Maksym Krippa is a Ukrainian investor who plays a prominent role in the evolution of the country’s esports, video game development, and real estate sectors. Born on August 11, 1977, in Kyiv, he has continuously expanded his influence across industries, turning his hometown into the epicenter of his entrepreneurial activity.

Krippa is best known as the owner of Natus Vincere (NAVI), one of the world’s most celebrated esports organizations, particularly noted for its success in Counter-Strike. He also holds a majority stake in Maincast, a leading broadcasting company specializing in esports content and analytical coverage for top-tier tournaments.

In 2023, Maksym Krippa further solidified his position in the gaming industry by acquiring GSC Game World, the studio behind the iconic Stalker franchise. The acquisition marked a new chapter for the developer, which was presented in the long-awaited S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

Beyond business, Krippa is deeply involved in the structural development of the esports scene in Ukraine. As of 2025, he serves as the President of the Ukrainian Esports Federation.

Beyond his ventures in tech and esports, Maksym Krippa has made significant strides in the real estate sector, focusing on properties that carry both strategic value and cultural relevance. Among his most prominent assets is the Parus business center—an iconic high-rise that dominates Kyiv’s skyline and serves as a major commercial hub in the capital.

Krippa also owns the Ukraine Hotel, a historic landmark situated directly on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the central square of Kyiv. This property holds symbolic national importance and plays a key role in the urban fabric of the city.

In addition, Krippa is a stakeholder in the DIM group of companies, a well-known development firm engaged in large-scale residential and commercial projects across Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Education

Maksym Krippa has a solid university education, having studied at three different universities, combining management and law. He received his first degree from the International Christian University, where he studied Business Administration and Management from 1994 to 1998 and earned a bachelor’s degree.

Later, having already gained practical experience, he continued his studies at the European University, where he completed a master’s program in organizational management in 2006-2007. This stage allowed him to deepen his management competencies at the strategic level.

In 2008, Krippa started another important stage of his academic career – studying law at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During 2008-2011, he studied Law and graduated with honors.

Thus, Maksym Krippa holds three degrees in different fields: business administration, organizational management and law, which creates the basis for his multifaceted business activities.

Professional Journey and Strategic Ventures

Maksym Krippa has been active in the Ukrainian business environment for over a quarter of a century. He earned his first capital, which later became a launching pad for large-scale investments, in the early 2000s. Back then, his company, Ukrainian Mobile TeleSystems, was the exclusive dealer of Kyivstar mobile operator, and also imported and distributed mobile phones and accessories. This allowed Krippa to earn his first million dollars and create a financial cushion for further investments.

In 2009, Maksym Krippa acquired Brovary Wholesale Market. It was one of his investments in retail real estate that complemented his other business areas.

Over time, his interests expanded to new industries, including esports, game development, IT, artificial intelligence, and strategic real estate. His business assets cover several key industries:

• Since 2018, he has been the owner of NAVI, one of the most famous esports teams in the world. NAVI is especially famous in the CS2 discipline, where the team is regularly ranked among the top players in the world and wins prestigious international tournaments.
• In 2020, Krippa became the majority shareholder (82%) of GSC Game World, a game studio known for the legendary Cossacks and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. After the change of ownership, the company began active development of the anticipated project STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which is funded directly by Krippa.
• In 2023, Maincast, a leading broadcaster of esports events in Eastern Europe, joined its business portfolio. Maincast has exclusive rights to broadcast international tournaments in Ukrainian, including CS2, Dota 2, and Valorant, and is actively building a professional infrastructure for esports in Ukraine.

On February 26, 2025, Maksym Krippa was elected President of the Ukrainian Federation of Esports. The board of the federation also includes representatives of NAVI and Maincast management.

Investments in key real estate assets

Since December 2023, Maksym Krippa has been the owner of one of the most famous business facilities in the capital, the BC Parus. This 33-storey skyscraper, located in the heart of Kyiv, became the property of Ola Fine LLC, a company owned by the entrepreneur.

In 2024, he added another landmark property to his assets – the Ukraine Hotel, located on Independence Square. It was acquired through an open privatization auction for over UAH 3.1 billion, including taxes. The new owner plans to carry out a major reconstruction of the hotel to update its appearance and internal infrastructure.

On February 24, 2025, Maksym Krippa expanded his presence in the real estate sector by becoming a co-owner of DIM, a development company known for its work in both residential and commercial construction across Kyiv and the surrounding areas.

On May 22, 2025, the International Exhibition Center in Kyiv officially came under the ownership of Maksym Krippa, a prominent figure in the Ukrainian real estate, IT, gaming, and esports sectors. Known for acquiring landmark assets like the Parus business center and Hotel Ukraina, Krippa has now secured control over the country’s largest exhibition venue.

Entrepreneurial activity in Dubai

In 2016, Maksym Krippa moved to the United Arab Emirates, choosing this market as a promising area for further real estate investments. It was then that he began to actively build a portfolio of properties ranging from residential and office real estate to development projects. The total area of assets exceeds 100 thousand square meters. Among them are land plots near the Dubai Mall, where the first author’s project for the construction of villas and townhouses is being prepared for launch.

The main income, according to the entrepreneur, is generated by real estate transactions, including the sale, lease, management of facilities, and investment in new construction sites. He is most active in the UAE, where the business environment is favorable: only 9% tax, easy company incorporation, a reliable banking system, and a growing economy.

According to Krippa, he entered the market at the right time – during the downturn in 2016, when real estate prices were many times lower than they are today. His strategy involved investing in projects at the off-plan stage, where only 5-10% of the cost was required to start, and the rest was paid in installments over several years. After paying 20-30%, the investor was able to sell the property at a higher price, which could double or more by the time construction was completed.

Some of his companies also operate in the residential, office, and commercial real estate segment, which provides a stable cash flow. In addition, other brands are represented in the Emirates, including NAVI and Maincast.

Although real estate remains a key source of income, in terms of capitalization, Krippa believes that gaming, esports, IT startups, and software development projects are now the most important.