Anfisa Anikushina

Anfisa Anikushina – Women in the Rocket Building Business

Anfisa Anikushina is one of the new but highly interesting residents of the Principality of Monaco.

Anfisa resided in the beautiful city of Kyiv, Ukraine, before moving to Monaco in February 2022. 

Anfisa Anikushina
Anfisa Anikushina

Why Monaco? 

โ€œHaving visited the Cote dโ€™Azur several times a year for both business and leisure over the past two decades, relocating to Monaco felt like a natural progression,โ€ โ€“ starts Anfisa. โ€“ โ€œI am familiar with the place and have a network of friends and business contacts here I can rely on. Although all my business interests are primarily based in London and the Gulf region, I love living in Monaco.โ€

Did you always want to work in the field of space? 

โ€œI am neither an aerospace engineer nor a scientist. I am an investment banker. My expertise lies in mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, corporate structuring, venture capital, etc. I have worked with companies from various other sectors, including media, banking, IT, pharmaceuticals.โ€

How did you get involved with Skyrora?

โ€œSix years ago, I was approached to join Skyrora, the UKโ€™s only private rocket company, as the Head of Investments. It was a challenging proposition, but I took it up, having had prior collaborations with the founders.โ€

How do you see Monacoโ€™s future in the space sector?

โ€œAs of now, Monaco is not typically known for its active involvement in the space sector. However, it is essential to note that the space industry is rapidly evolving, marked by technological advancements and growing private sector engagement. 

Given Monacoโ€™s financial resources and international connections, it has the potential to contribute to the space sector by supporting research, development, and technological innovation. This could manifest in the form of collaborations with other countries or organizations deeply entrenched in space research, exploration, or satellite technology.โ€

Anfisa Anikushina presenting Skyrora at the ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference
Anfisa Anikushina presenting Skyrora at the ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference

One of the proof of the rapidly evolving interest in Monaco towards space technology lies in the future generation. The 2nd ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference featured a sixteen years old Monรฉgasque student, Alan Offer, who is actually a rocket builder. Alan impressed the audience with his โ€œRocket building 101โ€ presentation.

Anfisa Anikushina at the ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference
Anfisa Anikushina at the ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference

However, Alan is not the only talented student from the Principality, eyeing on the space sector. Skyrora also turned one studentโ€™s dream into reality.

โ€œIn fact, we have a student who started as an intern but now is employed by Skyrora. Her name is Gemma Griffiths and she finished ISM school in Monaco. 

She made her dream of building space rockets come true at the age of 18 with Skyrora. Simultaneously, she studies for an engineering degree with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh.โ€

Anfisa took the ELEVATE stage twice over the three days, both times drawing great interest from local students. Did you like the audience questions at ELEVATE?

โ€œGiven that the majority of the questions came from the students, it is great to see their interest. Their passion for the industries of the future is growing.โ€

What is the main objective now with Skyrora? What is the next big step? 

โ€œSkyroraโ€™s next big step involves further development and testing of its launch vehicles, enhancing its launch capabilities, and solidifying its foothold in the commercial space market. 

Our primary focus is on forging partnerships, securing contracts, and obtaining government support to continue our mission of providing reliable and affordable access to space for small satellites and other payloads.โ€

Anfisa Anikushina
Anfisa Anikushina

Do you think HNWIs in Monaco are interested in investing in the space sector?

โ€œAbsolutely. There is a growing interest among High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in channeling investments into the space sector, especially for those seeking to diversify their portfolios. 

The space sector offers an opportunity to invest in a relatively new and promising industry that might yield substantial returns over time.

For many, itโ€™s also a chance to fulfill their childโ€™s dreams and bring space closer in every sense. However, it is essential to note that investing in the space sector can also entail significant risks, including technological challenges, regulatory hurdles, and high initial capital requirements. 

Potential investors should conduct thorough due diligence and consult with advisors knowledgeable in the space industry before making any investment decisions.โ€

Do you think ELEVATE can help people to understand space technology and sustainability better? 

โ€œUndoubtedly. I have attended dozens of space events, and they are all very technical, catering to the industry experts both on stage and in the audience. 

ELEVATE, on the other hand, invites non-space people to hear from industry professionals. This type of event, which is more social than professional, brings space closer to the general public.โ€

Panel discussion at the ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference
Panel discussion at the ELEVATE Space & Sustainability Conference

What would you suggest to someone who is scared of the word or uninterested in โ€œspaceโ€? 

โ€œItโ€™s crucial to realize that โ€˜spaceโ€™ is not just an abstract, distant realm anymore. Space technologies permeate our daily lives, whether through satellite TV, GPS navigation, or meteorological predictions. The tangible benefits of space tech profoundly influence our day-to-day activities. Moreover, space research offers invaluable insights into Earthโ€™s systems, encompassing climate dynamics, environmental shifts, and natural disasters.ย 

Humanizing the space industry might also make it more relatable and less intimidating. All of these aspects create a bridge to the broader concepts that space exploration embodies.โ€


Read the full and illustrated interview in the Winter 2023 edition of the Living in Monaco, the Monaco Residents’ Magazine.


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