Maksym
Krippa

Born on August 11, 1977 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

• 1994–1998: studied for a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management at the International Christian University.
• 2006–2007: completed a master’s program in Organizational Management at the European University.
• 2008-2011: received a legal education at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (specializing in Jurisprudence).

"In my last years at school and at university, I made money building gaming computers and installing networks at computer clubs. I was a hell of a gamer myself: I played Doom, Warcraft, Starcraft, Half-Life, and Counter-Strike, and my adult business is my attempt at living out my childhood dreams," said Krippa in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.

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The entrepreneur’s first "grown-up business" was in mobile communication. In the early 2000s, when mobile coverage in Ukraine was relatively limited, Krippa’s company, Ukrainian Mobile Telesystems, was involved in connecting users to Kyivstar as an official dealer, along with selling mobile phones and accessories wholesale and repairing them.

"In 1997, Kyivstar launched on the GSM communications market and actively built a dealer network in Ukraine. At that time, exclusive dealers were paid absurd amounts in commission. If I recall correctly, connecting to the "Standard" package cost users 850 UAH, and Kyivstar paid the dealer around $200 for each of these connections. That’s a rate of 5 hryvnia/$.

We made hundreds of these connections every month. They grew into a network of hundreds of stores. At the same time, we started selling mobile phones and accessories wholesale. In 1999, the level of "mobilization" among the population was around 20%. This was a very lucrative business. Plus, there were service centers where phones could be repaired. So, that was how I started out," recalls Krippa.

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In 2007, Krippa rented assets from the Brovary wholesale market, which also included other immovable assets. At the same time, he also started investing in various projects, including IT, and growing his capital.

In 2018, he made his first investment in esports. Krippa bought esports organization NAVI from Oleksandr Kokhanovskyi. (Note: the club's full name is Natus Vincere; in Ukraine, they're also known as Born to Win.) As it currently stands, NAVI are the most successful Ukrainian esports organization, having racked up the highest profit and number of prizes on the international pro-scene.

At the end of 2019 and start of 2020, the entrepreneur started investing in Maincast, a studio that broadcasts top esports tournament matches in various disciplines. In 2023, Krippa took over ownership of the studio.

According to the 2022 Esports Charts, Maincast held a stake of around 64% in the Ukrainian market. Now, Maincast is the top esports broadcasting studio in Eastern Europe. At the end of 2024, the studio launched its own TV channel on OTT services and among cable operators.

In 2020, Krippa bought 40% of the shares in game development company GSC Game World, becoming co-owner and financing the production of S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 at his own expense. In 2023, the businessman bought another 42% and became beneficial owner of the studio.

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During the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Krippa established a charitable foundation, the operation of which is funded by his private capital.

"The peak of my activity in Ukraine began during the war. With the situation the way it was, I realized that I had to be here and do something for the country. In May 2022, I set up my charity, MK Foundation, which has raised almost 900 million hryvnia to date." (Note: this interview was held in December 2024.)

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Krippa also actively invests in property. In 2023, his company bought Kyiv’s Parus Business Center, along with the capital city’s Hotel Ukraine in 2024. He’s among the top 10 most influential business center owners in Ukraine.

"I’ve spent money in Ukraine that I could have spent on property anywhere in the world: the USA, the UK, Europe. But I did it in Ukraine...

...When the bulk of entrepreneurs withdrew liquidity from Ukraine, I brought it back here in the hopes that it can help my country to withstand these difficult times, and, as a businessman, that I can earn money in the future, when we all rebuild the country together," said Krippa in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.

Photo by Artem Galkin for Forbes Ukraine 2024