Jaanika Merilo, Managing Director of the Ukrainian Venture Capital Association (UVCA), has become an adviser to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Aivaras Abromavičius. In her new position, Jaanika will be responsible for attracting investment, improving the business climate and developing e-government solutions.
Jaanika began working in the field of Ukrainian startups and investment only in the second half of last year, but her name is already well known in the community. Before coming to Ukraine, she spent 17 years in early-stage technology investment and managed a private equity fund in the US that invested $350 million in companies from the Baltic states, Russia and Ukraine. The ministry believes that Jaanika's experience, including in entrepreneurship and investment development, will be useful to it.
In Ukraine, Jaanika took part in creating the UAngel community, and together with Andrii Kolodiuk, Managing Partner of AVentures Capital, she founded the UVCA (Ukrainian Venture Capital Association) in Kyiv, modelled on the European Venture Capital Association (EVCA). Jaanika is also Chair of the Board of Directors of the BrainBasket Foundation, which deals with IT education in Ukraine.
Softline IT welcomes this appointment. Jaanika is a recognised expert in e-government. The Estonian experience in automating the work of government bodies, which Ms Merilo often shares at various IT events, is considered advanced. We hope that the achievements of our Baltic colleagues will find application in our country.