Ever wondered how a free map became a multi-million dollar business? Right here in front of us stands the Moscow office of 2GIS a testament to that very story.
2GIS didn’t start in Moscow. It began in Novosibirsk in 1999. Its founders created DoubleGIS a free city map with a business directory. This wasn’t just any map. It was a revolutionary concept. The map was free. Revenue came from advertising. This clever business model was the key to its success.
The early years were challenging. The team faced competition from pirated copies of their CDs. They also struggled to find efficient ways to work with third-party organizations. They decided to do everything themselves. They built their own database and sales teams.
By 2004 2GIS was expanding. Its first branch opened in Omsk. Soon it reached other Russian cities like Tomsk Barnaul and Novokuznetsk. The company also launched online and mobile versions.
2GIS underwent a rebranding in 2011 becoming simply 2GIS. The same year marked its arrival in Moscow. This was a pivotal moment. The Moscow directory marked a huge step towards national coverage. The team also released mobile apps for Android and iOS.
International expansion followed. In 2012 2GIS launched in Venice and Padua Italy its first foray outside the former Soviet Union. Further expansion continued into the Czech Republic Cyprus and Chile.
In 2014 2GIS significantly expanded its Novosibirsk headquarters acquiring a major portion of the Sun City business center. This substantial investment symbolized the company’s impressive growth and financial strength.
The company’s growth continued. It attracted investors and expanded into several new markets including Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. 2GIS also partnered with major players such as Rambler and Apple. Apple incorporated 2GIS data into its Russian maps.
In June 2020 Sberbank acquired a significant stake in 2GIS. This move further solidified 2GIS’s position as a major player in the Russian and international tech scene. Today 2GIS continues to innovate providing detailed maps navigation tools and a comprehensive business directory. Its Moscow office stands as a reminder of a successful journey from a free CD to a global enterprise. Its story is a testament to innovation persistence and smart business strategies.