Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire
Alexandr Tavlui, UDF.BY
27 September 2017, 18:56
Viktor Prokopenya, 33, has recently been making headlines. In the past year, the IT businessman paid a record amount of income tax for Belarus – a total of more than $1.4 million.
The businessman recently confirmed his intention to buy the Belarusian Paritetbank and the Ukrainian Sberbank.
But, what else do we know about the Belarusian millionaire?
Holder of seven academic degrees
Viktor Prokopenya graduated with honours from Gymnasium No. 130, Minsk.
He successfully defended theses at the Belarusian State University, the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, and the IPM Business School.
Then, Prokopenya earned Master’s degrees at foreign universities and business schools, including in the United States.
Viktor completed a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the Swiss Business School.
Earned more than $100 million aged 27
When Viktor was 20 years old, his company, Viaden Media, employed more than 100 people.
In 2011, the businessman sold the company to Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi for €95 million.
By the age of 27 Prokopenya had earned more than $100 million.
Lives in three countries
Prokopenya’s investment company VP Capital has offices in Minsk, London and Limassol. The Belarusian businessman spends a lot of time in the British capital, but visits his home city of Minsk every month.
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The office of one of Prokopenya's portfolio companies is based in Cyprus, so he travels to the island often as well.
![Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire]( "Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire")
Met with Lukashenko
Viktor Prokopenya and his investment company VP Capital cooperate with the Gutserievs’ Larnabel Ventures in backing artificial intelligence (AI) projects.
![Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire]( "Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire")
One of their first investments was Banuba, a start-up company developing an AI-based app.
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In March 2017, the head of the Belarusian state, President Alexander Lukashenko, visited the businessman’s portfolio companies. Viktor Prokopenya told reporters:
Needs his space
Viktor invests in space technology. The first two satellites of his portfolio company, Astro Digital, are planned to be launched this July.
Has an Instagram account
Not that long ago, Viktor Prokopenya created an Instagram account. The list of places he has travelled is impressive: Singapore, Qatar, the Maldives, Switzerland, France, Ireland.
On the economic situation in Belarus
![Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire]( "Viktor Prokopenya. Living in London, Loving Minsk. 8 Amazing Facts about the Belarusian Millionaire")
In February, Viktor Prokopenya wrote on his social profile:
It’s hard to say whether it was inspired by the depressed economic state in the country or by the fact that Prokopenya doesn’t like eating out.
Promised to create another bike lane in Minsk
Viktor has recently said in an interview:
It is likely he won’t have to wait long, especially given the fact that Prokopenya intends to buy two banks at once.
27 September 2017, 18:56
Viktor Prokopenya
The businessman recently confirmed his intention to buy the Belarusian Paritetbank and the Ukrainian Sberbank.
But, what else do we know about the Belarusian millionaire?
Holder of seven academic degrees
Viktor Prokopenya graduated with honours from Gymnasium No. 130, Minsk.
He successfully defended theses at the Belarusian State University, the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, and the IPM Business School.
Then, Prokopenya earned Master’s degrees at foreign universities and business schools, including in the United States.
Viktor completed a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the Swiss Business School.
Earned more than $100 million aged 27
When Viktor was 20 years old, his company, Viaden Media, employed more than 100 people.
In 2011, the businessman sold the company to Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi for €95 million.
By the age of 27 Prokopenya had earned more than $100 million.
Lives in three countries
Prokopenya’s investment company VP Capital has offices in Minsk, London and Limassol. The Belarusian businessman spends a lot of time in the British capital, but visits his home city of Minsk every month.
The office of one of Prokopenya's portfolio companies is based in Cyprus, so he travels to the island often as well.
Met with Lukashenko
Viktor Prokopenya and his investment company VP Capital cooperate with the Gutserievs’ Larnabel Ventures in backing artificial intelligence (AI) projects.
Mikhail Gutsuriev and Viktor Prokopenya
One of their first investments was Banuba, a start-up company developing an AI-based app.
In March 2017, the head of the Belarusian state, President Alexander Lukashenko, visited the businessman’s portfolio companies. Viktor Prokopenya told reporters:
“The president welcomed the idea of turning Belarus into an IT country. When we suggested introducing unmanned vehicles onto the roads of Belarus, the president himself was not only open to the idea, but also wished that he had such a car for himself. I was particularly surprised by this.”
Needs his space
Viktor invests in space technology. The first two satellites of his portfolio company, Astro Digital, are planned to be launched this July.
Has an Instagram account
Not that long ago, Viktor Prokopenya created an Instagram account. The list of places he has travelled is impressive: Singapore, Qatar, the Maldives, Switzerland, France, Ireland.
On the economic situation in Belarus
In February, Viktor Prokopenya wrote on his social profile:
“Minsk. Grand Cafe. Friday evening. None:) The economy is totally healthy:) "
It’s hard to say whether it was inspired by the depressed economic state in the country or by the fact that Prokopenya doesn’t like eating out.
Promised to create another bike lane in Minsk
Viktor has recently said in an interview:
"My favourite place in Minsk is the bike lane. There are bike lanes in many European cities, but 27 kilometres of an incredibly beautiful road across the whole city with no traffic lights is a very rare thing. The bike lane is awesome! Once I become a billionaire, I will definitely build another one in Minsk."
It is likely he won’t have to wait long, especially given the fact that Prokopenya intends to buy two banks at once.
