23-Year-Old Dairy Entrepreneur Wins Russia's Top Self-Employment Award

Maria Karaulova, a 23-year-old from the Samara region, has won the Young Self-Employed Professional of the Year award. The prize was announced at the recent Creators forum, part of the Rosmolodezh Year in Review event. She specialises in natural dairy products and tailored nutrition and care plans for animals. The final round of the 15th anniversary Young Entrepreneur of Russia awards took place during the forum. Avito Services supported the Young Self-Employed Professional category as part of its partnership with the event. Konstantin Agula, Director of Government Relations at Avito Services, spoke highly of the rising self-employment trend in the country.

As the winner, Karaulova received preferential terms for promoting her services on Avito. She also gained a business development consultation with a senior executive. Grigory Gurov, head of Rosmolodezh, emphasised the organisation’s ongoing support for young entrepreneurs through national projects and programmes.

Self-employment in Russia offers clear benefits. These include simple registration and reporting, a low tax rate of 4–6%, and the flexibility to combine it with formal employment. Currently, over 14.1 million Russians are self-employed, making up nearly 19% of the working-age population. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award has recognised proactive young business owners since 2010. It aims to highlight those building transparent and socially responsible ventures. Karaulova’s win and the support from organisations like Avito and Rosmolodezh reflect the growing opportunities for young self-employed professionals in Russia.