Serg Bell

{{Infobox person

| name = Serg Bell

| image = Serguei-Beloussov-2018.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Sergey Mikhaylovich Belousov

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|08|02}}

| birth_place = Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

| spouse = Oznur Bell

| website = https://arici.com/

| other_names = Serg Bell, SB

| nationality = Singaporean

| education = Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

| occupation = Businessman, investor, speaker, entrepreneur

| years_active = 1992–present

| known_for = Founder of Acronis

| boards = {{unbulleted list|Parallels|Odin|Acumatica|Acronis}}

}}

Serg Bell (born Sergey Mikhaylovich Belousov, {{langx|ru|Сергей Михайлович Белоусов}}, 2 August 1971) is a singaporean businessman born in Leningrad, USSR, entrepreneur, investor and speaker, the founder and chairman of the board of Constructor, formerly known as Schaffhausen Institute of Technology (SIT) and multiple global IT companies, including Acronis, a global data protection company, and was the senior founding partner of Runa Capital, a technology investment firm.{{cite web|title=Our Team|url=http://www.runacap.com/people/our-team/serguei-beloussov/|publisher=Runa Capital| accessdate=March 24, 2014}} He is also executive chairman of the board and chief architect of Parallels, Inc., a virtualization technology company,{{cite web| url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/09/22/foreign-investment-technology-entrepreneurship-markets-intelligent-investing-russia.html| title=Russia's Other Natural Resource| last1=Loukianoff| first1=Peter N.| date=September 22, 2009| work=Forbes| access-date=October 1, 2015}}{{cite web| url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/10/16/russian-vc-invests-60-million-16-6-million-in-israeli-high-tech/| title=Russian VC Invests $60 Million ($16.6 Million) In Israeli High Tech| date=October 16, 2013| work=Jewish Business Journal| access-date=October 1, 2015}} co-founder and chairman of the board of Acumatica, an enterprise resource planning software (ERP) company,{{cite web| url=http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/560951/q-acronis-ceo-serguei-beloussov/| title=Q&A: Acronis CEO Serguei Beloussov| last1=Taleski| first1=Julia| date=December 3, 2014| publisher=ARN| access-date=October 1, 2015}} and co-founder of QWave Capital.{{Cite web|url=http://quantumwavefund.com/#team|title=QUANTUM WAVE FUND|website=quantumwavefund.com|access-date=5 November 2018}}

Serg co-authored over 350 patents. His h-index is 48.{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=I0CA-r4AAAAJ&hl=en|title=Serguei Beloussov – Google Scholar Citations|publisher=Google Scholar|access-date=15 August 2018}}

In 2021 he officially changed his name to Serg Bell.{{Cite news |title=From Russia with money: Silicon Valley distances itself from oligarchs |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/26/silicon-valley-russia-oligarchs/ |access-date=2022-04-01 |issn=0190-8286}}

Early life and education

Bell was born in 1971 in Leningrad and studied at the 45th Physics-Mathematics School.{{cite news |title=Монетизация квантов |url=https://expert.ru/expert/2013/03/monetizatsiya-kvantov/ |work=Expert |issue=835 |date=January 21, 2013}} Bell later attended the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, graduating in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in physics. He received his master's degree in physics and electrical engineering in 1995, and a Ph.D. in computer science in 2007.{{cite web| url=https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/startups/the-incredible-strangeness-of-being-serguei-beloussov| title=The incredible strangeness of being Serguei Beloussov| last1=Asohan| first1=A.| date=March 11, 2015| publisher=Digital News Asia| access-date=October 1, 2015}} Bell came to Singapore in 1994 and became a Singaporean citizen in 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.todayonline.com/business/titles-culture-singapore-stifles-entrepreneurial-streak-say-foreign-born-businessmen

|title='Titles culture' in Singapore stifles entrepreneurial streak, say foreign-born businessmen

|date=Oct 29, 2017

|newspaper=Today

|access-date=2019-11-14

|last1=Teng

|first1=Angela}}

Career

While earning his master's, Bell co-founded his first business, Unium (Phystech College), which provided science students with course materials.{{cite news| url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/95uuytv7XHnnGg8tDgcDoK/Serguei-Beloussov--A-handsoff-approach-to-startups.html| title=Serguei Beloussov: A hands-off approach to start-ups| last1= Philip| first1=Joji Thomas| date=January 8, 2015| newspaper=Live Mint| access-date=October 1, 2015}} In 1992, he began working at a Russian computer company called Sunrise. Bell expanded the company's operations to 10 subsidiaries, becoming one of the largest PC retailers in Russia by the time he left in 1994. After leaving Sunrise, Bell founded and co-owned t Solomon Software SEA. Solomon Software SEA was a distributor and developer arm of mid-market ERP vendor Solomon Software in Southeast Asia. Solomon Software was later acquired by Microsoft and is now known as Microsoft Dynamics SL.{{cite web| url=https://www.techinasia.com/acronis-serguei-beloussov-singaporean-story/| title=From Russia to Singapore, this serial entrepreneur's 21-year journey is astonishing| last1=Tay| first1=Daniel| date=October 21, 2014| publisher=TechInAsia| access-date=October 1, 2015}}

In 2000, Bell founded SWsoft, a privately held server automation and virtualization software company and the then-parent company of Parallels, Inc. and Acronis, Inc.{{cite news|title=Acronis backup strategy: Protect any data, anywhere|url=http://searchdatabackup.techtarget.com/news/2240215207/Acronis-backup-strategy-Protect-any-data-anywhere|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304080405/http://searchdatabackup.techtarget.com/news/2240215207/Acronis-backup-strategy-Protect-any-data-anywhere|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2014|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=SearchDataBackup|date=February 27, 2014}}

Bell‘s family office is located in Luxembourg as Arici Lux Sarl.

=Acronis=

In 2001, Bell founded Acronis as a storage management business unit of SWsoft. In 2003, Acronis was reorganized as a separate entity focused on backup and data protection software.{{cite news|title='I am back': Acronis CEO Serguei Beloussov|url= https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/business/article/2139635/meet-russian-risk-takers-making-safe-singapore-their-home}} In 2022 Acronis employs over 2,000 people worldwide, and its products are available in 26 languages in over 150 countries.{{Cite web |title=Acronis Company Information and Details |url=https://www.acronis.com/en-us/company/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Acronis |language=en-us}}

Bell has served on the board of directors since 2002. From 2007 to 2011, he turned his focus on Parallels, acting as CEO of the company. During this time, he also founded a pair of venture capital funds, Runa Capital and QWave Capital. He returned as CEO of Acronis in May 2013, replacing former CEO Alex Pinchev.{{cite news|title=Returning Acronis CEO plans Parallels universe|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/03/returning_acronis_ceo_plans_parallels_universe/|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=The Register|date=September 3, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Acronis co-founder slips into driving seat after CEO picks up P45|url=http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2013/05/08/acronis_ceo_switch/|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=The Register|date=May 6, 2013}}{{cite news|title=When a company founder returns|url=http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/opinion/2320023/when-a-company-founder-returns|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=CRN|date=December 19, 2013}}

Chief Constructor & Founder & Executive Board Member of Acronis, SB previously served as Acronis’ Chief Executive Officer from 2013-2021. As of July 1, 2021, SB has stepped down as CEO of Acronis to focus on the company’s technology and research strategy as Chief Research Officer.{{Cite web |title=Acronis founder steps down as CEO after US$250m funding round; Patrick Pulvermueller succeeds him |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/garage/acronis-founder-steps-down-as-ceo-after-us250m-funding-round-patrick-pulvermueller-succeeds |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=www.businesstimes.com.sg|date=July 7, 2021 }} {{Cite web|title=Acronis CEO steps down, GoDaddy exec steps in|url=https://searchdatabackup.techtarget.com/news/252503671/Acronis-CEO-steps-down-GoDaddy-exec-steps-in|access-date=2021-10-27|website=SearchDataBackup|language=en}}

=Parallels, Inc.=

Parallels, Inc. was initially a server automation and virtualization software unit of SWsoft before it was spun off into a separate entity and maintained its own distinct branding. In December 2007, SWsoft announced its plans to change its name to Parallels and ship both companies' products under the Parallels name. The merger was formalized in January 2008.{{cite news|last=Vance|first=Ashlee|author-link=Ashlee Vance|title=SWsoft to abandon itself and become Parallels|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/12/swsoft_parallels_name_change/ | accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=The Register|date=December 12, 2007}}{{cite news|last=Modine|first=Austin|title=SWsoft Parallels does Virtuozzo Containers 4.0 thing|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/parallels_virtuozzo_containers_4point0/|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=The Register|date=January 30, 2008}} From 2007 to 2013, Bell led the company as CEO while remaining on the board of directors at Acronis.{{cite web| url=http://mis-asia.com/mgmt/careers/i-am-back-acronis-ceo-serguei-beloussov/?page=1| title=Acronis CEO Serguei Beloussov| last1=Anjum| first1=Zafar| date=February 18, 2014| publisher=MIS-Asia| access-date=October 1, 2015}}

Bell stepped down as CEO and serves as the executive chairman of the board and chief architect of Parallels, Inc. The company has more than 900 employees across offices in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, and as of 2012 it had 5,000 customers and partners worldwide.{{cite news|last=Khrennikov|first=Ilya|title=Parallels Nears IPO While Advancing in $40 Billion Cloud Market|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-21/parallels-nears-ipo-while-advancing-in-40-billion-cloud-market.html|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=March 21, 2013}} Odin Automation, a service automation platform company owned by Parallels and founded by Beloussov, was sold to Ingram Micro in December 2015.{{cite web| url=http://www.finsmes.com/2015/12/parallels-holdings-sells-odin-service-automation-platform-to-ingram-micro.html| title=Parallels Holdings Sells Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro| date=December 7, 2015| publisher=Finsmes| access-date=January 15, 2016}}

=Runa Capital=

Bell co-founded Runa Capital in 2010 together with university mates Dmitry Chikhachev and Ilya Zubarev. The three put in around $30 million in addition to capital raised from friends, family members, private investors, Goldman Sachs, UBS, etc.{{cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/XYNpUkMBufj33EF8LmGpOI/Dmitry-Chikhachev--The-need-for-a-home-run-in-portfolio.html |title=Dmitry Chikhachev. The need for home run in portfolio |author=Joji Thomas Phillip |date=17 April 2015 |publisher=Mint |access-date=7 March 2024}} The firm invested in Europe and USA-based startups in the fields of deep tech, open-source software, machine learning, quantum computing, finance, education, and healthcare. By 2022, Runa Capital raised around $500 million for 4 funds and made over 100 early-stage investments.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/13/runa-capital-kicks-off-new-fund-as-it-joins-the-scramble-for-europe/ |title=Runa Capital kicks off new fund as it joins the VC 'Scramble for Europe' by moving to Luxembourg |author=Mike Butcher |date=13 September 2022 |publisher=TechCrunch |access-date=7 March 2024}} Bell was also the venture partner of Qwave, a quantum computing-focused venture fund, which effectively served as the "material science arm" of Runa Capital.{{cite web |url=https://phys.org/news/2012-12-venture-capital-firm-quantum-fund.html |title=Venture capital firm – Quantum Wave Fund – looking to invest $100 million in quantum physics |author=Bob Yirka |date=14 December 2012 |publisher=Phys.org |access-date=7 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/11/runa-capital-closes-70m-for-its-third-fund-aimed-at-early-stage-deeptech/ |title=Runa Capital closes $70M for its third fund aimed at early-stage 'deep tech' |author=Mike Butcher |date=11 July 2019 |publisher=TechCrunch |access-date=7 March 2024}}

Since 2013, Bell scaled down executive functions in Runa Capital to focus on Acronis. In 2023, he stepped down as the general partner and stopped his involvement with the firm.{{cite web |url=https://arici.com/business-ventures.html |title=Business ventures |publisher=SB Serg Bell |access-date=20 February 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://runacap.com/about/ |title=Our Story |publisher=Runa Capital |access-date=7 March 2024}}{{cite news|title=Acumatica Raises $10M in Series C Funding|url=http://www.finsmes.com/2013/11/acumatica-raises-10m-series-funding.html|access-date=April 16, 2014|newspaper=FinSMEs|date=November 18, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Runa Capital|url=http://rusbase.com/investor/view/runacapital/|publisher=RusBase|access-date=April 16, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Runa Capital|url=https://runacap.com/about/|publisher=RunaCapital|access-date= December 1, 2022}}

= Constructor group, formerly known as Schaffhausen Institute of Technology =

Bell founded Schaffhausen Institute of Technology in 2019 in Switzerland.{{Cite web|last=swissinfo.ch|title=Private university thinks like a business to tackle skills shortage|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sci-tech/sit-private-university-schaffhausen-beloussov/45879156|access-date=2021-10-27|website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=July 5, 2020 |language=en}} Schaffhausen Institute of Technology is an international research-led university for selected areas in computer science, physics, and technology transformation.

Due to slow development in Switzerland and for expansion of the market, Bell invested in the private Constructor University (formerly Jacobs) in Bremen, Germany, becoming its major shareholder. Constructor has yet to recover. {{Cite news |last=Zier |first=Jan |date=2022-01-10 |title=Bremer Universität geht an Investor: Der russische Retter |language=de |work=Die Tageszeitung: taz |url=https://taz.de/!5826998/ |access-date=2022-07-15 |issn=0931-9085}}

Other ventures

Bell is a co-founder at Acumatica, a global cloud ERP company founded in 2007 with headquarters in Bellevue, Washington.{{cite news|last=Starkell|first=Natasha|title=Russian Acumatica Obtains $10 Million For Growth From Current Investors Runa and Almaz|url=http://goaleurope.com/2013/11/18/russian-acumatica-obtains-10-million-for-growth-from-current-investors-runa-and-almaz/|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=GoalEurope|date=November 18, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Global cloud ERP vendor Acumatica secures $10 million from Runa Capital and Almaz Capital|url=http://www.russoft.org/docs/?doc=2627|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=RUSSOFT|date=November 21, 2013}}

In 2012, Bell co-founded QWave Capital. The company's headquarter is in Boston.{{Cite web |last=Tibken |first=Shara |title=Quantum computing goes mainstream? New VC fund debuts |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/quantum-computing-goes-mainstream-new-vc-fund-debuts/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=CNET |language=en}} QWave Capital has over $300 million in funds and has invested in four quantum technology companies: ID Quantique, Nano Meta Technologies, Clifton and Centrice.{{cite news|last=Maynard|first=Brendan|title=Russian quantum technologies fund QWave invests $7 million in three tech companies|url=http://goaleurope.com/2013/06/20/russian-quantum-technologies-fund-qwave-invests-7-million-in-three-tech-companies/|accessdate=April 16, 2014|newspaper=GoalEurope|date=June 20, 2013}}

Between 2012 and 2017, Bellv sat on the Governing Board of the Centre for Quantum Technologies.{{cite web|title=Governing Board Members|url=http://www.quantumlah.org/main/gb.php|publisher=Centre for Quantum Technologies|accessdate=April 16, 2014}} The Singapore-based research institute is a Research Centre of Excellence hosted by the National University of Singapore. The Centre brings together quantum physicists and computer scientists to explore the quantum nature of reality and the fundamental limits of information processing.

In 2021, he contributed to funding a new quantum computer startup company, QuEra, which is developing a 256-qubit machine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.quera.com/news|title = News}}

References

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology alumni