Denis Aven
Family and Education
Denis Aven, together with his twin sister Daria, was born on January 9, 1994. They spent most of their childhood in Russia, Great Britain, and the United States.
Their father, Petr Olegovich Aven, is an entrepreneur and the chairman of the ABH Holdings fintech company. He is also an art collector.
Their mother, Elena Vladimirovna Aven, together with her husband, initiated and supported various projects in the fields of culture, education, and healthcare in Latvia. In 2008, she and Petr Aven founded the charitable foundation "Generation" aimed at children's healthcare.
In 2016, Denis graduated with honors from Yale University, earning a bachelor's degree in economics with a mathematical focus. He wrote his thesis on the collapse of the Soviet economy under the guidance of the renowned economist and professor Oleg Aleksandrovich Tsivinsky.
Four years later, Denis Aven graduated with honors from Harvard Business School, earning an MBA degree.
Career Beginnings
Denis's career began as an analyst at one of the most well-known global companies in the field of financial consulting and asset management, Lazard. He worked on debt restructuring and capital structure optimization.
After two years at Lazard, Denis joined the technology team of the large investment company Warburg Pincus. He focused on investments in software, data, and business services sectors, being involved in various stages and spheres of investment projects, from venture capital to growth and buyouts.
After obtaining an MBA degree from Harvard Business School, Aven joined 8VC.
8VC is a global and dynamic company, with its investment scope covering a wide range of industries, including logistics, life sciences, healthcare, IT infrastructure, government and defense, financial services, and consumer and corporate services.
Travel and Hobbies
From childhood, Denis's family traveled a lot and frequently. Denis particularly enjoys traveling to Bhutan, New Zealand, and Chile.
Denis is also involved in various sports such as tennis, skiing, and golf. He is a big fan of football and watches almost every match of the Chelsea FC.
Some open sources indicate that Denis enjoys hunting.
Denis is an avid reader and his favorite author is Ernest Hemingway.
"My parents have always encouraged a love for books, but due to a busy work schedule, I hardly have any time for reading," says Denis.