Russian small innovative enterprises (SIEs) are emerging as an important force behind the restructuring of the Russian economy and its industrial and commercial infrastructure. The research presented in this paper suggests that there are at least three categories of factors that impact the move of Russian SIEs into international markets: (i) macro-economic obstacles (ii) lacking managerial and business competencies and (iii) differences in culture and business practices. The first factor cannot be directly influenced by the individual SIE, while the latter two represent opportunities of a developmental nature. The work of this paper purports to lay the groundwork for more theoretical follow-up analyses.