Ilya Shuvalov built a career on his own, working in various niches. Shuvalov founded a restaurant company, developed an online platform, and created many other projects in different fields.
Ilya Shuvalov: the businessman’s career path
Ilya Vadimovich Shuvalov was born in Ivanovo Oblast in 1983. In his early years, he was an athlete – he has won many boxing competitions. In 1982, his parents graduated from Ivanovo Power Institute, and they were allocated to Surgut to work at the Surgut State Hydroelectric Power Station #1.
The businessman used to visit his grandmother in Ivanovo Oblast at the age of six and clean cars to earn some pocket money. In 2000, upon graduating from school, Ilya Vadimovich enrolled in the Law Faculty of Surgut State University. In two years, he transferred to Moscow State Law Academy, where he eventually defended his thesis titled “Legal and administrative status of the government officials” and thus got a university degree.
Career in business
Ilya Shuvalov started his first business in Surgut. In 2009, he opened a restaurant called Liberty, which served as the starting point in the development of a whole chain. Shortly after, Liberty brand became known beyond Surgut – new restaurants were established in Moscow, Nizhnevartovsk, and other Russian cities.
Moreover, during his trip to Uzbekistan in 2010, he got inspired by Uzbek cuisine and hospitality and decided to create his own restaurant that would reflect all the advantages of authentic Uzbek restaurants. That is how Shuvalov’s new chain, Divan-Saray, came to be. In time, the whole Liberty restaurant chain, as well as Divan-Saray and Mamiko, were merged into a company called Liberty Group.
At the same time, Ilya Vadimovich was searching for other niches to develop new projects in. He eventually established a cleaning company called KlinServis. He also co-founded a spa center Onsen. The businessman served as the executive director in Sportloto, and he found that experience especially valuable.
Ilya Shuvalov eventually started working in IT. He began developing a unique algorithm for constructing travel routes, involving various modes of transportation. In 2018, that algorithm became a part of a new organization called dimetogo, which was later rebranded as Turisto.
Social activity and personal life
Ilya Vadimovich Shuvalov was married twice, and he has a daughter from his first marriage. He currently lives in Moscow with his wife. His interests are not limited to business: he enjoys fishing, particularly catching trophy fish.
Ilya Shuvalov also finds time and resources for spiritual development. In that, he has made pilgrimages with monks to sacred places of Israel. He also serves on the board of trustees, dedicated to the construction of a memorial church in Ivanovo.
