Igor Fishelev was born in 1963 and began his professional development in the academic sphere. He received a degree in physics from Ural State University and pursued postgraduate studies at the Institute of Metal Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This scientific background provided the basis for a systematic and data-driven approach to managing technical and industrial processes.
In 1991, during the formation of Russiaβs market institutions, Fishelev co-founded one of the regionβs first joint-stock companies, Link. As Vice President, he was responsible for investment planning and external economic relations. This role gave him early experience in managing business operations under transitional regulatory and financial conditions.
In 1994, he began working with Mitsui & Co. Ltd, where he went on to lead the companyβs regional office in Yekaterinburg. His responsibilities included coordinating international trade across various industrial sectors. This experience contributed to his practical understanding of global markets, long-term cooperation models, and cross-cultural business environments.
In 2000, Fishelev founded Unimatic, a company focused on providing equipment and engineering solutions for machine-building enterprises. Over the following years, Unimatic established itself as a significant supplier to Russian industry, working in cooperation with international technology partners and scaling operations across the CIS.
In 2018, Fishelev stepped away from Unimatic entirely, passing full control and ownership to his son, Oleg Fishelev, as part of a planned generational transition. Today, he is involved in supporting startups.