A telecom entrepreneur
and a drug discovery scientist.
That is our actual edge.
Felix has spent 25 years building cloud communications businesses. Zina is a PhD chemist who develops cancer treatments. We invest in industries where we still work, which means founders get a partner who understands their problems from the inside.
Who We Are
Our own capital.
Our own conviction.
Yanko Holdings is a single-family office run by Felix Yanko and Zina Ribkovskaia. Husband and wife, and co-investors. We invest our own money, which means every decision reflects genuine judgment, not allocation pressure.
No outside stakeholders, no quarterly redemption cycles, no return targets set by someone else. We invest in industries where we have deep working knowledge, on our own terms and timeline.
Both originally from Chișinău, Moldova. Immigrants who found opportunity here, and believe in making that possible for others.
That combination of telecom operating experience and pharmaceutical science is rare in investing. We think it matters when founders need a partner who understands the real challenges in their space.
"When it is your own money on the line, you ask different questions. You slow down. You do not invest to feel like you are doing something."Felix Yanko, Principal
Current Perspectives
What We're Watching
Three areas where our thinking is focused. Not investment advice, just where our attention is and why.
Telecommunications
AI is changing how businesses buy and use communications infrastructure
Voice, messaging, and cloud phone systems are being rebuilt around AI-native workflows. We are watching how incumbents respond and where genuine new businesses can be built on top of the shift.
Biotechnology
Protein degradation as a therapeutic platform is still early
Targeted protein degraders represent a fundamentally different way to address diseases. The science is advancing faster than capital formation in this area, which creates interesting moments.
Real Estate
Rate normalization is creating dislocated asset values in select markets
Our background gives us a natural comfort with international markets. We are patient buyers in select European and emerging markets, as well as domestically, where we can hold through the cycle with a long-term view.
Investment Criteria
Where We Invest
We are not generalists. Each sector we pursue is one where at least one of us has operated, built, or worked at a scientific level. That specificity shapes what we look for and how we evaluate deals.
Cloud Communications
Companies building SaaS products, infrastructure, or AI-powered tools for business communications. Felix has founded and operated in this space for over two decades.
We look for
Drug Discovery & Development
Early-stage companies developing novel therapeutics, particularly in oncology, targeted protein degradation, and precision medicine platforms. Zina contributes deep scientific diligence here.
We look for
Residential & Commercial, with an International Lens
Direct ownership and selective co-investments in residential and light commercial real estate. We have a natural preference for international markets — particularly in Europe — where our background gives us cultural and market familiarity that most U.S.-based investors lack.
We look for
The Team
Two people.
Deep expertise.
Felix Yanko
Principal -- Telecommunications & Technology
Felix has spent over 25 years building and operating technology companies in the cloud communications industry. He is the President and co-founder of Voiply LLC, a VoIP and cloud phone service provider. He holds degrees in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Rhode Island, and is a member of BlueTree Allied Angels.
LinkedIn ↗
Zina Ribkovskaia
Principal -- Biotechnology & Drug Discovery
Zina is a PhD chemist and drug discovery scientist with deep experience across academic research, biotech, and pharmaceutical development. Her career spans NIH SBIR-funded research, peer-reviewed publications, and hands-on work in oncology and precision medicine. She is a member of BlueTree Allied Angels and provides scientific diligence for the firm's life sciences investments.
LinkedIn ↗How We Think
Our Approach
We only invest where we have an edge
Every investment we make is in a sector where at least one of us has operated. We are not generalists who believe curiosity is a substitute for experience.
We move slowly on purpose
Our capital has no expiration date. We do not face redemption pressure or fund lifecycle constraints. That patience is a genuine competitive advantage when most capital is in a hurry.
We are useful, not just present
We take board seats and advisory roles where we can genuinely contribute, because founders in our sectors benefit from partners who have lived through the same problems.
We do not syndicate noise
We prefer smaller, focused syndicates with aligned time horizons over large rounds assembled primarily to distribute risk.
"Most investors in our sectors are financially sophisticated but operationally distant. We are the opposite."
Felix built and sold multiple communications businesses. Zina has done bench science, managed research programs, and navigated the pharmaceutical development environment firsthand.
When founders pitch us, they are talking to people who have done the job. That changes the conversation.
Giving Back
What We Support
Our giving is an extension of our values, not a line item or a PR effort. We support causes connected to science, education, and communities we care about.
STEM Education
We support programs that give students from underrepresented backgrounds meaningful access to computer science and scientific research opportunities early in their education.
Cancer Research
Zina's scientific background informs our giving here. We support early-stage research initiatives that may not yet attract large institutional funding but represent genuine scientific progress.
Local Community Development
We support local community initiatives that build long-term economic opportunity for working families and small business owners.
"We believe that giving, like investing, works best when it comes from a genuine understanding of the problem, not from a distance."Zina Ribkovskaia, Principal
Get in Touch
Let's connect.
If you are building something in our focus areas, we are always willing to have a conversation. We do not respond to every inquiry, but we read everything.
Laramie, WY 82070
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Thank you -- we will be in touch.