Russian immigrant runs real estate portal on EI in UAE, bringing in $1 million a month

DUBAY: 23-year-old Russian expatriate Anastasia Denisova can be proud to be the chief executive officer (CEO) of a Dubai-based technology portal that earns her a million dollars (Dh3.67 million) a month since 2022. That's what makes this young entrepreneur happy.

Denisova, who likes to spend her free time playing tennis and reading, describes herself as ambitious and incredibly driven in everything she does. "On a personal level, I like to make connections with people. I believe in spreading positivity and finding solutions to overcome problems rather than stressing over them," she said. This is why family and relationships are important to Denisova, and why she treasures moments spent with loved ones. "Despite my rush to success, I prioritize maintaining a work-life balance, knowing the value of personal well-being and making time for the things that bring me joy. "

Denisova has been living in Dubai since March 2022, along with her business partners and team members who moved with her from Russia. Although it was primarily work that brought her to the UAE, she now finds several aspects of the Emirates appealing outside of work. "I like the mix of tradition and modernity in the city, the diverse culinary scene, the many recreational and entertainment options, and the emphasis on safety and cleanliness." Dubai's vibrant social scene and exciting entertainment events contribute to her respect for the city.

Before becoming an entrepreneur and getting into how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to select profitable targets for investors as opposed to traditional careers, Denisova said she can barely remember ever being a full-time employee in the past five years. "From the age of 18, I was a partner in a PR agency back home, which brought me $9,000 (Dh33,000) a month. The agency eventually expanded and attracted about 200-300 clients. I mostly collaborated with technology entrepreneurs during this time. In 2020, I followed their example by becoming a partner of a Russian artificial intelligence-based real estate portal," she said. Denisova, who likes to spend her free time playing tennis and reading, describes herself as ambitious and incredibly driven in everything she does. Entrepreneur since 2020 In 2022, the Russian artificial intelligence company expanded to the UAE, where she is now co-founder and CEO. "Since then, we have introduced AI-powered real estate products in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, integrating with 27 real estate developers, and increased our monthly revenue to $1 million (AED 3.67 million) with over 50,000 users." Without disclosing initial investment or costs, Denisova said the startup has raised $5 million (Dh18.4 million) over the past three years from angel investors, banks and real estate developers, who were among the early users of the technology. "The idea behind our startup was to create an artificial intelligence-based platform that could speed up the investment process for real estate investors. It usually takes investors a few weeks to research and find the most undervalued property with the most upside potential. Technology is accelerating this process. "

The artificial intelligence-powered portal, which simply allows investors to purchase real estate directly from developers, estimating future appreciation rates and yields in seconds, and manage all acquired assets in one place, is currently expanding to more than 20 cities around the world, with plans for further expansion.

Anastasia Denisova said the startup has raised $5 million (AED 18.4 million) in the past three years from angel investors, banks and real estate developers.

From the beginning of her career, Denisova sets aside 20 percent of her income each month, which has helped her build a financial reserve for future entrepreneurial projects. "Last year I invested all my savings in shares and earned 40 percent annualized returns on various companies listed on the London Stock Exchange in the UK. I have diversified my portfolio by investing in banking, real economy and medical technology stocks," she added. "I invest in a variety of assets that are considered risky and volatile. I also use conservative instruments to accumulate a portion of my income. As my income increases, I adjust the percentage I set aside accordingly. However, my main goal is my business, in which I have a stake, and I hope to increase its value and eventually take it to public auction, providing a comfortable future for myself and my family. "

A common mistake for Denisova was to focus too much on current income at the expense of potential income. She gave a brief example from her current experience. "While my main goal now is to expand the audience for my business, which I believe could potentially generate significant personal income over the next five years, the question is whether the desired level of income can be achieved," she said, emphasizing cash management. "In order to manage your finances wisely, it is important to view money as a continuous flow and strategically invest it in various projects. Look for opportunities that can attract customers and generate revenue. Ultimately, this approach will be key to the company's success.".