Most capital moves once. Ours doesn't stop there.
IFU DRAGON CAPITAL -EAST LLC is a Kharkiv-based investment firm built on a simple observation: a cheque that's only reviewed at entry and at exit has been left to compound — or not — entirely on its own. We treat what happens in between as the actual job.
“Capital that only moves once has done half the work. The compounding happens in between.”
The firm runs five lines of capital work — venture investment, growth equity, portfolio management, capital raising, and exit strategy — but doesn't treat them as five separate products. A venture cheque and a growth equity round are simply different entry points into the same ongoing cycle of support, reinforcement, and eventual exit. The timeline on the Portfolio page is that cycle, not a service menu.
Based in Kharkiv, focused on the East
The firm prioritises companies and co-investors close enough to reach in person when a position needs attention, rather than managing everything remotely from a distance.
How a position moves through the firm
Every capital line below is a stage a position can enter at — and every position, regardless of entry point, moves through Seed, Grow, Compound and Realize before the file closes.
Venture Capital & Early-Stage Investment
Direct investment in early-stage companies with a credible path to growth. This is the earliest point a position can enter the firm's cycle.
Most early-stage positions begin here, often before a company has meaningful revenue.
Growth Equity
Capital for companies past early stage that need funding to scale further. Positions entering here typically have proven the early model and need capital to grow it.
Portfolio Management & Advisory
Ongoing oversight and advisory support for companies already in the portfolio — the stage where compounding either happens or is left to chance.
Capital Raising & Syndication
Structuring and syndicating capital raises alongside co-investors, usually as a position that's compounding well needs more fuel than the firm alone can provide.
Exit & Liquidity Strategy
Planning and executing the exit or liquidity event that realises the investment, closing the file that opened at Seed or Grow.
Leadership
The lead overseeing the firm's capital lines. Additional profiles are onboarding.
Yaroslav Makarenko
Yaroslav directs the firm's capital lines from Kharkiv, coordinating venture investment, growth equity, portfolio management, capital raising and exit strategy into a single ongoing cycle rather than five disconnected services. He holds to two working rules that shape how the firm operates day to day: every cheque is tracked as an ongoing position rather than a closed transaction, and the firm prioritises companies and co-investors close enough to work with in person over managing everything at a distance.
Questions we're asked often
A short set of answers before you reach out.
No. Seed is one entry point into the firm's cycle, but growth equity positions enter later, after the early model is proven. Where a position enters depends on where the company is, not on a fixed stage requirement.
The firm's stated focus is the East region, and proximity is treated as a real factor in how positions are supported — not just a marketing line. Enquiries from outside the region are still welcome, but expect proximity to come up in the scoping conversation.
Your message is logged and reviewed to confirm fit and which capital line applies. If there's a fit, a scoping conversation follows before any commitment is made.
This depends on the size and stage of the position — it's addressed case by case during the scoping conversation rather than being a fixed policy either way.
Send a message
Every submission is logged and queued for manual follow-up.
Privacy Policy
How IFU DRAGON CAPITAL -EAST LLC collects, uses, and protects information submitted through this site.
What we collect
When you use the Contact form, we collect the name, email address, and message content you submit. We do not collect payment information, device fingerprints, or location data through this site.
How we use it
Submitted information is used solely to respond to your request and, where relevant, route it to the appropriate capital line. We do not sell or rent contact data to third parties.
How long we keep it
Request data is retained only as long as necessary to handle your enquiry and comply with applicable legal or accounting obligations, after which it is deleted or anonymised.
Access, correction & deletion
You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal data you have submitted by contacting support@ifudragoncapital-eastllc.buzz.
Questions about this policy
For any question regarding this policy, write to support@ifudragoncapital-eastllc.buzz or to 18A, Office 255, vul. Yarosha Otakara, Kharkiv, 61045, Ukraine.