Careers at Rambler

Mission

Rambler’s mission is to advance Internet services and technologies for the people of Russia.

History

Sergey Lysakov first used the Internet in 1987 while an employee at the Russian Academy of Sciences. It was a boon, as access was minimal in the country at the time. In 1991 he joined with some colleagues to launch a company called Stack, which conducted local network searches on structured microorganism data for biologists. Searches were later expanded to the entire Internet.

By the mid-1990s there had been significant advancements in the Russian online space, with thousands of new websites. However, it was difficult to find the sites if their specific addresses were unknown. One existing solution was in the form of newsgroups that listed recommended websites for various topics. Lysakov partnered with Dmitry Kryukov in 1996 to find a better way.

They developed one of the first search engines in Russia, a service that would enable users to enter Russian search terms in order to find relevant websites. They named it Rambler because the word references one who wanders around in search of something. They faced challenges initially, including physical issues such as server damage. Despite this, the site became popular and profitable by 1997.

Rambler‘s success was aided by a lack of strong competitors, as well as improvements that enhanced its search speed and the updating of its search index. In 1999 it raised $1 million in venture capital funding. In 2005 its parent company, Rambler Media Group, went public. In 2006 it was purchased by Prof-Media and went private again. Rambler now provides a wide range of Internet services.

Business model of Rambler

Customer Segments

Rambler has a mass market business model, with no significant differentiation between customer segments. The company targets its offerings at all Internet users, particularly those in Russia.

Value Proposition

Rambler offers three primary value propositions: accessibility, risk reduction, and brand/status.

The company creates accessibility by offering a wide variety of options. Its homepage, Rambler.ru, provides web search, news aggregation, e-mail, and eCommerce services. They are complemented by the other websites under the Rambler Media Group, which are as follows:

  • Lenta.ru, a Russian-language newspaper
  • Doktor.ru, a provider of medical and health advice
  • Mama.ru, a provider of parenting advice
  • Ferra.ru, a provider of information about computer equipment
  • Price.ru, a product comparison website
  • Top 100, an Internet catalogue and navigation system
  • Rambler-ICQ, an instant messaging service

All of these services have expanded Rambler’s portfolio and corresponding capabilities.

The company reduces risk through high safety and security standards. An independent study conducted in 2015 found that it offers the most secure encryption of any e-mail service in Russia.

The company has established a strong brand due to its success. Following a merger with SUP Media, it became the third largest Internet provider in Russia, surpassed by only Yandex and Google. It has  over 40 million monthly unique visitors who generate over three billion monthly page views. About 65% of the country’s Internet users visit its homepage at least once a day.

Channels

Rambler’s main channel is its website. The company promotes its offering through its social media pages and advertising.

Customer Relationships

Rambler’s customer relationship is primarily of a self-service, automated nature. Customers utilize the service through the main platform while having limited interaction with employees.

Key Activities

Rambler’s business model entails maintaining a robust platform and designing various services for its users.

Key Partners

Rambler does not maintain a formal partnership program. That said, it has formed a variety of strategic alliances over the years to enhance its offerings for customers. These include the following:

  • Yandex has announced a partnership with Rambler through which it powers Rambler’s search services through its search engine and Rambler joins its Ad Network.
  • Netvibes has announced a partnership with Rambler through which it brings its widgets to the search portal, marking the first time it has licensed its platform for distribution to a third party.

Key Resources

Rambler’s main resources are its human resources, primarily the technology employees that maintain its platform, the writers and designers who provide its content, and the customer service staff members who provide support.

Cost Structure

Rambler has a cost-driven structure, aiming to minimize expenses through significant automation and low-price value propositions. Its biggest cost driver is likely sales/marketing, a fixed cost. Other major drivers are in the areas of administration and customer support/operations, both fixed costs.

Revenue Streams

Rambler has one revenue stream:  revenues generated from the fees it charges brands and other third parties to advertise their offerings on its platform. Specific ad services include display, paid search, and context advertising. Pricing is determined in consultation with the firm’s staff.

Our team

Nikolay Molibog,
Chief Executive Officer

info: Nikolay Molibog earned an undergraduate degree in Economics at the Siberian State University of Telecommunications and Information Sciences. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Afisha Industries and the Afisha and Rambler United Company.

Andrey Terekhov,
Chief Financial Officer

info: Andrey Terekhov earned a Bachelor's degree in Economic and Information Systems from the Kazakh State Academy of Management. He previously served as CFO of the Ukrainian operations of the X5 Retail Group and as Head of Internal Audit at Perekriostok.

Maxim Azarov,
Chief Product Officer

info: Maxim Azarov earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the areas of Math and Physics and an MBA in Product Management. He previously served as Product Manager at Google, as a software architect at SMSC (Standard Microsystems), and as Team Leader at Digital 5.