, the situation has a negative influence on our business. People are in panic, that’s why they don’t know what to do or to planify. The contracts are long to be signed. But as Linagora works with big companies, so we don’t suffer much, the work is going on the projects as planned.

What do you think about French Tech Moscow community? Does it help Linagora?

I really appreciate French Tech Moscow and I think it helps a lot. For instance, Linagora participated in Skolkovo Open Village event, and in Trianon dialogs organized by Euryale Chatelard in Pushkin’s museum, which was very useful and gave us good leads. To be continued!