Ruslan
Kogan

Speaker Profile

Kogan is a 100% Australian owned company established in 2006 by entrepreneur Ruslan Kogan. After a short stint at Accenture and GE, Ruslan started Kogan in his parent's garage and has gone on to build a $200 million dollar - and growing - online business, selling consumer electronics. Kogan manufactures, imports and sells a wide range of high demand consumer electronics items direct to Australian consumers.

Kogan is one of the fastest growing companies in Australia. In just over three years, Kogan has sold over 100,000 products directly to Australian customers through its website, www.kogan.com.au.

Ruslan Kogan is also a partner in another successful online furniture business www.milandirect.com.au.

Ruslan Kogan holds controversial views regarding the consumer technology industry. He has publicly expressed his opposition of the Australian Government's proposed internet filter. He was recently invited by Gizmodo to write a guest post outlining his opposition to the filter.

In August 2010 Ruslan Kogan began a war of words with Gerry Harvey, founder of Harvey Norman.

Ruslan Kogan criticised Harvey Norman's business model, showing that the best deals on electronics could always be found online. The debate even spilled onto the mainstream media when Ruslan Kogan declared the 'LED TV Price War.'

The dispute erupted when Ruslan Kogan challenged Gerry Harvey to a debate on national TV, which he declined. Ruslan Kogan said Gerry Harvey 'chickened out' of the debate.

Ruslan Kogan followed up with satirical advertisements that mocked the Harvey Norman business model, that were even discussed on ABC's The Gruen Transfer.

In September 2010 Ruslan Kogan again made headlines for being unsuccessful in a job application at a McDonald's restaurant in Melbourne.

September 2010 also saw the Kogan brand rapidly expand to include home appliances such as microwaves, vacuum cleaners and coffee machines.

In October 2010, Ruslan Kogan revealed that the Kogan business had been so successful in Australia that it would soon expand to the UK.

Ruslan Kogan criticised Harvey Norman's purchase of Clive Peeters when releasing Kogan's Q1 FY11 record growth.

Ruslan Kogan has won a number of awards for his success in bringing the best value consumer electronics to Australian consumers including...

- Anthill Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs
- BRW 2010 Fast 100
- BRW 2010 Young Rich List
- BRW 2010 Fast Starters list
- BRW 2009 Fast Starters list
- BRW 2009 Young Rich List
- T3 magazine most influential people in technology
- The Age Top 100 most influential people in Melbourne
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Category, Southern Region

Travels from Australia