Maksim Podsvirov | Venture Capital Careers

I am an Investment Analyst at the Private Equity fund with $10bln+ AUM, where I build financial models, conduct market and company research, and prepare investment memoranda for screening and investment committee decisions. I analyze growth quality, unit economics, execution risk, valuation, and industry dynamics across consumer-facing and technology-enabled sectors, while supporting deal preparation and transaction workflows. I also founded the PE&VC direction at HSE Invest Club, where I produce a weekly investment digest, advise a student startup accelerator on investment logic and fundraising positioning, and lead discussions on venture capital and private equity trends. My academic background combines corporate finance, valuation, M&A, asset pricing, econometrics, and practical private equity skills, with research focused on the impact of geopolitical shocks on venture capital investments in Russia.

Experience

Investment Analyst, Investment Department

Russian Direct Investment Fund

Dec 2025 – Present

Moscow, RussiaFull time

I build and maintain operating models, valuation cases, scenario analyses, and sensitivity analyses to support investment screening and decision-making. I prepare investment memoranda, conduct market mapping and industry research, assess growth quality and unit economics, and support deal preparation, including term sheet drafting. I analyze management materials and third-party data, articulate investment theses and risks, and translate financial and audit documentation.

Financial modelingOperating modelsValuationScenario analysisSensitivity analysisInvestment screeningInvestment memorandaMarket mappingDeal sourcingIndustry researchCompetitor analysisUnit economicsRisk analysisTerm sheetsData analysisFinancial analysisAudit documentationMS Excel

Intern, Corporate Finance

Sberbank

Jun 2025 – Aug 2025

Moscow, RussiaInternship

I supported corporate finance analyses through peer benchmarking, financial statement review, model building and updating, and presentation preparation. I structured analytical outputs for internal and external audiences under tight deadlines and participated in project financing and mezzanine financing projects across retail, construction, development, and utility sectors.

Corporate financePeer benchmarkingFinancial statement analysisFinancial modelingPresentation preparationProject financeMezzanine financeMS ExcelMS PowerPoint

Education

Higher School of Economics

MSc, Corporate Finance, Corporate Finance

2026 – Present

Main courses: Advanced Corporate Finance, Business Valuation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Risk Management, Corporate Governance, Asset Management.

The Experts, School of Finance

PE&VC course, Private Equity and Venture Capital

Systematization of financial knowledge and expertise in PE&VC markets, unit economics, deal structuring, due diligence, legal documentation and non-financial valuation.

Higher School of Economics & University of London (LSE)

BSc, International College of Economics and Finance (“Economics and Finance”), Economics and Finance

2022 – 2026

First Class Honours Degree at University of London

Main courses: Corporate Finance, Asset Pricing, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Calculus, Probability Theory, Statistics, Behavioral Economics, Financial Modelling and Practical Skills in Private Equity. Thesis: The Impact of the 2022 Geopolitical Shock on the Structure and Risk Profile of Venture Capital Investments in Russia: Evidence from Sectoral Allocation, Investment Stages, Deal Sizes, and Valuations.

Skills

Financial modelingOperating modelsCompany valuationScenario analysisSensitivity analysisInvestment analysisInvestment memorandaMarket mappingDeal sourcingIndustry researchCompetitor analysisUnit economicsPipeline screeningTransaction workflow supportTerm sheet draftingDue diligenceFinancial statement analysisPeer benchmarkingProject financeMezzanine financeInvestment thesis developmentRisk analysisCorporate financePrivate equityVenture capitalMergers and acquisitionsMS ExcelMS PowerPointMS WordAI promptingMarket researchInformation synthesisPresentation draftingLeadershipDiscussion facilitationStakeholder coordinationEnglishRussian

Languages

English: Full professional proficiency
Russian: Native or bilingual proficiency