Arkady Volozh, Yandex CEO - Almost Exclusive Interview At #TCMoscow

On 5 December 2011, Arkady Volozh, Yandex CEO, was invited for an interview at the TechCrunch Moscow Conference. It was almost exclusive interview of Arkady Volozh with conference participants. The head of Yandex told about future plans of the Russian Internet giant and about the company in general.

Question: Yandex is a Russian company. What does the company represent? Is it a local player, or does Yandex have ambitions to become an international company?

Arkady Volozh: For the last several months Yandex is already working in the international market, for instance in Turkey. We are a local company which is competing with foreign companies in the Russian market. This market is very important to us, and the Russian market brings major profit. However, our company has great opportunities to remain in the local zone.

Question: How do you plan to enter the international market?

Arkady Volozh: There are 6 major search engines in the world. Two of them are based in the USA (Google and Beagle), the other onces are in China, Russia and Europe. That's why we have nothing to do in the USA, but as for Europe, we are planning to present ourselves as a good search engine for European users. Of course, it's a complicated process because markets of the USA, Europe and Russia are very different: with different investors, users and their expectations are also different.

Question:  It looks like Yandex is a pioneer in the international market. Are you proud of Yandex as a "start-up" beyond Russia?

Arkady Volozh: Yes, I am proud of the company as a first Russian company that is entering the international IT-market. I believe that in general this forms a recognizable image of Russia.

Question:  Some people say that Google is a dinosaur and pretty much archaic compared to the growing Facebook. Do you think that search engines have a future?

Arkady Volozh:  The online search is a part of social networking and social graphs if you wish. For the past couple of years the online search is a helper for social networkers and a social tool.

Question: What Yandex product is offered on social networking websites?

Arkady Volozh: The search itself, no matter if the search terms are typed in correctly or not.

Question: This doesn't make Yandex different from other search engines. What is Yandex' value then? Is it the intensity of involvement with clients?

Arkady Volozh: No, the intesity of the contact with the information. We provide knowledge.

Question: One of the most discussed topics is the anonymity. That's why the slogan "Yandex knows everything" sounds pretty scary. Is it really so and Yandex knows everything?

Arkady Volozh:  The anonymity suffers not from the search or the Internet in general, but from mobile phones and surveillance cameras put all over the city. If someone is worried that others will see him, this person can stay home and still be connected to the virtual world. Any system, no matter how good it is, can be wrenched. Online you can get any information anonymously, and if a client believes that his rights are violated he can change settings in his browser.

Question: What is the advertisement share of Yandex?

Arkady Volozh: 98% comes from the advertisement. As a matter of a fact, the advertisement profits from the Internet and search engines. Online ads which meets customers' needs is the main segment of the Internet. Before that there were catalogs and yellow pages. The Internet became an additional channel to spread ads.

Question: Is that true that Google is not just your competoitor but that it plays the rogue a little?

Arkady Volozh: I am not competent to answer this question. Perhaps Google uses its position, but as for playing the rogue, Google does that in the Russian market more than anywhere else..

Question: What are Yandex plans for 2012?

Arkady Volozh: First of all, we'll continue being dominant in the Russian market and will reach our interests in foreign markets.

Question:  Will Yandex challenge Google with its strong position in the USA?

Arkady Volozh: No. In the USA, there are Google, Beagle. Why trying to break through in the US if all Europe has one player. This is our niche..

Question: It means that in Europe there is a need of a competitor for Google? Is it going to be Yandex?

Arkady Volozh: Yes, Europeans are worthy to have a competition for Google.

Question: What advise would you give to tech-entrepreneurs? What should be done by new companies?

Arkady Volozh: Dedicate all your time to improvements of your priduct. Keep notice of new trends. Be confident in what you do!

Irina KUZMINA  |  PubliCiti.ru

Photo: sostav.ru