Maksym Krippa, one of the most active investors in Ukraine, has recently added another major deal to his portfolio. The businessman has become a co-owner of a leading development company that specializes in the construction of residential complexes and commercial real estate in the Ukrainian market.
Following a systematic investment strategy, Krippa focuses on projects with high development potential. Over the past two years alone, his investment activity has grown significantly: the total amount of investments in various sectors of the Ukrainian economy has exceeded $100 million. Today, his portfolio includes real estate, technology startups and promising businesses with high growth rates.
However, Maksym Krippa’s interests have long gone beyond real estate. He pays special attention to the fastest growing industries both in Ukraine and abroad, such as esports and the video game industry. Here, Krippa does not limit himself to financing: he is actively involved in the development of the industry, in particular as the president of the Ukrainian Esports Federation.
Maksym Krippa’s real estate portfolio: what are the main assets
Maksym Krippa continues to actively strengthen his position in the real estate market of Kyiv and its suburbs. In recent years, he has significantly expanded his investment portfolio, adding landmark properties that fit logically into his long-term development strategy.
One of the most notable deals was the acquisition in January 2023 of an estate in Kozin, one of the most prestigious suburbs of the capital. During the auction, the property’s value rose to 311.11 million hryvnia, which was almost 124 million more than the starting price of 187.63 million hryvnia.
The new residence opens up a wide range of opportunities for Krippa. Among the ideas being discussed is the creation of a club base for NAVI, which could become an esports equivalent of the FC Dynamo Kyiv training center. Another option for the development of the property, which Krippa mentioned in a comment to Forbes, involves transforming the estate into a premium-class spa complex similar to Spain’s SHA Wellness Clinic, which combines wellness, sports, and recreation.
At the end of 2023, Maksym Krippa’s investment portfolio grew significantly, as the entrepreneur officially became the owner of one of Kyiv’s most iconic business centers, the Parus skyscraper. The negotiation process with the previous owner lasted several months and required the mandatory approval of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine. Only after receiving the approval on December 1, 2023, the deal was finalized.
Parus remains one of the most famous buildings in business Kyiv: it is 133.1 meters high and has a total area of about 75,000 square meters, of which more than 55,000 are allocated for offices. Despite the great interest in the financial terms of the deal, the purchase price was not disclosed. At the same time, it is known that Krippa initiated a full financial due diligence of the property and conducted the transaction in accordance with Ukrainian law, paying all taxes.
Commenting on the deal, Maksym Krippa noted that the widespread estimates of Parus’ value are based on indicators from before 2022. It also became known that, along with the building itself, the investor took on approximately 600 million hryvnia in debt obligations. Moreover, the payment of funds is structured in such a way as to optimize financial risks: no lump sum payment is envisaged, and payments are spread out over time.
In addition, the entrepreneur shared one of his ideas: he was in talks with a Spanish company that created a giant LED screen on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Krippa planned to implement a similar project for Parus, but the Spanish partners are not currently ready to cooperate due to the situation in the country.
Acquisition of Hotel Ukraine: why Krippa refused to buy Kozatsky
In 2024, Maksym Krippa added one of the most significant properties to his investment portfolio — the Ukraine Hotel, located on the central square of Kyiv. The sale of this legendary hotel took place as part of state privatization through the Prozorro.Sale electronic platform.
The company Ola Fine, owned by the investor, offered the highest bid at the auction — 2.5 billion hryvnia — which allowed it to outbid its competitors and obtain ownership rights. The total amount of the deal was 3 billion hryvnia, of which 500 million hryvnia was spent on value added tax.
However, Maksym Krippa’s asset expansion did not end there. In 2025, he took another strategic step by investing in DIM, one of Ukraine’s leading development companies. This decision allowed him to further strengthen his position in the residential and commercial real estate market by focusing on stable growth and increasing the long-term value of his assets.
Maksym Krippa approaches the selection of investment real estate very carefully, focusing not only on the prestige of the location, but also on the actual condition of the asset and its potential for development. This is confirmed by his conversation with Forbes representatives, where he explained the reasons for refusing to participate in the purchase of the Kozatsky Hotel, despite its advantageous location on Maydan Nezalezhnosti.
As the entrepreneur noted, after a detailed inspection of the building, serious problems were discovered. The first two floors of the hotel, with a total area of 9,500 square meters, were practically flooded, which significantly complicated the further use of the premises. In addition, the low ceiling height was a significant drawback — only 2.7 meters, while in another hotel, Ukraine, this figure is 3.2 meters. Krippa emphasized that ceiling height is critical to successful renovation, as it allows for the installation of modern ventilation and air conditioning systems without compromising comfort. In addition to technical shortcomings, Krippa noted that the Kozatsky Hotel was practically unsuitable for modernization.
Taking all the risks into account, the entrepreneur decided to proceed with caution and limit his participation in the auction to 400 million hryvnia. As soon as the amount exceeded this limit, the entrepreneur withdrew from the competition. This underscores the basic principles of Krippa’s investment strategy: he is willing to invest only in assets that have real growth potential and investment appeal.
Investments in Ukrainian game development and esports
Maksym Krippa took his first significant step into esports in 2018 by investing in the Maincast studio. At that time, he acquired a 25% stake in the company, which specialized in broadcasting ESL and BLAST tournaments, gradually increasing his share.
That same year, Krippa turned his attention to the Natus Vincere team. He bought the club from Oleksandr Kokhanovsky in 2022, becoming the owner of one of the most successful esports teams in the world.
In 2023, Krippa expanded his presence in game development, becoming the main beneficiary of GSC Game World by acquiring 82% of the studio’s shares.
Thanks to the new management, in November 2024, STALKER 2 was released, becoming an important event for Ukrainian gaming on the world stage.
Maksym Krippa’s investment strategy and entrepreneurial activities in Dubai
Maksym Krippa took his first significant step toward financial stability in the 2000s while working in telecommunications, specifically at Kyivstar. There, he earned his first million dollars by actively developing a retail network and providing services. Demand for mobile phones was incredibly high, as only 20% of Ukrainians owned mobile devices at the time.
By 2007, Krippa began diversifying his investments, particularly in real estate in the Kyiv region. This allowed him to gain experience in managing various assets, from retail space to more complex infrastructure facilities.
In 2016, Maksym Krippa changed his place of residence, moving to the United Arab Emirates. At that time, the real estate market in the UAE was experiencing a recession, but Krippa saw this as an opportunity for profitable long-term investments. The cost of many properties was 5-7 times lower than today, which allowed him to actively invest in promising projects. He spoke about this in an interview with Forbes.
As of early 2025, Krippa’s real estate portfolio in the UAE exceeds 100,000 square meters, including residential complexes, commercial real estate, and development projects, including land plots near the Dubai Mall.
