A decade ago, a collective of emerging technology entrepreneurs in Moscow chose to share a residence together on Shmitovskiy Lane 16.

Over the years, the network surrounding this initial group expanded considerably, now comprising 300 individuals—entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives, and professionals from a wide range of fields. This group currently organizes the yearly “Founders for Founders” conference, both in Russia and internationally, mirroring similar support systems found globally where members prioritize mutual assistance.

From this foundation, the Shmit16 Founder Community was established, and they are now announcing the launch of the S16 Angel Fund, designed to provide capital to startups worldwide. While relatively modest in size compared to larger investment firms—with an initial closing of $5 million—the fund will concentrate on “founder-to-founder” investments and has already provided funding to five companies utilizing this approach. The fund intends to invest in an additional five companies within the next six months, allocating an average of $250,000 per investment.

To date, the Angel group has invested in companies such as AppFollow, Lokalize Simple (a mobile application focused on fasting and dietary management), and Anytype, a novel operating system designed for the contemporary internet.

The core principle guiding the S16 Fund is a commitment to fostering individual potential and cultivating a collaborative environment where knowledge is readily shared and participants can benefit from one another’s experiences.

The fund’s founding partners and community members include Anatoly Marin, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Payment Systems, a leading mobile fintech company in Eastern Europe; Aleks Shamis, a partner at Dostavista, a crowdsourced same-day delivery service operating across ten countries; Mikhail Peregudov, the founder of Partiya Edy, which was recently acquired by Yandex ($YNDX); Oleg Bibergan, a former executive director at Goldman Sachs; and others. Collectively, these partners have previously invested in over 30 companies in their individual capacities as angel investors.

Anatoly Marin, a co-founder of S16, explains: “Providing support to a founder as someone who understands their challenges firsthand, due to shared experiences, differs from simply seeking a return on investment. The former fosters a relationship where founders feel comfortable discussing their most pressing issues and seeking guidance. Our diverse backgrounds and company-building experiences allow us to offer varied perspectives.”

“The connections within our community have consistently been built on friendship, trust, and personal development, with financial success being a natural byproduct,” states Aleks Shamis, co-founder of the S16 Angel Fund. “After ten years, establishing a fund felt like a logical progression in our efforts to support founders like ourselves.”

In addition to financial investment, S16 provides access to its extensive network to assist founders in overcoming obstacles, connecting with mentors, and securing expertise in key business areas such as go-to-market strategies, pricing models, and executive team coaching, among other resources.